ACCP is excited to welcome Leanne Posko, Director of Community Impact and Investment at Capital One, as the current ACCP board chair.
Leanne has a long history with ACCP, and we wanted to help our members get to know her a little better.
Q: Tell us a little bit about what you do at Capital One.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team for Capital One’s Community Impact and Investment team, I help lead our 50 member-strong team to carry out the work of the Capital One Impact Initiative. The Impact Initiative is our philanthropic strategy focused on supporting growth in underserved communities and advancing socioeconomic mobility by closing gaps in equity and opportunity. The Impact Initiative builds upon Capital One’s core mission to change banking for good, and its priorities around racial equity, affordable housing, small business support, workforce development, and financial well-being.
Q: As a long-time CSR professional, can you share with us how you came to the field?
I’ve had a dynamic career that has spanned different sides of philanthropy and CSR. For more than 20 years I worked in and led several not-for-profit organizations. I was then recruited for my first CSR role in the early 2000s when CSR was still an emerging field. I’ve had the opportunity to work and grow in CSR over the past 20 years, from my first post at an energy company to my current role at Capital One.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love food and wine, gardening, and cooking — really any culinary experiences where I can try new foods or recipes. I love being outdoors, walking, hiking, running, playing basketball, or pickleball (a new sport for me!). When the pandemic struck and Capital One moved to a full time “work from home” status, I was blessed to be able to move into my beach house in Rehoboth, DE. The beach is always my favorite place to be. Another ‘work from home’ bonus has been having my daughter, a certified yoga instructor, move back in with us to finish her master’s degree program. She’s my favorite yoga teacher and yoga partner.
Q: What’s the best advice you have received?
My parents always said: “Remember the Golden Rule — Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” That advice is the foundation for the way I move through the world. No matter the situation, if I pause long enough to think, “How would I want to be treated if I were on the other side of this conversation or situation?” I feel centered. It reminds me that kindness and respect are always the right places to start.
Q: What is your passion in CSR? How do you hope to promote that during your tenure as board chair?
My passion is all around connection – finding connection for myself and helping others to find and create connection. I love meeting and talking with people and when I do, my mind immediately starts to see synergy and connection opportunities. Connecting for myself and being a connector for others gives me juice!
Q: What is your vision and goal for ACCP this year?
The events of 2020 have given our membership an even greater mandate and more opportunity to lead. The important roles that corporate citizenship professionals can play in effectively addressing social, economic and environmental issues has never been more prominent. We have the unique opportunity to use our corporate resources to strategically drive change and build authentic relationships that will create impact and opportunity.
As chair, my goals are to work with the Board and staff to create our 3- to 5-year vision and strategic plan focused on building capacity and supporting growth; enhance our board governance and relationships with members so that we are well positioned to help lead the organization through future challenges and opportunities; and advance equity at every level — in our organization, our profession, and within our communities.
