About - Real Leaders

THE COMMUNITY FOR IMPACT

A community of leaders rewriting a new standard of business success.

OUR STORY

Real Leaders Inc. started as a magazine that spun out of YPO in 2010 to write about a new standard for business success promoting the CEOs who are innovating for impact.

At the time, green was just a color and stakeholder capitalism wasn’t recognized among the status quo. To increase awareness we went to newsstands and airport lounges in 2017 and are still featured in Hudson News, Barnes & Noble, and Delta Sky Club today.

In 2018, we noticed mainstream magazines only focused on the wealthiest billionaires and fastest growing companies so we decided to reward the businesses who were driving real impact and created the RealLeaders Impact Awards.

In 2020, when the pandemic hit award winning CEOs turned to us to create the only virtual confidential CEO groups where they could meet once-a-month for 90 minutes to get help with whatever constraint was keeping them up at night.

To combine our unique awards with our membership community we created RealLeaders UNITE a 3-day retreat style event that features some of the worlds most prolific speakers, recognizes award winners, and built lasting connections among CEOs.

We believe community is the future, so today, we’re pioneering a new tech platform that helps leaders gain access to credentials, connections, and content to grow their own community.

If you’re a CEO who wants to be a part of a community that’s rewriting a new standard of success, we encourage you to get verified and apply today.

Get Verified

OUR MISSION:
UNITE BETTER LEADERS FOR A BETTER WORLD

Real Leaders is rewriting a new standard for business success.

Real Leaders verifies and elevates the CEOs, founders, and experts who are setting new industry standards and redefining what’s possible in business.

Become recognized as the authority in your industry.

Get Verified

OUR PEOPLE

Mark Van Ness

FOUNDER

Julie Van Ness

CEO

Kevin Edwards

President

Carla Kalogeridis

PUBLISHING DIRECTOR

Kathryn Deen

MAGAZINE MANAGING EDITOR

Heather Winkel

MAGAZINE DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION

Ananda Walden

MAGAZINE DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION

Ramona Stanley

VIDEO PRODUCER

Tucker Hamilton

VIDEO PRODUCER

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WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Real Leaders is for those who carry the weight of leadership—and are ready to rise with others who do the same.

This isn’t a network for titles. It’s a movement for leaders who are driving real change and seeking connection with peers who understand the pressure, the purpose, and the potential of leadership.

To ensure every member gets meaningful support from true equals, we carefully vet applicants for executive-level experience and decision-making authority.

We evaluate your seniority based on a range of factors, including:

Your role in shaping company vision, culture, or strategy
P&L or team leadership responsibility
Board or investor engagement
Track record of growth or innovation

BECOME THE LEADER OF YOUR MOVEMENT

Credibility

Build instant trust with a verified link, awards, and branded media assets that amplify your leadership. Use your Signature tools to showcase your achievements—and turn your recognition into real results.