We are truly saddened by the loss of Leila Janah, Founder and CEO of Samasource, and LxMI. Leila also co-founded Samahope with Shivani Garg Patel, Chief Strategy Officer of the Skoll Foundation, who offers this remembrance.
Working side by side with Leila for almost four years taught me so many things. Leila was a visionary who saw opportunity where others often never had, inspired so many to the world of social entrepreneurship, and was dogged in her pursuit of progress against each ambitious goal.
A pioneer, Leila challenged the status quo when it came to questions around who gets access to dignified work and critical health treatments. She saw the possibility and intersections in innovations in technology, the future of work ,and holistic health and beauty, aiming to push the envelope as she grew Samasource, Samaschool, and LXMI.
Leila was a moving storyteller, able to connect with and inspire others to act. She had a gift that I saw motivate people over and over again. The line of people wanting to work with her was long. Personally, I never saw myself as an entrepreneur until I met Leila and our connection immediately pulled me in to build Samahope together. For helping me see more in myself, I am forever grateful to her.
In so many ways, Leila was larger than this life could contain. Her ambition to drive change, the way she inspired others, the urgency with which she pursued it all. Her push for more for herself and others around her was almost prescient of the time she had to do it all. Hopefully, we can each take with us this sense of urgency and commitment to make progress on our greatest challenges the way Leila did. Gratefully, Leila’s legacy lives on in those who worked alongside her and the many whose lives she changed.
Rest well, my friend.
image (cc) USI Events
