In honor of her first anniversary with Leadership Tulsa, LEAD North Program Director Ashley Philippsen answered three fun fact questions for us.
What did you always want to be growing up?
When I was younger (and until my mid-twenties), I was certain I would be an attorney. When I realized my motivations for being a defense attorney could be satisfied as a teacher/dean of students, I decided to focus on making an impact in that capacity.
On a Saturday morning, where could we typically find you?
You can find my husband, son, and me at brunch either at Atlas Grill or Brookside by Day, unless we are up for a change in scenery. Before we became parents, we would always follow up brunch with a movie at AMC or Circle Cinema. Now we are fortunate to get to the cinema once a month.
What inspires you most about being Program Director at LT and working with our LEAD North program?
I am greatly inspired by the rich and varied perspectives and passions espoused by our volunteers and program participants. It is easy to get mired down in the many adaptive challenges facing our community, but when I hear the resolve, the innovative ideas , and see the work countless people are doing daily in our community, I am energized. While our organization seeks to help people practice leadership and develop for the common good of Tulsa, I emerge from each class day with greater self-awareness and a challenge for myself.