The eminent educator Kaya Henderson, Executive Vice President and Executive Director of the Center for Rising Generations at the Aspen Institute, knows what it means to listen to and learn from young leaders. She served as Chancellor of DC Public Schools from 2010 to 2016, where she drove enrollment growth, an increase in graduation rates, improvements in student satisfaction and teacher retention, and increases in AP participation and pass rates. Henderson is also the founder and CEO of Reconstruction, an organization dedicated to teaching young people about African-American history, culture, and contributions in a comprehensive and affirming way, so that students of all backgrounds benefit from a more complete understanding of our shared history and society.

When the Institute received an investment of $185 million from the Bezos Family Foundation to launch an endowed Center for Rising Generations at the Aspen Institute in August 2024, Henderson joined the Institute as its founding director, drawing on her education experience and passion for creating opportunities for young people. 

In this episode of In Session, she shares some insights and lessons learned from a career dedicated to investing in young people.

This video is a part of our new series In Session, where we ask leaders from across the Aspen Institute network to reflect on their own leadership journeys and offer practical wisdom gained from their experiences. Stay tuned for more episodes, and subscribe to our leadership newsletter to make sure you don’t miss a thing. 

Explore more leadership content on our In Focus: Igniting Leadership page.