Pleasanton-based Gratitude Network works to improve the lives of children and youth in the areas of education, health and well-being, and children's rights by accelerating the growth of high impact social entrepreneurs, both for-profit and nonprofit. While most fellowship programs focus on fundraising and external-facing problems, the Gratitude Network seeks to create success from the inside by empowering leaders to transform their visions into reality.

"Our focus is on impacting the leaders, helping them to scale their vision and, in turn, reaching, impacting, and changing the lives of more children globally," says Founder and Executive Director Randy Haykin. "Often leaders get caught up in the mission and day-to-day challenges. We give them the skills to look at the bigger picture and grow."

Those accepted as Gratitude Network Fellows join a one-year leadership development program. The program includes individualized monthly coaching, peer-to-peer support, advice from a network of expert advisors, and access to growth seminars. Fellows are also invited to the Annual Leadership Summit, where they experience more than two days of in-person learning, problem-solving, networking, and fun with other Fellows, coaches, expert advisers, and the Gratitude team. After the fellowship is over, leaders continue to receive ongoing support as alumni of the program.

"The program is especially geared to growth-stage social entrepreneurs who are ready to scale," notes Haykin. "For our 2019 cohort, we selected the best from 720 applications for a cohort of 24 Fellows from across the world."

Charlene Sigman, the founder of Dublin-based School of Imagination, was a Gratitude Fellow in 2018 and an example of the type of leaders who become Gratitude Fellows. A speech pathologist and educator, Sigman founded a unique preschool in 2001. School of Imagination offers groundbreaking early-childhood education programs, cutting-edge intervention services, and a full-inclusion preschool that allows special needs children to excel along with their typical peers.

"The Gratitude Network provided critical training in strategic goal setting for a clearer vision for the future of the program that will allow us to serve more children and families," says Sigman. "The Gratitude Network offered me the training and support which helped me focus my efforts as a leader more effectively."

The Gratitude Network has coached social visionaries in 33 countries and impacted 80 socially focused entrepreneurs to date. Half of its work is based in the United States. After a career in venture capital, Haykin started the organization in 2012 because he understood the potential social visionaries have in making a long-lasting difference in communities.

"I view myself as Chief Purpose Officer because it's my responsibility to create a common purpose for each team member, donor, sponsor, volunteer-everyone connected with the Network-so they know what they need to do in their roles and they connect that with their personal values and behaviors," notes Haykin. "We are always interested in people who want to be advisers, coaches, or want to volunteer their services and be a part of the global community of change."

Each year the Gratitude Network Soiree raises funds for the organization's work. This year's Soiree will be held on November 3, 2019 at the Marriott in San Ramon. The event begins with a cocktail hour and a silent auction, followed by a gourmet dinner. "When you bid for an item, remember the money goes to support a social entrepreneur working with children," says Haykin.

For more information about the Gratitude Network, please visit www.gratitude-network.org.