Myra Goodman Smith is a recognized leader and expert in nonprofit management and governance. She served as the President and CEO of Leadership Metro Richmond for 15 years, where she prepared hundreds of diverse leaders to serve and engage in their communities. Before her role at Leadership Metro Richmond, she spent 23 years as a Vice President at United Way, where she led initiatives in research, planning, grantmaking, program development, fundraising, governance, and operations.

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For decades, Myra has developed and conducted workshops and advised nonprofit leaders on effective management and governance practices.  She has been a member of gubernatorial, national, state, and local boards, holding every key leadership position during her years of service

 

Myra has received several awards and recognitions, including:

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• Lifetime Legacy Award, Association of Leadership Programs, 2025

• Arête Award for Excellence, Leadership Metro Richmond, 2025

• Virginia Black Business Leaders Award, Virginia Business Magazine, 2025

• Bold Women Changing Richmond, Richmond Magazine, 2021

• A Person of the Year, Richmond Times Dispatch, 2020

• Outstanding Women Award for Nonprofit Leadership, YWCA, 2020

• Living Legacy Award, Richmond Public Schools, 2019

• Most Influential Women in Virginia, Virginia Lawyers Weekly, 2016

 

Myra holds a BS degree in Urban Studies and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Virginia Commonwealth University.