Learn Lead Lift: Preserving a Leadership Legacy

It’s amazing where a single connection can lead. Back in 2019, a cold LinkedIn outreach to Peggy Wallace of NACD.DC led to an introduction to Loretta McCarthy, and our connection with the two of them became the beginning of our relationship with Golden Seeds. Through that connection, we met Wendy Ryan, an influential thought leader, board and C-suite advisor, and creator of the Learn Lead Lift Framework.

Wendy immediately connected with IFEL's vision and mission and quickly became a valued member of our community, supporting entrepreneurs and contributing her leadership expertise. When she shared that she was sunsetting her company, we saw an opportunity to preserve and expand the impact of her work. We approached Wendy with a proposal to carry forward the Learn Lead Lift program and make it available to entrepreneurs, volunteers, and investors across the IFEL ecosystem.

As Wendy has observed through decades of advising CEOs, "many of the mindsets, skill sets, and behaviors that fuel a leader's early success need to evolve" as organizations grow. That insight is at the heart of this new fellowship.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the inaugural Learn Lead Lift Fellowship. This fully subsidized leadership development experience provides entrepreneurs who are preparing to grow their teams over the next three to six months with access to Wendy's world-class curriculum, interactive learning modules, and facilitated discussions focused on strengthening decision-making, communication, delegation, and leadership effectiveness.

We are deeply honored that Wendy has entrusted IFEL to steward this important part of her legacy and are excited to bring these transformative leadership tools to our community. We look forward to seeing the impact this inaugural fellowship will have on our Spring 2026 cohort and beyond.

Thank you, Wendy, for your trust, your visionary framework, and your unwavering commitment to helping leaders continue to learn, lead, and lift others.