Heidi Forbes has long been content to quietly operate outside the limelight. The various jobs and careers she’s held over the years have been away from the public spotlight. She’s quietly given her time and money to philanthropic efforts and donated a variety of artwork she’s created with little fanfare. She even took an eight-year break from Facebook.

But she believes the community and the broader world need strong leadership at this moment, and she says she can bring that leadership to th...