Gratitude was overflowing as Leadership Council San Mateo County welcomed their extended community to a special celebration event. 

“Unstoppable San Mateo County,” held at the historic Carolands Chateau in Hillsborough, was an opportunity for the Leadership Council SMC Team to appreciate their community. Invitees included members of the Leadership Council SMC Board and Advisory Council, alumni and current participants in their Immersive Leadership Programs, speakers, community and city partners, sponsors, and donors. 

“Unstoppable San Mateo County,” was more than just a title. It was both a nod to the evening’s Special Guest Speaker and bestselling author, Alden Mills, and a reminder of Leadership Council SMC’s central vision—that San Mateo County is unstoppable when a diversity of leaders are connected, knowledgeable, and targeted in their efforts to create positive change.

Mr. Mills is an internationally recognized entrepreneur, business executive, C-suite advisor, military leader, and author of Be Unstoppable: The 8 Essential Actions to Succeed at Anything. and Unstoppable Teams: The Four Essential Actions of High-Performance Leadership. 

In a presentation that was tailor-made for the Leadership Council SMC audience, Mr. Mills offered observations of the challenges of both being a leader and leading teams, and provided practical strategies and ways to think about the subtle conditions that sometimes hold us back. To illustrate, he used fascinating anecdotes from his accomplished career as a Navy SEAL platoon commander, keeping the audience captivated. His talk circled back to parallels of leaders in San Mateo County, with their successes, collaborations, hurdles, and commitments who “go all in” to create a better future for those who live and work here.

Thank you’s were central to the evening. Co-Presidents Kaarin Hardy and Margi Power thanked five outgoing Founding Board Members for the significant impacts they had in the creation of Leadership Council SMC: Tracy Avelar, Foster City Chief of Police, Emily Beach, Burlingame Councilmember, John Delaney, SVP, Silicon Valley Bank, Carole Groom, Former SMC Supervisor, and Sarah Lucas, Lucas Venture Group Partner.

Kaarin and Margi thanked the many people and organizations who contributed to another successful year for Leadership Council SMC. “Every member of our extended community has ‘gone all in’ for us—from our dedicated Board members, committee members, program participants, speakers, city partners, and sponsors,” said Kaarin. “Every action they have taken on our behalf helps ensure that we can provide leadership development opportunities to every person aspiring to a lead role. We could not do what we do without you!”

In her “View from the Board,” Rita Mancera, Executive Director of Puente and Leadership Council SMC Board Member, expressed her thanks for the ways in which the SMC community has come together, especially in support of the needs of coastside residents who have faced numerous hardships in the recent past. She said, “I look forward to many, many cohorts and graduates of Leadership Council SMC’s Leadership Immersion Programs for a long time to come.”

In the grandeur of the Carolands Chateau, guests learned about Leadership Council SMC programs, enjoyed a light dinner provided by Sappore Italiano and Rustic Postres, and visited with old and new friends. Carolands Foundation docents also shared the beauty and heritage of the mansion. It was a lovely evening, framed by a shared commitment to the future of San Mateo County.

Special Thanks to Those Who Contributed to the “Unstoppable San Mateo County” Thank You Event

• Franklin Templeton, Jenny Johnson, CEO of Franklin Templeton, and Tiffany Hong, SVP Chief Administrative Officer
• Mavie Mendelson, Executive Director, Carolands Foundation, and her staff including docents Paul Price and Tom Larsen
• Unstoppable San Mateo County” Organizing Team: Marie Chuang, Councilmember, Town of Hillsborough and Jason Ting, Wealth Management Advisor, Ting & Associates at Merrill Lynch
• Alden Mills, Special Guest Speaker
• Elio D’Urzo, Sappore Italiano Restaurant
• Eva Zemeño, Rustic Postres / Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
• Tim McGee, Graphic Design