Centering Leadership, Strengthening Communities: Pinkerton Launches the Senior Leaders Network

The Pinkerton Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of its newest leadership development cohort, The Senior Leaders Network (SLN).  The 18-month program builds on the success of the Foundation’s prior leadership cohorts –the Pinkerton Advanced Leadership Network (PALN) and the Pinkerton Senior Leadership Network (PSLN), — it reflects Pinkerton’s ongoing commitment to strengthening leadership at organizations serving young people and communities most impacted by systemic inequities. 

The SLN brings together a small group of senior mission-driven leaders who report directly to the CEOs, Executive Directors, or Presidents of organizations that are current or former Pinkerton grantees. Participants co-create a learning community that offers space, support, and professional development resources to deepen leadership practice, sharpen skills, and explore new ways to drive impact in the youth development field. 

”We strongly believe that effective leaders are deeply engage with the young people and communities they serve” said Rick Smith, President and CEO of The Pinkerton Foundation. “Through dialogue, peer learning, and shared reflection, we hope that participants will explore leadership challenges and opportunities while building a trusted network.”   

The program includes a mix of in-person and virtual convenings shaped by participant input. The session will emphasize renewal, sustainability, community building, and self-reflection.  Participants will also have access to one-on-one leadership coaching  by certified leadership coaches. 

The program is led by Erica Hamilton, a seasoned nonprofit executive and founder of The Memo I Never Got (MING), a consulting and executive coaching firm dedicated to supporting mission-driven leaders. Hamilton also draws on her experiences teaching leadership development at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University. As she puts its, her approach blends strategic insight with an emphasis on reflection, clarity, and sustainable leadership. In her role, Hamilton partners closely with participants to shape the program’s learning agenda, support cohort development, and guide the creation of individualized growth opportunities. The SLN is funded by The Pinkerton Foundation and offered at no cost to participants. Senior Program Officer Danielle Pulliam, serves as an active thought partner. “My role is to ensure that we’re not only amplifying the voices of leaders in the program but also integrating their unique perspectives into the fabric of our work,” said Pulliam. “By harnessing the collective wisdom of these leaders, we’re not just enhancing individual competencies but actively strengthening the youth development sector.” 

Through the SLN, The Pinkerton Foundation continues to affirm its belief that effective, enduring leadership is rooted in authenticity, deep community connection, and shared learning—and that investing in senior leaders is essential to building a stronger, more equitable youth development field. 

About the Pinkerton Foundation

The Pinkerton Foundation is an independent grantmaking organization established in 1966 by Robert Allan Pinkerton, the Chairman and CEO of Pinkerton’s, Inc., then the nation’s oldest and largest security company. The foundation, which retains no ties to the firm, supports community-based programs for children, youth and families in economically disadvantaged areas in New York City.