Mitzie Almquist

As Chief Leadership Officer at Gap International, Mitzie Almquist is responsible for the design and delivery of the company’s transformative Breakthrough Leadership programs. These programs empower leaders to undergo personal transformation while delivering unprecedented results for their organizations. With a career spanning over 25 years, Ms. Almquist has worked closely with CEOs and executive teams, leading global initiatives that drive growth, performance, and lasting organizational change.

Ms. Almquist is the creator and primary leader of Building a Breakthrough Executive, Gap International's highly impactful executive leadership development program. She has helped shape the leadership journeys of executives across industries such as mining, retail, pharmaceuticals, and financial services, enabling them to realize their full potential and drive significant breakthroughs in their organizations and communities.

Throughout her career, Ms. Almquist has focused on freeing leaders and organizations from limiting beliefs and enabling them to achieve what they once thought impossible. Her approach emphasizes the power of transformation, not only in business outcomes but also in creating leaders who can shape the future. This philosophy is exemplified in her work with the Deputy Managing Director of Debswana, a joint venture between DeBeers Diamonds and the government of Botswana. Ms. Almquist collaborated with him to develop breakthrough leaders within the company and the broader community, reinforcing the idea that true leadership is about serving others and driving societal impact.

Before joining Gap International, Ms. Almquist led global communications and performance programs, where she gained deep expertise in organizational development and leadership transformation. Her career journey is rooted in a lifelong passion for serving the world by expanding possibilities and providing freedom for individuals to grow. This mission began during her childhood in a small New Mexico town and continued through her involvement with various leadership initiatives and organizations such as Girl Scouts of America.

For ten years, Ms. Almquist ran Gap International's office in London, where she built a strong community of Breakthrough Leaders and helped shape the company’s influence across Europe and Africa. Her leadership style is deeply collaborative. She believes in the power of diverse teams and the rich quality of experience they bring, both to the work and to the people involved. She thrives in environments where inclusion, empowerment, and collective achievement are prioritized.

Ms. Almquist holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and is deeply committed to the idea that no leader or individual needs to be “stuck” in their current state. She is passionate about helping people and organizations unlock their freedom, both from past limitations and toward a future of limitless possibilities.

Her volunteer work further reflects her dedication to service and community, including her time spent with the Earth Day Organization in Washington, D.C., where she helped organize events to promote environmental awareness, and her support of animal care and preservation efforts.

In everything she does, Ms. Almquist remains driven by a singular, powerful belief that leadership is about giving people the freedom to be their best selves, both in their careers and in their lives.