Surviving to Thriving ⎢Nonprofit Leadership

Feeling overwhelmed as a non-profit leader when you try to set personal and professional goals? This episode guides nonprofit women leaders away from survival mode and into aligned personal growth. You'll discover how to set powerful, values-aligned leadership goals beyond performance reviews that feel achievable, sustainable, and deeply meaningful. You'll learn: Why self‑defined goals matter We a...

The Six Daily Habits That Make Leadership Feel Less Heavy Leadership doesn't have to feel like a grind. But too often, nonprofit women leaders are overwhelmed, doubting themselves, and feeling like they're constantly “on.” This episode is an invitation to rethink what strong leadership actually looks like. It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing things differently. Kathy and Kimberley walk us...

How to lead your nonprofit with intention ​In this episode, Kimberley McKenzie and Kathy Archer introduce the “Infinite Leadership Loop,” which is a reflective cycle of pausing, pondering, pivoting, and proceeding. They explore how embracing that loop transforms overwhelm into flow and helps nonprofit women leaders navigate change with confidence and grace. Each time your team or role shifts, it’s...

Why Character Driven Leadership Matters to You as a Nonprofit Woman Leader ​​In this warm and conversational episode, Kimberley and Kathy dig into how women nonprofit leaders often neglect defining their character, end up burned out, and feel stuck responding to crisis rather than leading with purpose. They show that character isn’t just aspirational values—it’s what others experience from you day...

Feeling Stretched Too Thin? This Episode Is for You If slowing down feels impossible right now, you're not alone. In this powerful conversation, Kathy and Kimberley explore why taking a pause is essential for nonprofit women leaders, and why it's so hard to actually do. You'll walk away with validation, practical tools, and a fresh mindset to help you lead with more calm, clarity, and confidence....

Three nonprofit leadership mistakes we made | With Kimberly MacKenzie Nonprofit leaders often fall into leadership, feeling called to serve, but end up overwhelmed, burned out, and disconnected from who they truly are. In this conversation, Kathy Archer and Kimberley MacKenzie share the three mistakes they made in leadership and what actually helped them lead sustainably while staying aligned with...

Strategies for Leading Change in Nonprofit Organizations I wanted to share a conversation I had on the Nonprofit Digital Success Podcast with David from WOW Digital about managing change effectively while maintaining a balanced, values-driven leadership approach. In this episode, we unpack why nonprofit leaders struggle with change, how to navigate the messy middle, and practical frameworks to lea...

You’ve tried all the time hacks, and they don’t work! Here’s what actually works You’ve downloaded the planners. But somehow, the overwhelm keeps coming back. Why? 🤷‍♀️ Because no one told you how your emotions are driving your to-do list. In this episode, you’ll hear two AI podcasters breaking down my course, The Emotions of Time Management, and why traditional systems fall short for nonprofit l...

Thinking About Leaving Your Role? Here’s How to Prepare Your Team and Board Now If you’re a nonprofit leader—even just thinking about stepping back in the next few years—this episode is for you. In this conversation I had with Mary Barroll from Charity Village for their CharityVillage Connects podcast, I talk about the real reasons we’re facing a leadership crisis in the nonprofit sector… and why...

Feeling stuck in survival mode as a nonprofit leader? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m diving deep into my new book, Character Driven Leadership for Women, sharing the transformative journey that led me to create a powerful 5-step leadership framework. What You’ll Learn: ✔️ Why survival mode keeps you stuck and how to break free. ✔️ The 3 traps women leaders fall into: Pleasing, Performing,...

The Leadership Trap That’s Keeping You Stuck in Survival Mode Ever feel like leadership just doesn’t feel right? Like you’re playing a role that isn’t really you? You’re not alone. Many women leaders feel off because they’ve been taught to lead in a way that doesn’t align with who they truly are. In this episode, I’m sharing a powerful framework from my newest book, Character Driven Leadership for...

Nonprofit Leadership Goals That Stick: Avoid These 10 Common Mistakes Are your leadership goals setting you up for success or frustration? In this episode, I break down the 10 most common mistakes nonprofit leaders make when setting their goals and, more importantly, how to fix them. Whether you're struggling to balance personal and professional goals, feeling stuck on how to create an actionable...

Goal Setting Magic: How to Create Leadership Goals That Work Do you set leadership goals but struggle to make them actionable or find the time to achieve them? In this episode of Surviving to Thriving , we dive into the art of goal setting and uncover strategies to help you achieve meaningful progress in your leadership journey. Discover how short-term, actionable goals can transform your leadersh...

If you're a nonprofit leader wanting to grow, lead confidently, and make an impact, a year-end review is a step you can’t afford to skip!  In this episode, I walk you through why reviewing the past year is the key to unlocking your leadership potential. You’ll learn how to reflect strategically, recognize your growth, and set the foundation for success in the new year.   Grab the fr...

How I Found My Leadership Voice in the Nonprofit World In this episode of the Surviving to Thriving Podcast, I continue my personal journey of becoming a confident leader while aligning my work with my values and finding work-life balance. This is the second part of my conversation with David from Career Conversations. I discuss the tools and training I used to navigate two leadership lows and lea...

How I Survived—and Thrived—in Nonprofit Leadership: A Guide for Women Leaders Have you ever felt overwhelmed stepping into a nonprofit leadership role without specific training to support the transition? I did! And It was hard. Hi, I’m Leadership Development Coach Kathy Archer, and in this first part of a two-part series, I’ll share my personal journey from leaving home to college, frontline work,...

Hey, Nonprofit leaders.... Have you ever sat in a room full of confident leaders and wondered, ' "What am I even doing here?” That feeling of not measuring up? It’s called imposter syndrome—and it’s more common than you think.   This episode is for you if you’ve ever doubted your leadership abilities. In this episode, I open up about my own struggles with self-doubt, the moment I realize...

Handling difficult discussions with your staff can feel overwhelming and stressful, whether you’re a seasoned leader or new to management. But what if you could turn these corrective conversations into opportunities for growth? In this episode, Leadership Development Coach Kathy Archer shares a three-step framework designed to help you navigate corrective conversations confidently. You will shift...

Catching Up: New Book, Leadership Insights, and Life Updates In this episode, I update you on my recent activities, including my work on a new book, "Character Driven Leadership for Women," due in March 2025. This book is for nonprofit women leaders who want to lead authentically. Here's a little summary of the book:   Reputation, integrity, character: this guide will show women leaders...

Unlocking Effective Leadership: Moving Beyond Training to Character-Driven Leadership Are you a woman leader in the nonprofit sector feeling overwhelmed and grappling with imposter syndrome?  Learn why traditional nonprofit training falls short Discover how to elevate your leadership effectiveness  Get excited about a transformative path to character-driven leadership.  Highlights f...

How to create your own leadership personal and professional curriculum Effective leaders create their own personal and professional development curriculum. They do not wait for their organization to do it for them or for their boss to tell them how. They do it themselves. They take their development into their own hands.  To excel in leadership, you must make personal and professional develop...

3 tips for managing priorities for nonprofit leaders This episode is crafted to help you, the busy nonprofit leader, enhance your leadership skills by refining your approach to tasks, focus and priorities to foster a productive organizational culture. In this episode, Kathy highlights the importance of understanding your emotions, values, and beliefs and how these factors impact your approach to t...

Navigating Team Management: Essentials for Leadership Excellence In this episode, you will learn the crucial aspects of managing your nonprofit team effectively. This is the third video in the Invest in Your Leadership Excellence series. We discuss the significance of investing your time, energy, and focus into learning to manage yourself, your team and your priorities. 🖥 In this video, you’ll lea...

It is extremely important to manage yourself to be an effective nonprofit leader. This podcast shares three pillars of self-leadership * Manage your Essence * Manage your Emotions * Manage your Energy - You’ll learn the importance of authenticity and aligning personal values with leadership styles - You’ll discover the role of personal and professional development in leadership excellence - You’ll...

The Importance of Personal and Professional Development for Women Leading in Nonprofits The Surviving to Thriving  Podcast # 93  Welcome to the INVESTING IN YOUR LEADERSHIP SERIES, where you are going to learn the 3 pillars of development that you, as a nonprofit woman leader, need to invest in that will help you: 👉 Build your CONFIDENCE 👉 Learn how to maintain your COMPOSURE 👉 Lead w...