Laleh’s career has focused on building vibrant, modern democracies. As Managing Director of Programs at the Open Society Foundations, she designs, launches, and oversees initiatives that elevate democratic values, drive political reforms, shape inclusive policies, and promote equity and racial justice. Her deep expertise in U.S. voting and elections, technology policy, and media and data consolidation is reflected in her writings and her leadership in mobilizing donors.

Laleh studied at Harvard and Georgetown, and now lives in New York City. She grew up in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Iran, experiencing firsthand the challenges of war, revolution, and martial law—experiences that continue to shape her work today.

Jean’s career is marked by her deep belief in the reservoir of talent and vision within the social sector. As a former CPO and Senior Fellow at CRE, she partnered with clients on organizational and leadership effectiveness, culture transformations, talent enhancement, and strategy development. She brings to the table a wide range of professional experience from the nonprofit, corporate, government, and international arenas, grounded with perspectives from completing a doctoral program in Organizational Psychology at Columbia University. Jean has shared her perspectives in several publications and in leadership and management learning sessions. Active in community organizations, she has served on several boards, co-founded a community-based organization, mentored emerging leaders, and was a recipient of several awards.

Harlem born and bred—raised in and by the struggle for a just world. Spouse, father, son, brother, uncle, friend to some, activist, attorney, judge, teacher—but mostly human with flaws and blemishes.

"Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals." – Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of those depths." – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress." – Frederick Douglass

La lucha continua!