This past summer, Councilwoman Rachel Salinas was honored to be accepted into the 2024 National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Leading Tribal Nations Executive Education Program at Harvard Business School. This five-day program brought together 77 leaders from 46 Tribal Nations and 18 Canadian First Nations, all dedicated to advancing tribal governance, sovereignty, and community prosperity.

Held on the Harvard Business School campus, the program was part of NCAI's Empowering Leaders Series, which was launched in 2023. Participants engaged in collaborative learning using the renowned case-study model, covering essential topics such as:

◈ Strategic mindset and leading senior teams
◈ Leadership in context and crisis
◈ Environmental and resource management principles
◈ Negotiations and systems thinking for social change
◈ Corporate governance and inclusive governance systems
◈ Strategic trade-offs.

Reflecting on her experience, Councilwoman Salinas said, "The program was a transformative experience, filled with engaging, thought-provoking discussions and invaluable insights. The esteemed Harvard faculty, combined with the diverse perspectives of my fellow tribal leaders, provided an unparalleled opportunity for growth. I left with a renewed sense of purpose and innovative strategies for leadership."

Councilwoman Salinas expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas for their support, as well as to the NCAI, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and Harvard Business School for facilitating this empowering experience. "I was proud to represent our tribe and am eager to apply these new tools and strategies to benefit our community," she added.

The Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas proudly celebrates Councilwoman Salinas's achievement as she continues to lead with vision, determination, and an unwavering commitment to our people.