Leading Through Healing: Cencira Te’o’s Transformational Leadership
In 2010, Cencira Te'o found herself navigating the challenges of being a single parent while pursuing a degree in social work. She joined the Westside Leadership Institute (WLI) with a deep desire to develop her leadership skills while serving and uplifting her community.
"I was in the right place at the right time to learn how to develop leadership skills while also serving the community locally," she recalls.
That moment marked the beginning of a leadership journey rooted in service, healing, and community—a journey that continues to shape the lives of those around her.
Leadership that Transforms
From 2010 to 2011, Cencira participated in WLI during a unique period when the Institute combined Fundamentals, Workshops, and Startups into a single intensive program. For her, WLI became more than leadership training. It became a place to grow as a leader while building relationships that would shape her work locally and beyond.
Professionally, Cencira channels her leadership through her role at NeighborWorks, where she supports clients as a financial coach. She recently returned to WLI as a Fundamentals instructor, helping prepare the next generation of community leaders. Reflecting on her journey, she notes, “One of the cool parts for me is to see the people that joined before me are still around doing the work.” This continuity underscores the enduring community WLI fosters among its alumni.
The Power of One
Essential to Cencira's leadership philosophy is the belief in the "power of one." She teaches her students that "it just takes one person to make a difference," emphasizing that one person's actions can inspire broader change. Her approach is rooted in compassion, connection, and authentic relationships. "Instead of being transactional, it's transformational. Feel what they feel and come from a place of connecting versus just in one ear out the other," she explains. This mindset has shaped her leadership style, which balances compassion with practical action.
For Cencira, learning to lead others first required learning more about herself. Her leadership development has been both an internal and external journey. She describes the process as one of unlearning and self-discovery: "I had to understand who I was at my foundation. I had to unlearn a lot so I could become a better leader—and, more importantly, a better person."
Her introspective growth was nurtured through both WLI and her involvement with Pacific Island Knowledge to Action Resources (PIK2AR), a nonprofit she cofounded in 2015.
An Ecosystem of Care
Through PIK2AR, what began as an effort to support survivors of domestic violence grew into a much broader network of services, including financial empowerment, food access, cultural preservation, peer support, and community health programs. As Cencira explains, PIK2AR became "an ecosystem of programming" that helps individuals and families build long-term stability.
Cencira considers the impact of PIK2AR to be one of her greatest accomplishments as a leader: “I saw the impact we were making and the changes in people's lives from the inside out, not just surface level.” Yet, she emphasizes that leadership is not only about external achievements but also about personal healing. “I’ve been able to work through my own healing journey and develop and grow personally,” she shares. For her, healing is intertwined with emotional intelligence and learning healthier ways to address trauma, which enriches her capacity to lead with empathy.
Creating Spaces for Others
Years of building community suddenly became harder when changes in funding tied to anti-DEI legislation forced the organization to scale back programs and lose valued staff. Additionally, many Pacific Islanders in the U.S. have been affected by migration status issues, complicating community support efforts. In the face of these obstacles, Cencira’s resilience shines through: “We make stuff happen. We find that connection within each other regardless. Somehow, we make a way.” Her determination to rebuild capacity and restore critical resources reflects her steadfast commitment to her community’s well-being. Looking ahead, Cencira hopes to restore funding, rebuild her team, and continue fostering healing and empowerment for Pacific Islander, Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color.
Her leadership lessons resonate deeply with aspiring leaders: “I feel like a good leader is somebody who meets people where they are but also knows when to step back and give space and also step in and take space.” This balance of presence and restraint reflects her belief that effective leadership is as much about listening and creating space for others as it is about taking action.
When Cencira first walked into WLI, she hoped to better serve her community. More than a decade later, she has become the kind of leader who reminds others that lasting change begins with healing ourselves, investing in relationships, and believing in the power of one person to make a difference.
This profile was researched and written by University of Utah students Hayllen Meneses Rosas and Joaquin Lopez Huertas based on interviews conducted as part of the WLI Alumni Profile Series. The series explores how WLI graduates apply leadership skills developed through the Westside Leadership Institute to strengthen their communities. The project is led by Dr. Stacy Harwood and supported by funding from the College of Architecture + Planning Research Incentive Seed Grant Program and the University Neighborhood Partners Community Scholar in Residence Program at the University of Utah.
