What if the method that helps a 17-year-old find the gold in their story could help Washington, DC find the gold in its future?
In this episode, we sit down with Kinney Zalesne — Harvard-trained attorney, longtime Washington DC leader, and former President of Peer Forward — to explore empath leadership, civic courage, and the future of DC politics.
Kinney and I have crossed paths through different chapters of life in Washington — as coworkers, as friends, and as leaders navigating complex rooms. I’ve witnessed her lead with both empathy and backbone long before this moment. As someone who speaks often about Empath Leadership — where emotional intelligence meets structure and accountability — I’ve seen those qualities in her up close, and that shared history informs the tone of this conversation.
As Washington navigates questions of DC statehood, budget autonomy, congressional representation, and a shifting AI-driven economy, this dialogue reframes how meaningful change actually happens: it is seen, structured, and built with intention.
From the Peer Forward playbook — free write, gold mine, then structure — to a bold reimagining of Washington as a “city of service,” we examine how psychological insight meets public policy. Why empath leadership isn’t soft power — it’s disciplined power. The art of pairing care with confrontation. Creating safety and structure so communities can act, while standing firm against narcissistic leadership dynamics that distort truth and erode democracy.
Kinney shares her vision for strengthening local governance, claiming DC’s full representation in Congress, and mobilizing cross-sector leadership in a rapidly evolving political and technological landscape.
Along the way, we explore immigrant identity, trauma-informed leadership, mama-bear ferocity, and the courage it takes to stop outsourcing reality to the loudest voice in the room.
About Kinney
Kinney Zalesne is a longtime Washington, DC leader committed to expanding opportunity and strengthening communities. A Harvard-trained attorney and former Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice under Janet Reno, she has worked at the intersection of law, education, and civic impact for over three decades.
As former President of Peer Forward, she helped thousands of students become the first in their families to attend college, building systems that identify potential and translate vision into structure.
She is currently running for Congress to advocate for Washington’s full voice and representation.
Find her at www.kinneyfordc.com
and @kinney4dc.
