2026 Annual Celebration
Join us for an inspiring evening celebrating LEDA Scholars and honoring leaders advancing opportunity and equity.
About the Event
LEDA’s Annual Celebration brings together supporters, alumni, and partners to champion high-achieving students from under-resourced communities and invest in their academic and professional success.
What to Expect
- Scholar stories and community celebration
- Recognition of the 2026 honoree
- Meaningful ways to support LEDA’s work
Event Details
- Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
- Location: Chelsea Piers, New York City
- Attire: Cocktail / Festive
2026 Honoree
Sekou Kaalund is a senior executive vice president and head of Branch and Small Business Banking at U.S. Bank, overseeing more than 2,000 branches across 26 states.
Read full bio
Prior to joining U.S. Bank in 2022, he spent 15 years at JPMorgan Chase in a variety of staff and line leadership roles across institutional and retail businesses, most recently as the head of Chase Consumer Banking for the Northeast Division. Kaalund previously held roles at Citi and at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where he was a commissioned bank examiner.
At JPMorgan Chase, Kaalund was involved in launching Advancing Black Pathways, a global corporate initiative that leveraged a data-driven strategic framework to develop scalable programs to reduce the racial wealth gap.
Kaalund serves on the board of directors for the Center of the Study of the Presidency and Congress and previously served on the boards for the Duke University School of Public Policy and INROADS. He is a member of the Executive Leadership Council and Young Presidents’ Organization.
Why Your Support Matters
Your participation helps LEDA expand opportunity, strengthen scholar support, and fuel a growing community of diverse leaders.
