Lead for Good

Lead for Good with Lisa Wood | Why the Best Nonprofit CEOs Lead Through Relationships What if one of the greatest competitive advantages a nonprofit CEO can have isn't strategy, operations, or even fundraising? What if it's relationships? In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Lisa Wood, CEO of Casa Teresa, to explore why relationship-centered leadership creates stronger org...

From borrowing $50 and selling Rice Krispie bars at quarterly bake sales to leading a nonprofit organization that now generates more than $1 million annually through a single auction event, Billy Henry shares one of the most inspiring grassroots nonprofit growth stories you will hear. In this episode of Lead for Good, Billy reflects on founding the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes at just...

Cybersecurity is no longer a side conversation for nonprofit organizations. It is a core leadership and governance responsibility. In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge Podcast, Chris Looney sits down with Jeff Steadman of RSM for a practical and timely discussion on fiduciary duty in the digital age. Together, they explore why nonprofit leaders and boards must now think differently about cybersec...

Leadership is not something you take. It’s something you give. In this powerful episode of Lead for Good, we sit down with Edward Amey for a deeply practical and inspiring conversation about how nonprofit leaders can build genuine loyalty within their organizations in ways that develop future leaders, reduce turnover, and dramatically strengthen mission outcomes. Edward shares his remarkable perso...

In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Ronnetta Johnson for a thoughtful and deeply relevant conversation about leading teams through emotionally heavy work while sustaining personal resilience as a leader. Drawing from more than three decades of nonprofit leadership and her experience leading Waymakers, Ronnetta shares practical wisdom on how leaders can support their teams...

Lead for Good Podcast | John Kobara: Getting Unstuck, Rediscovering Purpose, and Leading with Proximity What does it really mean to feel stuck as a leader and more importantly, how do you move forward with clarity, energy, and purpose? In this powerful episode of Lead for Good, host Chris Looney sits down with longtime nonprofit leader and thought partner John Kobara for a deeply reflective and pr...

Lead for Good with Burgandie Kuuipo Onekea Episode Title: Confusion Is Expensive: The Leadership Discipline of Clarity In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Burgandie Kuuipo Onekea, Chief Regional Officer and Executive Director of Junior Achievement of Southern California, for a candid and deeply practical conversation about one of the most underused leadership advantages i...

Every leader will face a moment when the ground shifts. A financial shortfall. A reputational threat. An external shock no one saw coming. The question is never if a crisis will come. It is how you will lead when it does. In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Tom West, Executive Director of Atlanta Ballet, to explore what it truly means to manage through crisis when the sta...

Can two CEOs really lead one of the most complex nonprofits in the country? In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Steve Delgado, Co-CEO of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang intervention and re-entry organization in the world. With 10,000 people walking through their doors each year, 16 social enterprises, 300 staff members, and a powerful mission rooted in radical kinshi...

Leadership Is Not Meant to Be Lonely with Robin Sinclair In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney welcomes Robin Sinclair, Executive Director of the Fieldstone Leadership Network, for a powerful conversation about camaraderie and connection in nonprofit leadership. Robin reflects on: The moment she was told to “get your running shoes on” and step into leadership Leading during the Great Rece...

In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney interviews Art Groeneveld, CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley, about culture, values, and leadership growth. After years of investing in staff development and rebuilding post COVID, BGCHV formalized a new organizational values framework developed by its management team. Art explains how the organization identified four cultural pillars,...

In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney speaks with Jennifer Wise, Vice President for Regional Development in the Southeast for the National MS Society. Jennifer brings more than twenty years of experience in fundraising, volunteer leadership, and organizational development, and she shares a thoughtful look at what it takes to build strong boards and activate them in meaningful ways. Jennif...

This episode of Lead for Good features a thoughtful conversation with Christy Ward, CEO of Share Ourselves, on what it truly takes to develop people inside a nonprofit organization. Christy talks with host Chris Looney about the importance of creating a culture where staff have room to grow, how leaders can provide honest and supportive feedback, and what it looks like when someone is in the right...

What does it take to lead a creative organization where artistry, business discipline, and community impact must all coexist? In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney is joined by Lacey Huszcza, President and CEO of the Richmond Symphony, for a thoughtful and practical conversation on leading creative teams. Drawing from her experience as both a musician and nonprofit executive, Lacey shares...

In this episode of Lead for Good, nonprofit strategist and executive coach Nancy Batterman shares a rich set of lessons shaped by more than three decades as a CEO and six years of coaching leaders across the sector. Nancy reflects on her early journey in special education, her unexpected rise to leading a large nonprofit organization, and the mentors who shaped her approach to leadership. She emph...

Leadership is not about having all the answers. It's about creating clarity, listening well, and building trust that endures through both success and crisis. In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with John Kozyra, President & CEO of Avera St. Anthony's Hospital in Nebraska, for a thoughtful conversation on what it means to lead with vision while remaining deeply grounded in...

Lead for Good with Erin Rank: Defining Your North Star What happens when a nonprofit leader takes a growing organization, applies business discipline without sacrificing mission, and creates extraordinary clarity across the entire team? In this episode of Lead for Good, I sit down with Erin Rank, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, to explore how her organization used...

Lead for Good with Rod Hanners: Driving Vision Through Culture, Trust, and Purpose What does it take to lead one of the nation's premier academic health systems through extraordinary growth, rapid change, and constant innovation while keeping people at the center of every decision? In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Rod Hanners, CEO of Keck Medicine of USC, to explore on...

🎧 New Episode Alert: Lead for Good with Baron King, CEO of The CHATT Foundation This week on Lead for Good, we explore what it truly means to lead with psychological awareness and empathy. My guest, Baron King, brings a rare combination of business acumen, clinical insight, and heart. As CEO of The CHATT Foundation, Baron leads an organization dedicated to meeting the most basic needs of hungry,...

On this episode of the Lead for Good podcast, Corey Dantzler, the Executive Director of the Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center in Los Angeles, shares what leaders need to know when following a founder and how to lead with both respect and innovation. Corey has led the Center for years, guiding it forward after its founder’s passing and carrying on a powerful legacy of serving youth and families. Corey bri...

In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Dawn Reese, CEO of The Wooden Floor, for a thoughtful and inspiring conversation on nonprofit leadership, servant leadership, and what it truly means to be a fundraising CEO. Under Dawn’s leadership, The Wooden Floor has become a nationally recognized model for arts-based youth development, helping underserved youth thrive through dance...

In this episode of Lead for Good, host Chris Looney sits down with higher education advancement leader Michael Eicher for a masterclass in nonprofit leadership, organizational culture, and campaign strategy. Drawing from decades of leadership experience at institutions including The Ohio State University Foundation, UCLA, and Johns Hopkins University, Mike shares practical wisdom on what it takes...

What does it take to scale a mission-driven nonprofit without losing the heart and soul of the organization? In this powerful episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Dr. Chad Nelsen, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, for a candid and insightful conversation about leadership, growth, culture, and mission stewardship. Under Chad’s leadership, Surfrider has grown from a $5 million organi...

In this episode of Lead for Good, host Chris Looney sits down with John Mangum, President and CEO of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, for a thoughtful and highly practical conversation on what it truly takes to step into a new leadership role and succeed from day one. Drawing on a distinguished career that includes leadership roles with the Houston Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, John shares...

In this episode of Lead for Good, host Chris Looney sits down with Betsy Biern, CEO of Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area, for a thoughtful and energizing conversation on nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and building high-performing boards. Betsy shares her leadership journey, shaped early by a deep commitment to community and service, and reinforced through powerful experiences with donors, mentors,...