Former San Francisco Mayor London Breed is set to embark on a new chapter in her career following her recent electoral defeat to Daniel Lurie.
After stepping away from City Hall, Breed has been enjoying some time off, basking in the sun on Venetian canals and spending quality moments with friends in Portugal. Notably, she attended a Beyoncé concert wearing a white cowboy hat, as seen in her social media posts.
However, the former mayor is ready to transition back into her professional life. On Wednesday, the Aspen Institute announced that Breed will join their policy academy as an adviser for a six-month period. This program, based in the Bay Area, aims to equip its fellows with essential policymaking skills.
In her new position, Breed will engage in teaching, mentoring, and representing the program at various public events. She emphasized the program’s mission: “This program is about more than learning how government works—it’s about inspiring a new era of civic leadership.”
Breed will serve alongside G.T. Bynum, the former mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma, as fellow adviser-in-residence. Dan Porterfield, President and CEO of the Aspen Institute, remarked on the unique insights that mayors like Breed bring to policymaking, highlighting their close connections to their communities.
The Aspen Institute holds significance for Breed, as she has attended several of their events in cities like Aspen, Colorado, Amsterdam, and Washington, D.C., in recent years. The think tank collaborates with Bloomberg Philanthropies, which is linked to former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, a significant supporter of Breed during her campaign with a donation of $1.2 million.
Breed’s aspirations extend beyond her role at the Aspen Institute. Sources indicate that she is considering launching a consulting firm, with plans for a fall debut and potential clients already in her sights.
In her own words, Breed stated, “Just because I’m not making noise every day doesn’t mean I’m not making moves. I led San Francisco through some of its most difficult years—and much of the progress we’re beginning to see now is the result of the work we put in when times were tough.”
She expressed pride in her legacy as mayor, asserting that true leadership is defined by hard work and impactful change rather than media attention. “I’m proud of that legacy,” she noted. “Leadership isn’t about headlines; it’s about showing up, doing the hard work, and building change that lasts. That’s what I did and that’s exactly what I intend to keep doing.”
Serving as mayor from 2018 to 2025, Breed faced significant challenges, including navigating the tail end of San Francisco’s tech boom and the ensuing economic downturn stemming from the pandemic. During her recent campaign, she portrayed herself as a seasoned leader with a wealth of experience. Meanwhile, her critics, including Lurie, labeled her an insider who failed to adequately address the city’s homelessness crisis and urban decay.
Since leaving her mayoral post in January, Breed has kept a relatively low political profile. However, she made headlines this month by condemning California Senator Alex Padilla’s arrest during a Homeland Security press conference.
Breed is also scheduled to join Lurie and other elected officials at Third Baptist Church this Saturday for a commemoration of Amos Brown.
image source from：sfstandard
