LEE FRIEDMAN

 “You just look to build a coalition of the smartest, most collaborative, hardworking people,  and then you get the  hell out of their way.”

As a young woman who wanted to make a difference in her community, Lee Friedman was fortunate to have a very broad group of mentors and civic and corporate leaders who helped her along the way. “I’ve been willing to listen and take advice. And, I was always willing to take risks,” says Friedman, who has run four not-for-profit organizations since 1991. Thriving on challenges, she embraced the work of building an organization, mission and business plan that resonated with the civic and philanthropic sectors, as well as corporate, government and political communities. Her other key to success? “Work with the best people in the community. Cleveland is a very, very special place to work collaboratively.”