Inspired Nonprofit Leadership

Latest Episodes:

206: Youth Initiative Changes Lives May 04, 2023

Show notes

My guest for this episode is Devika Narayanan. Devika is a university student studying Manufacturing Engineering in India. For the past few years, she has been helping build and scale a non-profit organization named Nostos Homes. Nostos builds innovative homes for families that have lost their homes due to climate disasters like floods or cyclones.

Providing safe and secure homes and medical and social infrastructure for families that have been forcibly displaced allows them to rebuild their lives and restore their privacy and personal dignity. This is a cause very close to Devika's heart. Growing up in Kerala (a state in India), she witnessed severe flooding every monsoon season. Some years, when the floods were particularly ruthless, close relatives and friends had their homes washed away, leaving absolutely nothing behind.

Devika noticed that forcible displacement didn't just mean losing a home. It also meant that these families lost their jobs and education and often fell ill without access to sanitation or clean water. Devika knew she had to do something to help these families and millions of other such families grappling with the realities of forcible displacement.

This motivated her to join Nostos Homes as its Chief of Staff at its inception to help provide homes to such families across the world. Every day at Nostos, she works towards a world where everyone, even those in the most vulnerable communities, has a safe and secure home.

Devika realized that homes were important, but it wasn't the end of these families' worries. She was also moved by healthcare inaccessibility due to either geographical remoteness or financial barriers. This has led her to focus professionally on increasing equitable access to healthcare.

Devika has interned with the Clinton Health Access Initiative to decrease Tuberculosis drug resistance in India and with the corporate strategy team at Cipla. At the latter, she worked on identifying strategic opportunities to combat antimicrobial resistance. She has also worked with Pfizer, where she built pipelines to improve access to critical medicines and vaccines in some key markets.

Here's what to expect during the episode:

What organizations or agencies are currently working to provide homes to displaced people worldwide?
How can individuals and communities get involved in supporting efforts to provide homes to displaced people?
How does providing homes to displaced people affect their long-term well-being and the surrounding community?
What are some of the most common natural disasters that result in people losing their homes?
What impact does losing a home have on children and their families?

Connect with Devika Narayanan!

Website: https://www.nostoshomes.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nostoshomes/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/devika-narayanan-325440186/

Free guide: 6 Steps You Must Know to Unleash the Potential of Your Nonprofit Board, go to https://hilandconsulting.org to get that.

Mary's book is available on Amazon or wherever books are sold: Love Your Board! The Executive Directors' Guide to Discovering the Sources of Nonprofit Board Troubles and What to Do About Them.

Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated!

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on Facebook.

Connect with Mary!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryhiland

Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Facebook Group: https://tinyurl.com/inspirednonprofitleadership

Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hilandconsulting

Website: https://www.hilandconsulting.org

205: What do Board Members Need? Apr 20, 2023

Show notes

My guest for this episode is Mark Buzan. Mark has close to 2 decades of experience as a Director of Communications, Government Relations, Marketing, and Business Development as well as a consultant to nonprofits and associations.

Ultimately these roles lead to his becoming an Executive Director and President and CEO of three national associations. Mark has served as a board director, most recently as a board director for the Virtues Project International Association (VPIA). He understands both the perspective of executive directors and that of board directors.

Directing strategic plan initiatives, strategy and business operation plans, governance policies, and annual budgets, Mark has surpassed organizational goals and optimized organizational effectiveness for nonprofits and associations everywhere.

He has earned a solid reputation for the building, management, and promotion of member programs to increase the bottom line by improving member services and benefits. A passionate student for understanding why people step up to the role of a board of a nonprofit and what makes for a truly effective board experience, Mark has interviewed hundreds of volunteer leaders who have taken up the challenge of board service. The insights gained led him to the founding the Society of Nonprofit Board Directors, for which he is the Executive Director. The Society is an online professional association – a network of nonprofit board directors from around the world.

Here's what to expect during the episode:

What is the importance of creating space for board members in an organization?
How can organizations ensure that their board members feel valued, appreciated, and supported in their roles?
What motivates individuals to volunteer for board positions in organizations?
How much time should an executive invest in developing an effective board?
What role does communication play in meeting the wants and needs of board members?

Connect with Mark Buzan!

Website: https://nonprofitboarddirectors.org/info

Email: mark@nonprofitboarddirectors.org

On May 13, 2023, the Society is hosting a Nonprofit Directors' Summit, which will provide opportunities for board member education, networking, and much more.

Check out or sign up for the Nonprofit Directors' Summit: https://register1.groovesell.com/a/yX8EAVmUHmcE.

Get 6 Steps You Must Know to Unleash the Potential of Your Nonprofit Board, go here: https://hilandconsulting.org/6stepsreport.

Mary's book is available on Amazon or wherever books are sold: Love Your Board! The Executive Directors' Guide to Discovering the Sources of Nonprofit Board Troubles and What to Do About Them.

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on Facebook.

Connect with Mary!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryhiland

Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Facebook Group: https://tinyurl.com/inspirednonprofitleadership

Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hilandconsulting

Website: https://www.hilandconsulting.org

204: Staffing Up? Listen to this. Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

My guest today is Sarah Olivieri. Sarah is a true business visionary in the nonprofit space. She's an international best-selling author, globally renowned speaker, and Founder of PivotGround, which supports nonprofits to become financially sustainable world changers.

She has two decades of nonprofit leadership experience, and she's poured her insight, expertise, and vast knowledge into creating The Impact Method™️ - a powerful framework that helps nonprofits and for-profits alike simplify their operations, improve their capacity, build aligned teams, and make a bigger impact without getting overwhelmed or burning out.

As the former director of 3 nonprofits and founder of 5 for-profit businesses, she understands deeply the challenges and complexities facing organizations. But she has a fundamentally different way of looking at things; an ability to see a kernel of opportunity, to flip a problem on its head, to understand which levers to pull for success. And those abilities have helped her salvage, soothe and shape countless nonprofits and lift them from the brink of insolvency to become thriving, profitable, impact-making businesses.

Sarah is a #1 international bestselling author, holds a BA from the University of Chicago with a focus on globalization and its effect on marginalized cultures, and a master's degree in Humanistic and Multicultural Education from SUNY New Paltz.

Here's what to expect during the episode:

What is the most common mistake that nonprofits make when hiring staff?
How can a nonprofit organization determine which activities have the greatest return on investment (ROI)?
What are the key characteristics of a strong organization?
How can restricted funding limit a nonprofit organization's flexibility and impact?
How can a nonprofit organization ensure that its staffing decisions align with its mission and values, even with limited resources?

Connect with Sarah Olivieri!

Take advantage of Sarah's offers:

bit.ly/3o4qjtH

Website: https://www.pivotground.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahfolivieri/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pivotground

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-olivieri/

Email: sarah@pivotground.com

Get your free guide: Create Your Own Weekly Renewal Plan in 3 Easy Steps. Go to: https://www.hilandconsulting.org/request-weeklyrenewalplan.

Mary's book is available on Amazon or wherever books are sold: Love Your Board! The Executive Directors' Guide to Discovering the Sources of Nonprofit Board Troubles and What to Do About Them.

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on Facebook.

Connect with Mary!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryhiland

Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Facebook Group: https://tinyurl.com/inspirednonprofitleadership

Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hilandconsulting

Website: https://www.hilandconsulting.org

203: This Story will Inspire You! Apr 06, 2023

Show notes

My guest today is Derrick Fleming. When you think of style and class; organization and structure; education and empowerment; equity and advocacy, Derrick Marcell Fleming, Jr., also known as "Derrick The Gent", is the man to make it happen. With a heart to serve and a passion for youth, collective impact, and systems change, Derrick brings an electrifying energy to any atmosphere.

As a former White House Staff Member under the Obama Administration, now currently serving as the Managing Director of Strategic Engagement for Chicago Scholars; Derrick oversees corporate, college, community, and civic/government partnerships and engagement. In addition, he manages strategic initiatives for Chicago Scholars, including leading our Young Men of Color Initiatives.

Derrick is also a social entrepreneur and serves in various national and local community/education leadership capacities. With over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit and government sectors focusing on education, social impact, youth development, and mentorship; 8+ years of project management coaching and training experience; and 6+ years of program and people management experience.; Derrick brings a level of problem-solving skills that sets everyone at ease and makes solutions-focused work feel like fun. Derrick has his bachelor's degree in Communications from Alabama State University and a Master's degree in Nonprofit Management from Spertus Institute.

Here's what to expect during the episode:

What is the purpose of a scholarship program?
How can a nonprofit organization support students?
What are the basic requirements for a scholarship?
How does lack of money affect education?
Why are scholarship programs important to a community?

Connect with Derrick Fleming!

Website: https://chicagoscholars.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoScholarsFoundation/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicagoscholars/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChicagoScholars

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicago-scholars-foundation/

Get your free Trust Building Action Plan. Go here: https://www.hilandconsulting.org/trustbuilding.

Mary's book is available on Amazon or wherever books are sold: Love Your Board! The Executive Directors' Guide to Discovering the Sources of Nonprofit Board Troubles and What to Do About Them.

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on Facebook.

Connect with Mary!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryhiland

Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Facebook Group: https://tinyurl.com/inspirednonprofitleadership

Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hilandconsulting

Website: https://www.hilandconsulting.org

202: Musings on Nonprofit Leadership Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

My guest today is Gary Cohn. Gary brings over thirty years of non-profit and development experience to his work as a trusted advisor. He began his work as a middle market banker from 1977-1992. After being trained in credit, he led a sales and marketing team for several large California banks leaving in 1992 to move into the non-profit sector.

Gary became the Executive Director of Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco. Temple Emanu-El, founded in 1850, is one of the leading congregations in Reform Judaism, with over 2,000 families. Gary was responsible for an annual budget of $15 million and endowment equities and real estate of over $40 million.

In 2008 he became the Regional Director of the American Technion Society in the Pacific Northwest, raising funds to support the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. From 20015 until 2020, Gary held Senior Vice President/Major Gift roles at the Alzheimer's Association and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

In 2020, Gary founded Painted Rock Advisors. Painted Rock Advisors provides services to the philanthropic and non-profit communities. His podcast, The Road To Philanthropy, debuted in 2021 and now has over 4,500 listeners.

Gary previously served on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross-Bay Area, the San Francisco Food Bank, and Bentley School. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Hillel 818 and Safe Parking Los Angeles and is Chair of Governance at both nonprofits.

Gary attended California State University at Long Beach, where he received his BS from the College of Business. He was honored as Alumnus of the Year for the College of Business in 2009.

Gary lives in Woodland Hills with his partner, Paula, and has a daughter, Erica, who works in the entertainment industry.

Here's what to expect during the episode:

What does leadership mean?
What are the role and responsibilities of an executive director?
How can you ensure board effectiveness?
Why is it essential to conduct self-evaluation?
What is the role of the board chair?
Why is communication important in an organization?

Connect with Gary Cohn!

Website: https://www.paintedrockadvisors.com/

Emails: mzt8877@gmail.com | paintedrockadvisors@gmail.com

Get 6 Steps You Must Know to Unleash the Potential of Your Nonprofit Board, go here: https://hilandconsulting.org/6stepsreport.

Mary's book is available on Amazon or wherever books are sold: Love Your Board! The Executive Directors' Guide to Discovering the Sources of Nonprofit Board Troubles and What to Do About Them.

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on Facebook.

Connect with Mary!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryhiland

Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Facebook Group: https://tinyurl.com/inspirednonprofitleadership

Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hilandconsulting

Website: https://www.hilandconsulting.org

201: Great Resignation, Great Regret - What's Going on Now? Mar 23, 2023

Show notes

My guest for this episode is Kimmi Cantrell. Kimmi is an unrelenting optimist who is passionate about bringing love and light to the workplace. As Managing Director of Careers In Nonprofits for the last 6 years, she spends her days connecting with nonprofit decision-makers as well as job seekers, aiding both in finding solutions to their problems. Through her conversations with her team and those she serves, it has become clear that one of the biggest hurdles people face is remaining resilient in the face of obstacles.

Kimmi has made it her mission to educate and empower individuals to build their personal and professional resilience capacity by sharing guidance, support, and tools for growth. Helping nonprofits grow their team and job seekers grow their careers is her passion and purpose.

Here's what to expect during the episode:

What are the current market trends in nonprofit hiring?
Should a nonprofit organization adopt remote work permanently?
What are some of the challenges of working remotely?
What does the nonprofit workplace look like now after COVID?
How can you determine the best staffing patterns in an organization?

Connect with Kimmi Cantrell-Kamson!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmicantrell/

Go to: https://hilandconsulting.org/trustbuilding to get your free: Trust Building Action Plan.

Mary's book is available on Amazon or wherever books are sold: Love Your Board! The Executive Directors' Guide to Discovering the Sources of Nonprofit Board Troubles and What to Do About Them.

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on Facebook.

Connect with Mary!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryhiland

Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Facebook Group: https://tinyurl.com/inspirednonprofitleadership

Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hilandconsulting

Website: https://www.hilandconsulting.org

200: This is how learning matters for leaders. Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, Mary discusses another principle of effective leadership: leaders learn.

Mary has over 40 years experience in the nonprofit sector: 26 as an executive and 18 as a board member. She knows your day-to-day challenges first hand and brings experience and expertise to help you have the greatest possible impact.

Be sure to follow Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated!

Mary's gift for you: How to Engage Your Board in Fundraising. You can get that guide by going to: https://hilandconsulting.org/boardfundraising.

Mary's book is available on Amazon or wherever books are sold: Love Your Board! The Executive Directors' Guide to Discovering the Sources of Nonprofit Board Troubles and What to Do About Them.

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that, and follow us, on Facebook.

To learn more about our previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to: Hiland Consulting

Connect with Mary!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryhiland

Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Facebook Group: https://tinyurl.com/inspirednonprofitleadership

Website: https://www.hilandconsulting.org/

Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hilandconsulting

199: Do This to Become "Conflict Competent" Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

My guest today is Carol Bowser, J.D. is a workplace conflict expert. After practicing Employment Law for several years, Carol founded Conflict Management Strategies when she realized a lawsuit couldn't deliver the level of resolution and satisfaction that is gained when people are actively involved in creating solutions to their workplace conflict.

Carol's clients come from a wide range of employers because conflict is universal across all industries and types of organizations. Where there are people, there is conflict. The key is to help people recognize and address conflict before it damages working relationships and creates organizational drag.

In her over 20 years of experience, she has discovered some universal themes about workplace conflict and loves to share how people at all levels can strengthen their conflict resolution muscles.

Here are the things to expect in the episode:

What is the root cause of workplace conflict?
What are ways in which leaders can effectively communicate and resolve conflict?
How can leaders identify conflict in the workplace?
Why are expectations important in the workplace?
How can leaders build trust and respect?

Connect with Carol Bowser!

Website: https://conflictmanagementstrategies.com/

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3RBP3nV

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarolNBowser/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-bowser-2a65691/

Email: cb@managingconflict.com

Get your free checklist: Effective Board Orientation Checklist. Go to: https://www.hilandconsulting.org/boardorientationchecklist.

Mary's book is available on Amazon or wherever books are sold: Love Your Board! The Executive Directors' Guide to Discovering the Sources of Nonprofit Board Troubles and What to Do About Them.

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on Facebook.

Connect with Mary!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryhiland

Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Facebook Group: https://tinyurl.com/inspirednonprofitleadership

Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hilandconsulting

Website: https://www.hilandconsulting.org

198: Nix Give/Get. Do this Instead. Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

My guest for this episode is Sherry Quam Taylor. Sherry works with business-minded Nonprofit CEOs who want to scale their organizations' budgets by 2-5X but need larger amounts of general-operating revenue to do so. The organizations Sherry works with want to reduce dependence on government, earned, or contracted revenue and increase unrestricted revenue from investment-level donors.

To achieve this, Sherry helps leaders align their organization's charitable revenue initiatives with their business, programmatic, and strategic growth opportunities. This is the step that most skips! It ensures the funding challenges are solved at the root of the issue and attracts investment-level donors that get this!

As a result of learning her methodology, Sherry's clients know how to fund their Strategic Plans and add 7 figures of general operating revenue to their bottom line. But, mostly, her CEOs can confidently know their development departments and board have transformed into high-return on investment revenue generators and broken free from the limitations of transactional fundraising.

Sherry attributes the success of her business to her passion for modeling radical confidence to the future CEOs in her house - her two teenage daughters.

Here's what to expect during the episode:

What does give and get mean in nonprofit?
How can you motivate people to donate?
What are the factors affecting an organization's funding?
Why should organizations get rid of the give-and-get policy?
What is blocking organizational growth?

Connect with Sherry Quam Taylor!

Website: https://www.quamtaylor.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherryquamtaylor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbjEu276-YQ0TeurphD62pA

Get your free checklist: Effective Board Orientation Checklist. Go to: https://www.hilandconsulting.org/boardorientationchecklist.

Mary's book is available on Amazon or wherever books are sold: Love Your Board! The Executive Directors' Guide to Discovering the Sources of Nonprofit Board Troubles and What to Do About Them.

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on Facebook.

Connect with Mary!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryhiland

Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Facebook Group: https://tinyurl.com/inspirednonprofitleadership

Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hilandconsulting

Website: https://www.hilandconsulting.org

197: Meaningful Capacity Building and More Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

My guest today is Debra Box. Debra is the Principal and Founder of In the Box Consulting. Prior to developing her consulting business, Debra led and developed the business model for Support KC, a nonprofit shared service organization that provides accounting, fund development, governance, and strategic planning services to nonprofits in the Kansas City area.

Debra has worked closely with hundreds of nonprofit leaders to help them find creative ways to leverage resources and better utilize their skills and time. In addition to coaching nonprofit executives, Debra has worked with boards to help them develop meaningful governance structures. She works closely with both boards and staff to help them define their missions and communicate how their mission impacts those they serve.

Debra's certifications include governance consulting from BoardSource and a certificate in facilitation. Her education includes a BS in Business Administration from the UMKC Bloch School and a master's degree in human resources with an emphasis on Organizational Development from Ottawa University.

Here's what to expect during the episode:

· What is capacity building?

· How can a founder leverage their leadership?

· What are some significant challenges every founder face?

· How can an organization benefit from outsourcing?

· Why is it important to build diversity, inclusion, and equity in an organization?

Connect with Debra Box!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-box-1a314a8/

Email: debra@intheboxconsult.com

Get your free guide: Create Your Own Weekly Renewal Plan in 3 Easy Steps. Go to: https://www.hilandconsulting.org/request-weeklyrenewalplan.

Mary's book is available on Amazon or wherever books are sold: Love Your Board! The Executive Directors' Guide to Discovering the Sources of Nonprofit Board Troubles and What to Do About Them.

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on Facebook.