Carmita Semaan is Founder and CEO of The Surge Institute. Surge is transforming the social sector by training, supporting, connecting and elevating education leaders of color and now boasts a network of over 500 alumni across the country who are impacting the lives of 3.4 million students. Carmita's superpower is supporting and elevating the genius of emerging and seasoned leaders - particularly women and people of color - and shining a light on the brilliance and ingenuity that is too often overlooked and untapped in solving systemic issues.

Carmita originally hails from Birmingham, AL and proudly professes that her hometown made her who she has become. Birmingham’s history has greatly shaped what Carmita feels called to do and the hustle, horsepower and heart she exhibits in doing it. Her guiding principle is the connection of head, heart, and soul in leadership to drive sustainable impact and lasting partnerships.

Carmita holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan. She was recently named a 2023 Luminary Award Winner by the 1954 Project, is currently in the third cohort of The Highland Project, and was a 2009 Pahara Aspen Fellow and 2005 Broad Residency Fellow.

Carmita lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and their beloved Goldendoodle.