Exceptionally Good: Leaders for a Better World
We bring you in-depth interviews with exceptional leaders who drive toward a different bottom line — leaders from health care, philanthropy, non-profits, education and rescue services who are doing exceptional work for the good of the world. Exploring their origin stories, their leadership journey and the lessons they learned on their path -- sometimes the hard way -- we bring you close to understand how exceptional leaders tick.
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Exceptionally Good: Leaders for a Better World
21. Sheeba Jacob & Anay Shah - Growing from Challenge, Transition and Loss — and Partnered for Love
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In this episode of Exceptionally Good: Leaders for a Better World, I’m joined by two remarkable humans—Sheeba Jacob and Anay Shah—for a conversation about purpose, partnership, and the clarity that can emerge through challenge and loss.
Two compelling and humble leaders for good… who just happen to be married to each other!
Sheeba is the Director of Middle School Design at Citizen of the World Charter Schools, a researcher, educator, and musical artist whose work explores how teachers—and all of us—can cultivate hope in uncertain times. Her recent article in the Journal for Multicultural Education examines how contemporary teacher preparation often neglects hope and healing justice, the deeply human frameworks needed to build empathy, community, and connection. When she’s not writing or leading, Sheeba composes music that tells stories of parenthood, identity, and solidarity across communities.
Anay is an investor, storyteller, and systems thinker. As co-founder of Stepchange Fund, he works at the intersection of capital and justice, reimagining how financial systems can fuel more equitable and sustainable futures. His work reflects a deep curiosity about how complex systems—from data centers to markets—shape our lives and possibilities.
In our conversation, Sheeba and Anay talk candidly about how periods of transition and loss helped them clarify what truly matters—both in their work and in their life together. We explore how they’ve learned to name priorities, let go of what no longer serves them, and protect the relationships that make meaningful work possible.
They also share the small but powerful rituals that help them stay connected amid demanding roles and ambitious social-good goals—including Tequiza: a Friday-night ritual involving pizza, tequila, and intentional time together as partners.
This episode is an invitation to reflect on what it looks like to build a life of purpose not just as an individual, but alongside someone else—to do good work, tend to love, and keep choosing connection, even when the work is hard.
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About Exceptionally Good:
https://www.exceptionallygood.org/about
Follow us:
More from Exceptionally Good:
Work with Ryan:
https://www.exceptionallygood.org/services
Exceptionally Good on Substack:
https://substack.com/@exceptionallygood
Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell
Theme music: Ryan Raddatz
Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar
Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess
The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.