lesa mitchell

Startup ecosystems, women founders, and human connection

Building connections between people drives human flourishing, a belief Lesa carries into everything they do. At the & Company in Kansas City, they serve as EVP of strategy and partnerships, shaping more inclusive startup communities. They frame women's entrepreneurship as an economic imperative and, on Suvi Health's board, help patients and families take part in their care. As a founding funder of the Code for America fellows program, they work to build pathways that turn ideas into working businesses. Lesa walks the Clear Creek Trail, practices Pilates, and follows architecture and design, fascinated by how spaces shape interaction. Originally from Chicago, they have deep roots in Kansas City, with stints in San Francisco, Austin, and France along the way. A University of Kansas graduate, they live by a simple rule: leave the world better than you found it.