Geisha D. Ester
Geisha Ester is a nationally recognized senior executive with over 27 years of experience in the transit industry and 18 years in workforce development. She is a transformative leader known for creating innovative, workforce development strategies that drive organizational excellence and community impact. Her distinguished career at the Chicago Transit Authority included several executive leadership roles, most recently as Vice President of Training and Workforce Development. In that role, Geisha led a team of nearly 200 workforce development professionals, developed impactful training initiatives, and built a culture of continuous learning for over 10,000 transit employees.
Geisha is also a contributing voice in the transit industry, serving as Chair of the Transportation Research Board’s TCRP Project F-34 and Chair of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Education and Career Awareness Subcommittee. Prior to accepting the role of Executive Director, Geisha served as Vice Chair on the National Transit Institute (NTI) Advisory Committee. Her leadership in these national organizations reflects a deep commitment to workforce transformation, peer learning, and elevating the role of training and workforce development in the transit industry.
Geisha is passionate about serving her community and empowering underserved youth and former justice-involved individuals through training and professional development initiatives. She proudly served as a member of the City of Chicago’s Youth Employment Working Group and as a member of the Mayor’s Interagency Reentry Council.
Geisha is widely respected for building strategic partnerships, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and delivering scalable, impactful workforce solutions. As the incoming Executive Director of the National Transit Institute, Geisha looks forward to advancing NTI’s mission and shaping the future of training across the transit industry.