Ciara Garia on Creating Lasting Change

In this episode of B-Sides: The Deeper Side of Leadership, host Lorelle Atkinson sits down with Ciara Garcia, CEO of Social Venture Partners International, to explore how lived experience shapes the way we lead. Garcia reflects on growing up between two vastly different socioeconomic realities and how that dual perspective informs her work today. From supporting families through grief to building bridges between nonprofits and philanthropists, she shares what it means to lead with empathy, presence, and intention. The conversation also dives into her approach to leadership through radical candor, balancing care with accountability, and why connection remains at the center of creating meaningful change.