In today’s interview, John Hagan, President & CEO of Our Climate Common, calls on nonprofit board members and leadership teams to do two critical mission-building tasks: (1) examine their role in staff burnout; and (2) consider how the “rat wheel” approach to work hinders their organizations from solving the big problems of their mission.

Helpful takeaways from this timely conversation include:

• How much time are you spending on growing revenue vs. solving problems?
• Are you aware of there is a difference?
• Where is “think time” in your organizational structure?
• How are you as leaders cultivating a less stressful work environment so that your staff have time to think about what they’re doing instead of just reacting?

This conversation is a direct challenge to board and leadership to shift their thinking about thinking to better achieve their mission.

Listen now and share your thoughts!

Connect with John

The Upside of Nonprofit Burnout

LinkedIn

Our Climate Common Website

About John

John Hagan – President & CEO, Our Climate Common

John Hagan is an ecologist and former President of a nonpartisan, science-driven sustainability nonprofit, and he is current Chair of the Maine Climate Table. He has partnered with many for-profit sectors on sustainability, including large timberland owners, farmers, institutional investors, retailers, fishermen, and many others. He received the Austin Wilkins Award from Maine Governor John Baldacci for his work on the stewardship and conservation of Maine’s forests, and the Integrity in Conservation award from the New England Society of American Foresters. John has served on the board of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, the largest forest certification program in North America.

Today’s interview with Lourdes G. Zuniga, the award-winning leader and Executive Director of Financial Health Pathways, is a masterclass in authentic leadership.

As an introvert, a woman of color, and an immigrant, Lourdes has had to deconstruct the narrative of leadership as “in-your-face, white male, and non-accent” and reconstruct it to make space for herself in rooms where others don’t feel she belongs.

Helpful takeaways from today’s episode, include:

• Not needing to fill your predecessor’s shoes
• Finding your own path and taking your own journey to success
• Being brave enough to start the succession plan conversation with your board
• Taking inventory of the strengths and weaknesses you bring to your organization
• Letting the organization grow if you no longer add value to it
• Not making the organization “so you” that without you, it doesn’t succeed
• Understanding the strength of your unique voice
• Honing your confidence to enter and speak up in rooms where you’re not welcome
• Educating your funders for the greater good of the entire sector, not just your organization: “If it’s not brought up by us who are in the trenches, who’s going to tell them?”

Listen now and share your thoughts!

Connect with Lourdes

LinkedIn

Financial Health Pathways Website

About Lourdes

Lourdes G. Zuniga - Executive Director at the Financial Health Pathways

Lourdes G. Zuñiga is an award winning social impact leader, who recently has been named Presidential Leadership Scholar. A journalist from Lima Peru, Lourdes, from a very young age, has always been involved in philanthropy and social causes, particularly advocating for Hispanics, immigration issues, health and education. Through the work she leads in her non profit she aims to improve our systems and create economic opportunity for all. Lourdes has been recognized as one of the most influential women in Central Texas by the Austin Business Journal and she received the President's Volunteer Service gold medal award, the Founder's award by The Austin Area Urban League and various other accolades. She is also a proud alumna from the LBJ Women Campaign School's inaugural class, where she was selected because of her work as an influential leader and strategist, and the American Express Leadership Academy.

This delightful interview with Julie Leven, violinist, art activist, social entrepreneur and founder of Shelter Music Boston is a refreshing reminder about beauty in service and leaning into your organization’s strengths—especially when resources are limited.

Helpful takeaways from today’s episode include:

• How to really respect, listen to, and incorporate your constituents’ feedback
• Checking your ego at the door for the sake of your organization’s success
• Is the Board construct still the right fit for today’s nonprofits?
• Separating rigorous expectations from ruthless leadership
• Creative and useful tools for measuring program success
• Why tell potential funders what you do, when you can just show them?

Listen now and share your thoughts!

Connect with Julie

LinkedIn

Voice of Hope Artistic Project

Shelter Music Boston Website

Shelter Music Boston YouTube Channel

Shelter Music Boston Instagram

About Julie

As Founder, Executive and Artistic Director of Shelter Music Boston, I oversaw all components of this social service agency which employs professional musicians to deliver regularly scheduled classical music concerts in homeless shelters and other sheltering environments in Greater Boston.

I believe that it is the responsibility of 21st century citizen artists to provide access to the arts to all people, whether or not they have a home. Every concert delivered by Shelter Music Boston transforms individual audience members from desperation to dignity with live classical music.

Currently I consult to organizations working to create social change with high quality artistic and musical programming, including: A Musical Heart in Washington DC, Musik på Trappen (Music on the Stairs) in Copenhagen, Denmark, The Philharmonia Baroque Education Program, in the Bay Area CA, and others.