Thinking in Systems. Leading with Purpose.
Leah Sciabarrasi, Ph.D.
Hello there! Welcome to my site and virtual logbook. This is where I surface and synthesize knowledge, tools, and stories that allow us to advance our work and organizations. My career has centered on designing and leading strategic initiatives in education—spanning curriculum development, community engagement, accreditation, online learning, strategic planning, K12 and workforce partnerships, recruitment, and faculty development. I focus on building human-centered systems and partnerships that align people, purpose, and possibility. I’m glad you’re here!
Areas of Expertise
Education & Development
I bring over 15 years of experience in higher education, serving in both faculty and administrative roles. My work centers on designing accessible, outcomes-driven learning experiences—especially in online and hybrid environments. I’ve led faculty development initiatives, supported accreditation efforts, and built programs that prioritize both academic quality and real-world relevance.
Partnership Building & Engagement
I specialize in building cross-sector partnerships that connect education with community and workforce needs. From K12 bridge programs to employer-aligned learning pathways, I’ve helped institutions strengthen their impact through meaningful collaboration—always with a focus on expanding access and supporting lifelong learning.
Leadership & Planning
Planning is a passion of mine. I’ve led strategic planning efforts at the institutional and departmental level, supported high schools in carrying out accreditation action plans, and developed goal-aligned processes that move ideas into action. My leadership style is rooted in clarity, collaboration, and systems thinking.
Strategic Foresight & Innovation
I use labor market data, trend analysis, and emerging technologies to help organizations stay ahead of the curve. My work involves translating insights into actionable strategies—whether that means designing new programs, mapping skills to careers, or rethinking how institutions prepare learners for what’s next.
Leah’s Log
On AI
This post is part of an ongoing log where I’m exploring how AI is shaping leadership, education, and the future of work....
2024 Leadership Trends
The recent International Leadership Association (ILA) conference in Chicago was a powerful reminder of the evolving...
On Followership
Followership is an area of study in leadership and refers to the role and behaviors of individuals within a group or...
2024 Topics in Followership
I recently attended some great sessions at the Global Followership Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. Here is a wrap-up of...
Leah’s Work
Presentation: Transition Dynamics: Trust and Followership During Organizational Change – A Continuation
2024 This interactive session was given at the International Leadership Conference in 2024 in Chicago with Drs. Mitchell...
Presentation: Leadership-Followership Dynamics in Startup Evolution: A Multifaceted Study
ILA 2025 - LFS Presentation by Leah Sciabarrasi 2024 This presentation was given at the International Leadership Conference...
Presentation: Navigating Change and Trust Building
2024 This interactive sessions was given at the Global Followership Conference in 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland with Dr....
Presentation: Leadership and Followership in Startups
GFC LFS Lightening by Leah Sciabarrasi2024 This lightening talk presentation was given at the Global Followership...
The Quiet Ganesh: Finding Erich Jantsch
Dr. Erich Jantsch has been described as an astrophysicist, an author, a businessman, an astronomer, a conservationist, a consultant, an engineer, an evolutionary theorist, a forecaster, a futurologist, a humanist, a lecturer, a music critic, a philosopher, a physicist, a scientist, an urban planner, founder of the ‘big history’ concept’, a pioneer in systems and futures thinking, and one of the six founding members of the Club of Rome. His books and publications range from technological forecasting to evolution. In particular, his last book, The Self-Organizing Universe, has been influential in the interdisciplinary fields of biomimicry, holism, co-evolution, and self-organization. He was an occasional advisor to about twenty governments, several international organizations, and research institutions. This book, The Quiet Ganesh, is the start of a biography of this expansive man. Use the button to the left to buy the book and read more about Erich Jantsch here >>
STRATEGIC PLANNING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING!
Strategic Planning is Dead, Long Live Strategic Planning!, is a podcast original from Manifoldo. This series presents new ideas for planning and measuring your organization’s progress.
Leah’s Lists
Leah’s Mixtapes
2024: Artificial intelligence cemented its role in everyday life, with ChatGPT and similar tools becoming indispensable...
Leah’s Yearly Reads
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business - Gino Wickman In Traction, Wickman introduces the Entrepreneurial Operating System...
Leah’s Favorite Things
Almond Body Care Ritual by L'Occitane Almond is well-known for its ability to nourish the skin. L'OCCITANE has harnessed...
Leah’s Resources
Leah’s Bibliographies
Leah’s Futures Signals
I was introduced to signals in the Coursera Futures Thinking Specialization designed by The Institute for the Future....
Leah’s Ancestry
I am both Sicilian and Polish. I’ve spent quite a few years documenting my family lineage, in some cases back to the 1600s. I am proud of my heritage and grateful I get to live this lifetime.
Sciabarrasi
Kiebzak
Balistreri
Zawisza
Contact Me
