The Leaders Table

Author: LEE

Real leaders. Honest conversations. No fluff. At The Leaders Table, we shine a light on how leaders rise to the moment. In each episode, civic changemakers share the decisions theyve wrestled with, the values that guide them, and the practical tools that help them lead through challenge and change. An official podcast for LEE. For more info visit www.wearelee.org.
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Language: en

Genres: Education

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Carmita Semaan, CEO of Surge Institute
Episode 49
Wednesday, 27 May, 2026

Carmita Semaan, the founder and CEO of Surge Institute, an organization that develops and elevates leaders of color, began her career as a chemical engineer before earning her MBA and stepping into corporate leadership. Across her career, she has kept social impact front and center — organizing colleagues, investing in local communities, and challenging systems to do better. In this episode, Carmita recounts a pivotal moment early in her career when she spoke out against racism at her company, choosing integrity over silence and ultimately walking away from the organization. She shares how growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, and the influence of her resilient mother and uncle shaped her values and continues to inform the bold, fearless leadership she embodies today. An honest, powerful conversation about courage, conviction, and what it means to lead decisively when the stakes are real.