Emily Speake | Philanthropy Manager

Passionate about creating spaces and experiences for others, Emily Speake serves as philanthropy manager at the Kansas Leadership Center. Formerly a member of the Programs Team, she now stewards funded initiatives and partnerships, including the Workforce Innovators project with the Charles Koch Foundation and work with rural community foundations, funded by the Patterson Family Foundation.

Born and raised in Kansas, Emily earned a bachelor’s degree in family studies and human services with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy from Kansas State University. She married her best friend, Ethan, and moved to Orlando, Florida, where they served at a global non-profit for five years. There she received training in mobilization, student development, marketing, building strategy and design. Emily’s time in Orlando serves as a “stone of remembrance” for when empathy and innovation first piqued her interest.

Her “Covid hobby” became a side hustle in 2020 when she started selling clay earrings and wall-hangings on Etsy. She has sold 2,500+ pairs of earrings to date and loves being a part of a national maker community. Relocating to Wichita in December 2022, Emily has nestled into the heart of the city—loving and appreciating its small businesses, local church ministries and historic charm.

A true Enneagram 4, Emily is a hopeless romantic who comes alive at the finer things in life, like European travel, trips to Disney World, city lights, curated gatherings (feel free to ask her what she means by this), movie nights, snuggling her beloved Wheaten Terrier, Norman, and finding all the boba and milk tea the city has to offer.