Lead is dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders through innovative career-readiness programs while equipping adults who support youth with the essential tools, confidence, and leadership skills to excel.
Lead isn’t just a name; it’s a reflection of what we stand for – Leadership, Empowerment, Awareness, and Development.
Lead delivers evidence-based programs that build confidence, strengthen communication, and support wellbeing for youth and families. Our resources are designed for use in schools, DHHS programs, courts, and community organizations, equipping adults with tools they can use in group settings or one-on-one.
Our name stands for Leadership, Empowerment, Awareness, and Development, the values that guide our statewide work.
We empower people with practical tools to become their most confident self.
Inspiring all generations with confidence and purpose to live their best life.
At Lead, our values define who we are and how we create impact. We model the same principles we teach others:
Leadership: We lead by example taking ownership of our actions while building confidence, courage, and compassion in ourselves and others.
• Leadership: We lead by example taking ownership of our actions while building confidence, courage, and compassion in ourselves and others.
• Empowerment: We create opportunities for every individual to discover their voice and realize their potential.
• Awareness: We lead with self-awareness, understanding ourselves and how our actions influence those around us.
• Development: We commit to growth, continually learning, improving, and helping others do the same.
Lead began in 2012 when founder Lisa Tarkington started sharing tools for confidence through a community blog. What started as a small project quickly grew, with more than 100 contributing writers joining within two years. The increasing demand for resources that supported emotional wellness and confidence across all ages led to the establishment of Lead as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2018.
Lisa’s background in social impact, positive psychology, mindfulness, communication, and coaching helped shape the early curriculum that would become the foundation of Lead’s programs. Over time, these tools evolved into practical, research-informed lessons that support youth and families in building confidence, communicating clearly, managing stress, and planning for their future.
Today, Lead partners with schools, DHHS teams, courts, and community organizations to make these tools accessible in everyday settings. More than 13,000 people across Michigan have engaged with our programs, with participants consistently reporting meaningful gains in confidence, self-esteem, and emotional wellbeing, often after just one session.
Lead continues to grow with a focus on meeting people where they are, offering simple, evidence-based tools that support steady, realistic growth for youth and families.
Kelsey Snyder is the Executive Director at Lead. Prior to joining the team, she spent 12 years in the tech industry where she found her voice, honed her leadership style, and learned to trust her instincts. At home, her life revolves around her husband George, two kids Mason and Brooke, and a 90lb chocolate lab named Weatherby. She enjoys spending her free time walking, reading, and working on DIY projects like renovating an old camper.
Melissa “Missy” Reed is Lead’s Director of Development. Missy has spent 15 years in the human services field, including several years as a state investigator, dedicated to improving lives and advocating for others. She is passionate about community welfare and has a strong commitment to creating positive change in our communities. When she is not working, she enjoys golfing, cooking, and traveling to northern Michigan with her fiancé.
Lisa Tarkington is the Founder and Curriculum Creator of Lead, originally established in 2012 as Self Love Beauty. What began as a small passion project to help people feel seen, confident, and empowered has grown into a statewide organization impacting thousands of individuals each year. Lead was founded on Lisa’s simple but powerful belief: that confidence is a critical life skill and a catalyst for personal and professional growth.
An Associate Certified Coach (ICF), The Confident Podcast host and graduate of Michigan State University, Lisa also brings advanced training from the University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Program in Social Impact Strategy, the Co-Active Training Institute, Applied Positive Psychology, and Mindfulness.
Her leadership has been recognized through honors such as Coach of the Year, the Inspiring Female Entrepreneur Award and the Young Professional Athena Award.
Sarah Maday, Chair
Nexteer Automotive
Stacey Gannon, Vice Chair
Huntington Bank
Kelsey Schultz, Treasurer
Yeo & Yeo
Laura Shepard, Secretary
The Dow Chemical Company
Jeff Wood
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Cathy Geiger
ABC Greater Michigan Chapter
Julia Kepler
Serendipty Road & Joyful Tantrum Recess
Tyler Kirby
Tri-Star Trust
Missie Freier
First State Bank
We are grateful the outstanding leaders who have been board of directors for us.
By volunteering with us or getting involved in our events you become a part of the movement dedicated to creating a ripple effect of positive change!
