Michele Frix
Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) Class of 2022
Name: Michele Frix
Programme: Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA), Class of 2022
Job title: Executive Vice President at the Seattle Foundation
Drawing parallels between my experience at LSE and the Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) program, one of the greatest benefits of the SPP alumni community is its people. Thanks to my time at LSE, I am now connected to an extraordinary group of talented individuals around the world.
Congratulations on being selected as a scholar on the Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) Program! Can you tell us more about the program?
I am honored to have been selected to join this year’s cohort of Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS), marking the program’s eleventh annual class. Each year, PLS brings together approximately 60 leaders committed to addressing complex challenges, both domestically and around the world, while exploring leadership lessons from the presidential administrations of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson.
A unique hallmark of the program is the opportunity to spend significant time at the four presidential libraries, which serve to ground each module in the history surrounding each administration and their distinct approaches to policymaking and leadership. Throughout the program, our modules focus on four core leadership skills – Vision and Communication, Decision Making, Persuasion and Influence, and Strategic Partnerships – through the lens of each presidential administration. The cohort itself is very intentionally composed of leaders from across sectors with diverse points of view and different backgrounds and perspectives.
What has been the most interesting part of PLS so far?
In March, we completed our third module at President George W. Bush’s library in Dallas, Texas, and in late April we will complete the fourth module at President Lyndon B. Johnson’s library in Austin. There are many compelling aspects of the program, but a few have been particularly meaningful for me.
First, my fellow cohort members are extraordinary leaders and wonderful human beings, working across a wide range of important issues in the United States and abroad. It has been a truly life-changing experience to get to know such a diverse group of people who are incredibly passionate about their work and genuinely committed to working across political divides.
Second, the program staff curate exceptional speakers and facilitators who deliver high-quality sessions with learnings that can be immediately put into practice. From public speaking best practices and international affairs simulations to practical frameworks for bringing unlikely allies together, the skills we are building in each module are invaluable.
One of my favorite sessions so far was a facilitated simulation focused on executive decision-making. Each of us assumed a role on the White House National Security Council and then engaged in discussion and debate around a particular U.S. foreign policy issue. It was a fascinating experience that deepened my understanding of how to engage groups of people on complex issues where consensus is not necessarily the objective, rather, the goal is to surface viable paths forward and thoughtfully weigh trade-offs and alternatives.
How has this impacted/enabled you in your current role at the Seattle Foundation?
As part of the PLS program, each Scholar selects a leadership project designed to put our learning into action by addressing a pressing challenge within our community or organization. My leadership project builds directly on my experience at Seattle Foundation and the work we have undertaken over the past year to strengthen our organization and mitigate a range of risks facing not only our institution, but the philanthropic sector more broadly.
In my role at Seattle Foundation, I have had the distinct privilege of working closely with our leadership team and Board to develop our first Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework. During that process, I observed that while many foundations are increasingly discussing the importance of risk management amid today’s dynamic environment, far fewer have implemented formal risk frameworks to proactively identify and mitigate risks.
Seeing this gap across the field, PLS has given me the space to dream about creating opportunities for foundations to test and learn from one another while strengthening their own risk-management capacity. I am now working to translate our ERM work into a practical toolkit that can be shared with peer foundations. By disseminating simple, tested risk‑management tools, I hope we can collectively strengthen the field and shift how philanthropy approaches risk. Ultimately, I believe that when philanthropic organizations can clearly name and navigate the risks and uncertainties they face, they are better positioned to remain grounded in their core values and to deploy philanthropic capital as true risk capital in service of social change.
How have your EMPA studies and time at the SPP influenced your career journey and approach to your work?
I began the EMPA program at a unique moment in time – both in my personal life and in the broader world. We started the programme as the COVID-19 pandemic was unfolding. Midway through the programme, I became a mother and pushed myself out of my comfort zone by studying, working, and learning to parent all at the same time.That experience reinforced an important lesson that a mentor of mine often shares: focus on progress, not perfection.
Throughout the programme, multiple crises and conflicts emerged around the world, some of which directly affected the lives of my classmates. It is one thing to study democratic backsliding or political uprisings in lectures and exams; it is another to hear about them firsthand from peers living through those realities in real time, and to be inspired by their actions, resilience, and tenacity.
My time at SPP broadened my perspective and fundamentally changed how I see the world and my role within it. As one classmate so aptly put it, our fellow students made the world feel broader, bigger, and less lonely, even in the midst of uncertainty. That sense of shared global experience continues to shape how I approach my work to this day.
What are the benefits of being part of the LSE SPP alumni community?
Drawing parallels between my experience at LSE and the PLS program, one of the greatest benefits of the SPP alumni community is its people. Thanks to my time at LSE, I am now connected to an extraordinary group of talented individuals around the world.
Who or what inspires you?
In this moment in history and through the lens of my work in philanthropy, I am inspired by the work of our grantee partners and their creativity, persistence, and commitment to community. Every day, they work tirelessly to protect our democracy and to invest in communities that have been historically underinvested in. The impact they are creating in the community around them – whether in Seattle, Washington State, or halfway around the world – is what continually inspires me.
What is the best advice you have received? Do you have any advice for our students who are pursuing careers in your sector?
A few years ago, I came across a memo my father wrote toward the end of his 34-year career serving in the U.S. military. I keep it pinned to the bulletin board by my desk, as a daily reminder of how I want to show up as a leader. One simple, yet profound, piece of advice in particular has stayed with me: Every member of a team is a leader, no matter their position. Create a climate where everyone can exercise initiative and responsibility without the fear of failure.
What I appreciate most about this advice is how transferable it is across sectors and work environments. When leaders treat their team members as the leaders they are, organizations perform better, teams feel genuinely invested in the mission, and individuals are empowered to be more innovative and creative.
For those interested in pursuing a career in the non-profit or philanthropic sector, my first piece of advice is to learn how to navigate change. One of the most consistent lessons throughout my career is that change is the only constant. Given the socio-political times we are operating in, it is essential for leaders to know how to adapt, pivot, and adjust. Strong change management skills are non-negotiable for anyone working in the social impact field.
Second, always remain curious and humble. Especially for those of us working in philanthropy, our work is most impactful when it is trust-based, community-led, and centered on redistribution of power rather than reinforcing the status quo. Curiosity and humility help to create space for listening, learning, and building trust – ultimately leading to more responsive and impactful approaches to philanthropy.
Do you have a book or podcast recommendation for the SPP community?
Through the PLS program, I have become fascinated by presidential memoirs and biographies. They offer a unique window into leaders’ personal histories, their paths to the highest offices, and the motivations behind the decisions they made while governing. I also find them deeply humanizing. I recently read A Different Kind of Power: A Memoir by the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern. I was struck by her reflections on leading through extraordinary crises, including the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks and the subsequent gun control reforms in New Zealand. As the mother of a young toddler, I was also personally inspired by her honest account of becoming a parent while in office. Lastly, she spoke candidly and courageously about her decision to step down as Prime Minister, and in her words, to embrace “the responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead, and also, when you are not".
Can you describe your SPP experience in 3 words?
I can describe it in almost three words: Transformative. Actionable. Intellectually Demanding.
Who would you recommend the EMPA programme to?
I would recommend the EMPA programme to any midcareer leader who is ready to connect with a global cohort of fellow students and faculty. It was the ideal programme for me, as it allowed me to continue working while completing my graduate degree. The fact that all of us were engaged in both professional and academic journeys made the programme all the more interesting and enriching. I learned so much from my fellow classmates and would have never had the opportunity to connect with such an international, diverse group of professionals, if it weren’t for the LSE community and its faculty and staff.