From reimagining neighborhood schools to coaching leaders through liberation and change, Malka Borrego shares how authenticity, proximity to community, and systems-level leadership can transform education and the people within it.
Malka Borrego is a third-generation Angeleno, proud Latina, and longtime public education leader whose work has reshaped educational access in Los Angeles. She is the founder of Equitas Academy, a K–12 public charter school system rooted in Pico Union, and the founder of MB Consulting Company, where she now supports school systems, leaders, and boards navigating complexity and change. Across nearly three decades in public education, Malka has remained deeply committed to designing schools and leadership structures that center the communities they serve.
Her journey began with a simple but powerful realization: schools were not designed for her community’s success. After witnessing families bused hours away from Pico Union for school, Malka returned home after college to build something different. What started in 2009 as a single school serving 100 students grew into six thriving schools, allowing students to attend high-quality schools within walking distance. Along the way, she confronted stark inequities, including the reality that while Latino students make up nearly half of public school enrollment, they remain dramatically underrepresented in leadership.
In the conversation, Malka shares hard-earned lessons from scaling Equitas, stepping down as CEO in 2022, and returning later to see the organization flourish under Dr. Sophia Roditti’s leadership. She discusses her transition into governance strategy and liberation coaching, including her training with Coaching for Healing, Justice, and Liberation. Central to her approach is the belief that authenticity is not a liability, but a strategic superpower, and one that allows leaders to serve with clarity, dignity, and impact.
This episode explores leadership through an anti-oppression lens, the future of education post-COVID, and how leaders can build extraordinary institutions without sacrificing their humanity. Malka’s reflections on boundaries, energy, and wholeness offer powerful takeaways for anyone leading through uncertainty. Tune in to hear a grounded, hopeful conversation about building systems and lives that truly work.
Chapters
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00:31 Meet Malka Borrego and transforming education in Pico Union
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02:26 Founding and growing Equitas Academy
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05:07 Navigating challenges and successes in Pico Union
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11:05 Leadership evolution and future endeavors
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27:31 Building success through Latino leadership cohorts
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28:40 Challenges and opportunities in race-focused leadership work
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30:42 Reflections on leadership identity and personal growth
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36:15 Balancing family life with professional leadership
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43:08 Future aspirations and closing reflections
Connect with Malka Borrego to learn more about her work in educational equity, leadership coaching, and system-level transformation, and explore how leading authentically can create lasting change for communities and institutions alike.
Stay strong.
Episode 9