Linda Akutagawa, President & CEO, Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics Inc. (LEAP)

Linda Akutagawa is the President and CEO of Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics Inc., where she is responsible for LEAP’s fund-raising, business development and oversight of program design, development and delivery. As chief fundraiser, she develops and executes strategies focused on increasing earned and contributed income, building interest among clients and donors to support and participate in LEAP’s leadership programs.

Linda bridges her development and program design and delivery roles through her consulting with LEAP’s diverse range of clients, which include nearly 500 nonprofit, community and student organizations; federal, state and local government agencies; colleges and universities; and Fortune 1000 companies. She works with clients locally, nationally and globally to determine the best programs and services to support their Asian talent development needs and brings together the resources needed to deliver a solution. In addition, she collaborates with LEAP’s consultants to co-design and customize new and existing programs.

Linda is certified to facilitate LEAP’s Leadership Development Program as well as to deliver several of LEAP’s foundational courses, including the 21st Century Leadership, Understanding Your Cultural Values, and Effective Work & Communication Styles. She previously was vice president of resource and business development for Los Angeles-based LEAP, developing and implementing fund-raising, marketing and sales strategies for its programs and services.

A beneficiary of LEAP’s leadership training, Linda first began as a volunteer for the 501(c)(3) entity. Now in her 20th year there, she speaks and presents globally on topics such as leadership, Asian cultural values and influences, employee resource groups, diversity, networking and branding to a range of audiences such as corporations, student groups and community and professional organizations. Prior to joining LEAP, she was the marketing manager for Japan & Orient Tours Inc., a travel operator specializing in Asia and the Pacific.

Linda serves on the Board Directors of the Asian Women Leadership Network and Japanese American Community Services of Southern California Inc. (JACS), a provider of grants with a focus on community service, leadership development, cultural arts, and health and human services. Linda received her Bachelor of Science in international business with a minor in economics from California State University at Los Angeles. Married, she is auntie to six nieces and nephews ranging in age from one to 21 years old.