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 leader, to guiding Save the Children’s global mission, Aleks shows us that growth and transf...

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. One of the highlights of our conversation is Venus’ viewpoint on how understanding differ...

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 career in the wake of 9/11, Sharif’s story is a testament to resilience, purpose, and unwaveri...

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. Her insights left a lasting impression on me, and I know they'll resonate with you, too. Beginning...

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 leadership: the three L's: Listen, Learn, and Land. This approach underscores the value of embracin...

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 with the mission fuels our passion while setting impossible goals ignites our imagination and determi...

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 leaders like Paul are spearheading change, advocating for racial equity in their organizations. His insights ...

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's insightful words at the core of our conversation. “Don’t just face risks but embrace them. Risks often...

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 wisdom, emphasizing the significance of staying true to oneself, aligning actions with beliefs,...

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. Imagine a journey to leadership woven with stories of family values, a 22-year career as a Naval officer, and a p...

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 pivotal career moment while leading a team in Pakistan. They faced delays and productivity i...

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 leadership, and what are the basic things you need to know?” Marjorie shares how, in the midd...

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 teenager in Latin America, which ignited her passion for community development and leadership. This set th...

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 mindset, he was determined to find answers. In our conversation about his unique start, Gary sha...

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 go back to that question: What is best for the kids that we serve? What is best for the children? Wha...

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. The second nugget is when Tessie talks leaning into the new normal and what that means fo...

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 that organically led her to a deep curiosity of people, their motivations, and perspectives. It wa...

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 leader, she said: "There is a personal courage all leaders have because they are willing to say 'Hold ...

”If people aren’t failing, then I think that possibly they are actually not pushing beyond the envelope. They are not innovating, or not going for that hard thing and 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 to try and be willing to fail, even sharing that when her family is sitting around the table for dinner she ask...

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 must listen because of Janti's story to leadership, but because of our conversation regardin...