Meet the Team
Leadership and Research Team
"Authority is formed before it is recognized."
A multidisciplinary team of scholars and practitioners advancing leadership formation through research, teaching, and applied institutional work.

Ella R. Thompson, Ph.D.
Founder & Executive Director
Provides strategic and academic leadership for ILFR, advancing research, leadership formation, and institutional development while guiding the Institute’s vision, partnerships, and impact.
Dr. Thompson completed her doctoral studies at King’s College London, London, England, and continues to engage internationally through research and lecturing.

Sergei Petrov
Director
Leads strategy execution and operations, ensuring the Institute’s research, programs, and partnerships are delivered with clarity, coherence, and institutional rigor.
