Nonprofit Lowdown

People: your biggest asset and perhaps your biggest pain point.  Join me on today's pod with organizational strategist, human capital and DEI expert Sydney Henriques-Payne to explore some of the obstacles and opportunities with your people.  How do you spark cultural change?  How do you bring on the right level of leader for the maturity of your organization?  How do you put DE...

Humans.  So complicated, amirite? Today I'm talking with Laura Wolff at Ideas42 about the work they do with nonprofits to boost positive behavioral change.  Learn some quick tips and tricks about lowering friction to desired behaviors and how to make teenagers do things.  We discuss simple changes that make a big impact from increasing enrollment to Gifted and Talented programs to d...

This one is for all you Founders out there.  Join me as I chat with my friend and professional coach Paul Thallner as we talk about the pitfalls of leadership.  How does one go from a passionate person with a start-up to an effective organizational leader?  How do you use the power of story-telling and narrative to shape culture and why does being a leader just suck sometimes? &nbsp...

I don't think you're ready for this jelly.   Two of the fiercest Asian-American women I know are with me on today's pod and we're ready to torch the patriarchy. Join me and my buds Seisei and Cosmo as we discuss what it means to be an Asian-American in the social justice space, how we can use our own privilege in service to others and why the Harvard lawsuit is a wedge issue.  Also, for...

What's harder than raising $5M for operating?  How about $34M for a new building?  Join me and my dear friend Amanda Kraus, Founder and CEO of Row NY , to talk about what she's learned about launching a capital campaign for their beautiful new Harlem-based boathouse.  In this convo, we talk about how to know when you're ready, how to avoid cannibalizing your annual fund donors and t...

You're not bossy if you are the boss. Today I'm talking with my friend Tammy Dowley-Blackman about her journey as a leader, the challenges faced by folks of color in the development field and how she went from Executive Director to launching her own consulting firm.  We talk about the strategy of scaling, how to think about the business and why motherhood inspired her to be an entrepreneur. &...

In today's pod, I'm talking with Judy Levine , Executive Director of Cause Effective.  Judy and her team just released an important white paper about the state of fundraisers of color in the nonprofit industry.    Some value bombs: The single most important factor of success for a fundraiser of color is a supportive Executive Director. People who make the transition into senior deve...

This is the original bosslady.  On today's pod, I'm talking with former CEO of iMentor and Executive Coach Caroline Kim Oh.  We're spilling the tea on all the things including being the Only Ones in rooms, how Asian Americans have been misused as the "model minority" and how to start your own biz.  As more EDs are leaving their positions, listen to one former ED's story of how she s...

Happy July 4th!  Free yourself from the tyranny of white supremacist hiring practices!  Join me for a great conversation with consultant Judy Pryor-Ramirez about how to source, hire and retain folks of color.  Some value bombs: 1) how to assess your current practices 2) how to question white supremacist paradigms in hiring 3) what "Real Talk with Judy" means. For more information ab...

So, fun fact: I've always secretly wanted to be a Navy SEAL.  Or a Marine.  Join me on today's pod with my friend retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Bill Wroten.   Here's a value bomb for you: You lead people and manage processes.  Once you talk about managing people, you've reduced them to processes and that's why they don't feel ownership. Boom!

How much of a pain point is hiring for you?  Are you looking to diversify your pool, make your process more equitable and inclusive and retain a diverse workforce?  Duh, aren't we all?  Join me as I chat with Anthony Barrows , Managing Director of Ideas42 , as we talk about how they have redesigned their process to mitigate implicit bias.   For NYC-based nonprofits, check out t...

Today we're chatting with my buddy, Morty Ballen , who lived through the go-go days of charter school expansion.  As the CEO and Founder of Explore Schools, Morty oversaw the replication of three schools in an eight year period.  He shares his lessons learned (spoiler alert: it's the people!) and what is on the other side of leaving after 20 years of being the CEO.  Morty is humble,...

Join me on today's pod as I talk with veteran nonprofit leader, Jane Martinez Dowling.  In today's chat, Jane discusses how her experience as a first-gen college-going, Dominican-American woman has influenced her leadership.  She's been in the top job in three different organizations and also touches on how to be a boss and a mom.  Spoiler alert: leave the guilt and judgement behind...

Today, we're speaking with our resident Tech Goddess, Emily Hicks-Rotella about how technology and spirituality are connected.  This conversation is a little more whoo-whoo than others we've had so feel free to skip it if it's not your jam.  We talk about what it means to have a single source of truth, how technology can connect us to our purpose and clarity and how you don't have to go...

So. Many. Truth. Bombs.  This interview with The Ready 's Sam Spurlin.  I reached out to Sam because I'm OBSESSED with the book Brave New Work by Aaron Dignan.  So often in organizations when things aren't working, when communication breaks down, when we're having meetings about meetings--well, it just makes you crazy.  Sam talks about how our approach to organizational change...

Usually, we feature episodes that help nonprofit executives to run their nonprofits better.  Today, we're talking with Clara Chow about her work in creating pathways to financial sustainability and a product that can help low-income Americans from falling prey to payday loans.  I've seen what financial instability and predatory lending practices have done to families.  Take a listen...

Today I'm chatting with Dr. Kerry Ann who was Founder of the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity.  As a young African-American professor, she founded her organization to mentor and support women and faculty of color in their academic careers.  We talk about what happens when it's time to move on from your organization and what life looks like on the other side.  ...

I'm so pleased to welcome back my friend Emily.  Today, we're talking about how small nonprofits that don't have a big IT budget or IT department can take steps to become more data-driven and tech-forward.  Emily will be a recurring guest so if you have tech/data questions, email them in at rheawong@gmail.com. https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-hicks-rotella-0b99a04

"I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man." Get ready to jump because we're setting this house ON FIRE.  Ify Walker is the founder and CEO of Offor, which is one of the nation's top talent broker agencies in the country.  In today's episode we talk about the war for talent, especially for leaders of color, how to find the courage to run your own company and change the conversation abou...

Joyful.  Thought-provoking.  Truth-telling.  Join me for this wide-ranging conversation with Erica Hamilton .  Erica shares her wisdom and perspective as an expert leader, manager and "nonprofit whisperer."  We talk about the women of color tax, the benefits of saying NO and how to survive and thrive as a nonprofit executive.  A must-listen for current and aspiring no...

Hold onto your hats because Dianne is about the blow the roof off.  #Realtalk: we're addressing some of the elephants in the room about why it can be so exhausting to be a woman of color in the top job.   Dianne is the Executive Director and CEO of Phipps Neighborhoods and has been wildly successful in her role.  So, what did she do when she was told she was "flying too close to the...

I LOVED this interview with Columbia University doctoral candidate Micah McElroy .  Micah is pursuing his PhD in the history of philanthropy in the US and we delve into all sort of interesting historical examples of philanthropy in America.  What cycles of wealth and philanthropy are we seeing today?  Can we expect Jeff Bezos to lift the rock upon which he stands?  Let me know...

We all talk about it, but how do you achieve it?  Join me in my conversation with Emily Hicks-Rotella of Make Tech Work For You .  Get control of your data and digital life, slay those tech phobias and find actionable ways to become a data-driven organization.  

What to expect when you're conducting your first audit?  If you're like most EDs, dealing with the financial side is just a wee bit mysterious.  Join me as I chat with Howard Cohen CPA, Partner of Mazars to learn about how to prepare for your audit, what best practices you can implement in a small shop and how to be BFF with your accountants.  Click here to get in touch with Howard...

Did you know that 93% of all communication is non-verbal?  How do you incorporate feedback about your communication and still stay true to yourself?  Join me as we talk with Leah Bonvissuto, founder of Present Voices to learn about how to communicate with power and intention.