Amelia Leonardi

Amelia is a seasoned C-suite executive with extensive experience in finance, operations, and organizational strategy. With a track record of fostering operational excellence and driving scalable, sustainable growth, Amelia has successfully guided startups, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations alike. She excels in partnering with leadership teams to define corporate strategy, develop multi-year strategic plans, and build financial models that ensure long-term success.

As the co-founder, chief operations officer, chief financial officer, and chief of staff at Issue One, Amelia works closely with the CEO to align daily operations with overarching organizational goals. She co-created the C-suite leadership team, led the 501(c)(3)/501(c)(4) incorporation process, and secured Issue One’s nonprofit designation with the IRS. Under her leadership, the organization’s operating budget grew by over 130%, and headcount more than doubled, marking significant milestones in its growth.

Prior to her work at Issue One, Amelia served as chief operating officer for Represent.US and the Represent.US Education Fund, where she co-led the organization’s transformation into the nation’s foremost nonpartisan anti-corruption entity. She structured the board, established key operating systems, and led the brand and organizational shift from a single office to a national movement.

Amelia’s background also includes spearheading international initiatives as director of operations for the Center for International Studies (CIS), where she restructured core departments across multiple locations. Earlier in her career, she co-owned Rainy Day Inc. in Vineyard Haven, MA, and served as associate director at The Forum on Education Abroad.

Amelia holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts, where she also completed a study abroad program at the University of Oviedo in Spain.

Outside of work, Amelia enjoys gardening, volunteering in the community, doing Tracy Anderson workouts, and caring for her aging parents. She also loves live music and traveling around the U.S. with her kids and husband.