Leila Janah
Leila Janah
Leila Janah is the Founder and CEO of Sama and Laxmi, two companies highlighted on Fast Company’s 2016 Most Innovative Companies list that share a common social mission to end global poverty by giving work to people in need. She is also the co-author of America's Moment: Creating Opportunity in the Connected Age, a book by Rework America: A Markle Initiative...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBusinesswoman
Date of Birth9 October 1982
CountryUnited States of America
physically work
It's really helpful to be physically engaged in something that's completely different from my day-to-day work.
citizen left order savvy thrive
In order to thrive in the 21st century, you have to be a savvy citizen of the digital economy or risk being left behind.
innovative san spread
I wish the city of San Francisco, bastion of liberalism, were more innovative when it comes to how to spread the wealth.
defines reflect ruthless
Bling is passe, and I like my style to reflect just that. Ruthless editing defines true style perfectly.
along banned barbies horribly
Barbies were banned at our house, along with television other than PBS. As a kid, I found this horribly embarrassing.
charities giving happy money people produce taxes wary
A lot of people are happy to give money to charities but are wary of giving through taxes because they feel it doesn't produce any value.
across continents eventually finding flee four life migration parents war
Migration is the story of my life: my parents and grandparents journeyed across four continents to flee war and find jobs, eventually finding their way to the U.S.
execute leadership people recruiting
True leadership isn't about having an idea. It's about having an idea and recruiting other people to execute on this vision.
less levels studied worked
I'd worked at the World Bank briefly as an undergrad and studied poverty levels around the world - particularly those earning less than $1.25 a day.
audit effective investing reporting social tricky unlike
Most philanthropists want to be effective altruists. But the problem isn't intention: it's measurement. Unlike financial investing, which has reporting standards, audit processes, and educational requirements, social investing is notoriously tricky to evaluate.
aesthetic art care loved
I always loved fashion and clothes. Not because I think that's a woman's place, but because I care about aesthetics. I like art; I like going to art museums, and to me, these things are just manifestations of one's aesthetic sense.
job
Labor looks different in the 21st century. And so should our job training programs.
board ceo job managing meant realised
I used to think my job as a CEO meant managing metrics and meeting goals, but I've realised now that's it's about managing my board and employees.
core human work
Work is at the core of human dignity.