About Untapped Leaders

We develop leadership grounded in values, shaped by context, and built to adapt.

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Who We Are

Untapped Leaders is a leadership development firm that helps organizations cultivate adaptive, contextually-informed leaders who are ready to lead through complexity. Our approach is built on the belief that every team already holds powerful leadership potential—it just needs to be uncovered, aligned, and activated.

We partner with organizations that want to invest in their people—not with plug-and-play content but with meaningful, contextual leadership development that drives real results.

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What We Believe

  • Leadership must evolve to meet the demands of a changing workforce.

  • Context matters—because culture, identity, and systems shape how leadership is experienced.

  • Personal growth and organizational strategy aren’t separate—they’re symbiotic.

  • Development should feel energizing, not overwhelming.

  • Diverse teams thrive when given the tools and space to lead authentically.

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Meet Dr. Jenny Vazquez-Newsum

Dr. Jenny Vazquez-Newsum, is the Founder and CEO of Untapped Leaders and the author of Untapped Leadership. Jenny has facilitated training for 500+ leaders ranging from established executives at large corporations to high school students beginning their leadership journeys – witnessing the untapped capacities that exist across all stages in career paths.

Through her prior work as Vice President of Leadership Training and Programs at Coro Southern California, Jenny designed and facilitated cohort-based programs for leaders across all sectors and industries.

At Untapped Leaders, she spearheads the design and delivery of Untapped Leaders’ facilitated sessions, consulting, and coaching.

Jenny holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern California, an M.P.A. from New York University, and an Ed. D. from the University of California - Los Angeles. 

Want to follow Jenny’s leadership insights? Connect on LinkedIn for ideas, reflections, and behind-the-scenes from the field.

Our Story

What Partners Say

  •  “Jenny holds leadership development containers that are engaging, bring all participants along, engage input, and navigate a multitude of complexities for transformational outcomes. 

    Jenny's highly developed understanding of leadership, group dynamics and interpersonal relationships, as well as her candor, clarity, and compassion, allows her to bring leaders to breakthroughs that rest on a foundation of self-awareness, connectivity, and collaboration.”  

    — Natalie Samarjian, President and CEO, Coro Southern California

  • “Participating in the Untapped Leadership Cohort equipped me to be a more thoughtful and perceptive leader. The program fostered self-reflection, allowing me to critically examine my leadership style through the lens of Jenny's inspiring guidance."

    — Julia Arrington, VP of People and Equity, Foodcorps. Inc.

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We are a team of practitioners—facilitators, strategists, coaches—who bring decades of experience in education, nonprofit, government, philanthropy, and social impact sectors.

Each of our facilitators and coaches has:

  • Lived experience navigating complex workplace dynamics

  • Subject matter expertise in leadership, equity, and systems change

  • A commitment to growth, nuance, and practical outcomes

Want a deeper look at our team?

Explore our Facilitators and Executive Coaches.

Meet The Team

We build leadership from the inside out and the bottom up, always tailoring it to your context, culture, and goals.
Explore our Approach to see what makes us different.

Let’s Talk

Whether you’re navigating a leadership transition, planning a retreat, or building a long-term leadership pipeline—we’re here to help.

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Ebook cover: "How-To Guide for Cultivating Authentically Inclusive Work Environments and Supporting Diverse Teams" by Dr. Jenny Vazquez-Newsum, featuring images of diverse individuals. Includes a contents page and introduction.