S1 E19 Niki Leondakis - CEO of Core Power Yoga - Diversity Stretch - Fresh voices in Yoga Culture

Niki Leondakis is a tireless champion for empowering women and moving the needle on DEIB in every place she works. I had the pleasure of working with her in NY where she was the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. One of her many big impacts was galvanizing the core value of mutual respect and women's empowerment within the organization. She is a force of nature and consistently raises the level of discourse, consciousness and opportunity for women around her. In this episode, Niki reveals specific proven strategies and practices that are indispensable for any leader who wants to be effective in creating a culture fairness and equity. Sharpen your pencils, you're going to want to take notes.
*NOTE: the book Niki mentions is Rosalyn Taylor O’Neale, “7 Key 2 Success: Unlocking the Passion for Diversity”
More about Niki Leondakis:
Niki Leondakis is Chief Executive Officer at CorePower yoga, the largest yoga studio brand in the United States with over 200 studios. Throughout her career, Niki has worked to build and lead diverse and customer-centric teams in the hospitality and boutique fitness industries. She has more than 30 years of experience building lifestyle brands and creating award-winning workplace cultures that are driven by innovation and customer loyalty.

before joining CorePower Yoga, Niki served as CEO of multiple companies including The Wolff Company, a real estate private equity firm, Equinox Fitness Clubs, as well as Two Roads Hospitality (sold to Hyatt Hotels) and Commune Hotels & Resorts. Before Commune, she was President and Chief Operating Officer of Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants.

Niki has received numerous industry awards and has been named one of the “100 Most Influential Women” by the San Francisco Business Times annually since 2002. A long-time passion, she also serves on the Board of Directors for Dress for Success, an international not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

In her free time, Niki enjoys traveling and is an avid yoga practitioner, hiker, and runner.