Lessons from Leaders

 We’re diving into a topic that’s hitting close to home across the global development sector: mergers, consolidations, and what happens when organizations decide they’re stronger together. I sat down with my colleagues, Tom Dente and John Glover, to talk about what we’re hearing from leaders right now, and what it really takes to make these big organizational shifts work. For so many NGOs, the cho...

Leadership in today’s development sector requires both agility and a deeply human touch. In this episode of Lessons From Leaders, Traci Baird, CEO of EngenderHealth, shares practical wisdom for those navigating the complexities of leading teams and organizations during times of rapid change. Her insights are especially valuable for decision makers and emerging leaders who are shaping the future of...

Say “yes” to the tough stuff!  That was the big lesson I learned as I sat down with Aleksander Dardeli, COO of Save the Children, in this edition of Lessons From Leaders.   Aleks’ story is proof that the most meaningful impact comes from leaning into challenges with optimism, curiosity, and a belief in what’s possible. From his early days in Albania, where he helped spark change as a student leade...

In this episode of Lessons from Leaders, Sharif Aly, President of the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), shared his unique and game-changing insights on leadership in our conversation.  This journey is nothing short of awe-inspiring, showcasing remarkable resilience, vision, and innovation. From navigating the challenges of being the eldest son of immigrant parents to shaping his car...

I am thrilled to share my latest conversation. Why? Because Venus Devnani, Executive Vice President of American Jewish World Service, is not just fabulous; she brings an interesting perspective to the NGO table. This conversation is not just worth listening to; her thoughts on honoring different perspectives and making room for multiple truths directly apply to our work in the development sector. ...

Have you redefined your view of leadership recently? I share this inspiring conversation with Judith Le Blanc, the trailblazing Executive Director of the Native Organizers Alliance. Deeply rooted in her Indigenous culture and heritage, Judith introduced me to a fresh perspective on leadership, as her bold journey is a powerful testament to the impact of collective action and cultural continuity. H...

My esteemed guest is Robert Bank, CEO of American Jewish World Service. Robert's remarkable journey, from his formative years in apartheid-era South Africa to his current role as a fervent advocate for vulnerable communities, offers profound insights into the transformative power of diverse experiences in shaping effective leadership.  Robert introduces a practical framework for effective lea...

Have you fallen head over heels with your mission statement?  Get ready to dive into a whirlwind of inspiration from my guest, Michael Thatcher, CEO of Charity Navigator, when he shares that, for him, falling in love with the mission and setting audacious goals are the turbo boosters of motivation and success that foster innovation to drive impactful change within NGOs. 🔸 "Falling in love wi...

This podcast is a game-changer.  Celebrating CREED's 2nd anniversary, I'm joined by Paul Weisenfeld, Executive Vice President at RTI and a key figure in the Coalition for Racial and Ethnic Equity in Development’s (CREED) Board Executive Committee. Get ready for some real talk! Paul shares CREED's remarkable journey, from its infancy to shaking up the development sector. Senior leade...

Tune in now and revitalize your approach to social impact! From the very start, my conversation with Julia Roig, Founder and Chief Network Weaver at The Horizons Project, is a thought-provoking dialogue that promises to captivate your interest. Julia’s resilient journey in the nonprofit sector contains invaluable insights that ignite passion and action. I couldn't help but jot down Julia&apos...

In this captivating episode, we explore the compelling dynamics of leadership and the empowering concept of active resistance. My distinguished guest, Dr. Dorothy Nyambi, the President and CEO of the Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA), draws from her rich background as a medical doctor and her inspirational leadership journey. Dr. Nyambi’s take on authentic leadership is a beacon of...

Meet Art delaCruz, a CEO who's not just about numbers and metrics but believes in connecting with people, fostering trust, and making failure more terrifying than missing a goal. My chat with the Team Rubicon leader was a revelation.  His disruptive leadership style? He modestly acknowledged, ”'I'm flattered you've noticed.” If you love a good tale, this episode is for you. Ima...

Join me for a captivating interview with Will Warshauer, President & CEO of TechnoServe.  Will’s leadership journey began as a Peace Corps volunteer in Sierra Leone.  A chance encounter with a young boy named Bolo highlighted the impact of unequal opportunities, inspiring him to dedicate his career to international development and unlocking potential for people. Will reflected on another pivot...

Are you curious about the transformative power of leadership development? Join me in this latest episode, where we dive deep into the incredible journey of Marjorie Newman-Williams, President of Search for Common Ground.  Early in her career, she encountered an ineffective boss, which sparked her interest in good leadership and its impact. Marjorie found herself asking, “Can you learn good leaders...

I'm really excited to share some actionable advice from my recent podcast chat with Sara Nathan, the President & CEO of Amigos de las Américas. We go into the incredible transformation Amigos went through – shifting from being all about US-centric to becoming a locally-led global powerhouse driven by local vibes.   Sara's story kicks off with her days as an Amigos volunteer as a teen...

I had the opportunity to sit down with Gary White, an inspiring problem-solver and innovator. With three degrees in civil and environmental engineering, Gary tells of his passion for social justice began in his 20s when he became aware of the alarming statistic that 1.5 billion people worldwide lacked access to water and even more lacked access to sanitation. As an engineer with a solution-seeking...

This week’s Lessons From Leaders guest is Morgan Lance, CEO of OneSky. Her story and insights as the first CEO to transition into the position after the founder and leader of 24+ years are noteworthy simple truths. As the new CEO facing difficult decisions, Morgan shared: “When there's tough decisions to be made or moments of leadership that I know are going to be difficult for me, I always g...

This week, the Lessons from Leaders guest is Tessie San Martin the CEO of FHI 360. We are honored to have her as our leader in this episode.  While there are many gold nuggets in this episode,  for me there are two that are the most compelling. The first is when Tessie reminds me that "we can do hard things."  Just look at how successfully the INGO sector pivoted in 2020, she points out....

This week, we have Uma Viswanathan, the Executive Director at New Pluralists Collaborative as our guest on Lessons from Leaders. What do you know about trauma and leadership? How do you think trauma helps with transformation and leadership? That is one of the many meaty topics Uma and I talk about. This episode kicks off with Uma sharing her experience as a child of an immigrant family and how tha...

This week, the Lessons from Leaders guest is Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, the President and CEO of Mercy Corps. We are honored to have her as our guest so shortly after her recent trip to Somalia. One of my favorite moments from this episode is the deep conversation with Tjada talking about courage (at 27 minutes if you want to jump right to it.) When I asked her what courage has to do with being a leade...

”If people aren’t failing, then I think that possibly they are actually not pushing beyond the envelope. They are not innovating, not pursuing that hard thing, and not stretching. That's why it is important to recognize and celebrate failure.” Michele Laird This week, I sat down with Michele Laird, the Senior VP for Programs at Pact. I love Michele’s take on failure and the importance of tryi...

This week I sat down with Janti Soeripto, the President and CEO of Save The Children US.  Janti's story of leadership is diverse and unique in her experience. With 20 years in the consumer sector, selling tissues, diapers, and -- as she mentions -- even frozen peas, she shares the similarities and the differences in her leadership upbringing to where she is now.  This episode is not just a mu...

This week I sat down with Mishelle Rudzinski, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of SPOON.  Mishelle's story of leadership and co-founding an organization is one like many leaders: She saw a need and decided to fill it. Her leadership story began at a deeply personal level with the adoption of her daughter. A journey which included an incorrect diagnosis, and severe malnourishment.  It was...

Lucia Nasser, President for Vital Voices in Honduras joins us in the leader’s chair to share about Vital Voices, coming back to in person post pandemic, and a personal story about the deep dive into personal growth and what that has to do with leadership. “When we think of leadership, we usually think of a leader's skills. We focus on the 'what', the 'where', the 'how...

In this episode, Ashok Regmi, Executive Director of Street Law, Inc. shares his leadership path with us. Originally from Nepal, his leadership trajectory started when he worked to establish the first FM channel to use the power of radio to engage and develop a concept to bring education to his community. He came to the US for schooling, but it was outside of the classroom that he learned real life...