Identifying Latent Leaders - Incite at Columbia University

Active Project

Identifying Latent Leaders

Protest scene with a young woman in the foreground holding a red banner
  • Team Adam Reich Suresh Naidu Patrick Youngblood Emily Mazo
  • In Partnership with SEIU Local 32BJ Communications Workers of America

Labor organizations often struggle to systematically identify potential leaders within their membership base, relying primarily on field representatives who are spread thin or self-selection among members.

The Columbia Labor Lab has developed a data-driven approach to help unions discover latent leaders–members who share characteristics with successful stewards and activists but haven't yet been formally identified or encouraged to engage in leadership roles.

The Lab’s predictive modeling approach analyzes membership data to identify patterns among existing leaders, then applies these insights to find similar members with untapped leadership potential. This methodology enables unions to proactively cultivate their next generation of organizers and expand their capacity for member engagement and mobilization.

Get Involved

Interested in partnering with the Labor Lab to identify latent leaders in your organization?

Contact Patrick Youngblood, or visit the Labor Lab website. 

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