In Session: Sonia Kapadia

What does it take to lead with purpose in a complex and rapidly changing world? For Sonia Kapadia, Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Equal Justice Initiative and Aspen Institute Trustee, effective leadership begins with an essential balance: loving the work, finding joy in the day-to-day, and being deeply aligned with an organization’s mission.

In this episode of In Session, Kapadia sees leadership as a form of social entrepreneurship—an ongoing willingness to take smart risks, push beyond the status quo, and learn from whatever outcomes follow. Growth, she says, rarely happens without moving into unfamiliar territory. “A little bit of entrepreneurial thinking can take you to a new way of thinking or a new area,” even when failure is possible.

Authenticity is just as crucial. Leaders who bring their full selves—their perspective, personality, and humility—create stronger, more trusted teams. Rather than “faking it,” Kapadia encourages new leaders to embrace what they know, acknowledge what they don’t, and treat learning as a lifelong practice.

Ultimately, great leadership is fueled by joy and alignment. When you’re excited to go to work, when the mission resonates, and when there’s room for humor even in hard work, teams thrive—and big problems become more solvable.