A message from Coro CEO Laney Whitcanack
Dear Coro Northern California Community,
In the Coro spirit of reflection and growth, I’m writing to share a significant transition. After nearly a decade as the CEO of Coro Northern California, I will step down from this role in July 2025 and enjoy some time with my family before deciding on my next adventure.
When I started as CEO, I was inspired by the question, how can we get Coro’s transformative leadership tools into the hands of more people? I’m so proud to say that we’ve done just that. Some highlights from the past 10 years include:
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Equipping more than 8,000 Coro leaders across the Bay Area and beyond with our tools, training, and networks.
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Relaunching our Women in Leadership program, inspiring and elevating more than 500 Bay Area women leaders, including several newly elected public servants.
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Expanding leadership training partnerships with organizations like UCSF, UC Berkeley, the Partnership for the Bay’s Future, and the Golden State Warriors Foundation.
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Launching issue-based leadership programs for those tackling our toughest challenges like water, housing, and workforce development, resulting in stronger leadership pipelines and policy changes at the local, state and national levels
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Ensuring Coro’s financial health and long-term sustainability by growing our annual operating budget to $5M+ and increasing our cash reserves.
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Strengthening our flagship Fellows Program in Public Affairs with competitive stipends for every Fellow and relevant changes to accommodate the realities of remote work.
These achievements have been possible because of our talented and dedicated staff and Board — and our phenomenal network of alums, partners, and supporters like you. Thank you.
The next steps will be led by our amazing and committed Board of Directors. I am so grateful that they are leading this transition process with great intentionality and care. Please see the message below from our Board Chair, Ben Hur.
Thank you for your enduring trust, support, and commitment to Coro’s mission. I look forward to celebrating all we have accomplished together at Coro’s Spring Celebration on April 30th.
With gratitude,
Laney Whitcanack
CEO & Coro Alumna, Coro Northern California
A message from Coro Board Chair Ben Hur
Dear Coro Northern California Community,
Please join me in expressing tremendous gratitude to Laney for her successful tenure at Coro.
Laney’s leadership has been transformative, positioning Coro for continued growth, relevance, and impact. As we prepare for her transition, the Board and staff are committed to finding the right leader to build on this strong foundation and move us into the future. Laney will remain engaged as Coro’s CEO through July and will overlap with her successor to allow for a smooth transition.
To ensure a seamless transition, we’ve formed a CEO Search Committee and are partnering with Edgility Search Consultants to lead the search process with input from the Board, staff, alumni, and partners. We’ve also established a Transition Taskforce of staff and Board Members, focused on supporting daily operations and onboarding the next leader.
Over the coming months, we will celebrate Laney’s achievements and dedication to Coro. We are confident that Coro will continue to thrive, and look forward with great anticipation to what’s to come. Please stay tuned for the position announcement and help us spread the word about the CEO opportunity. Your ongoing support and engagement through this process will be an important part of its success.
Coro’s spirit of continuous learning and a commitment to bettering society for the common good has been a throughline for nearly nine decades and will continue to flourish. On behalf of the entire Coro Board, thank you for your ongoing support of this vital work!
Sincerely,
Ben Hur
Board Chair, Coro Northern California