Lessons from Leaders

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 middle of her career, she wasn't particularly focused on leadership and had the opportunity to be working at UNICEF.  UNICEF...

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 the stage for her current global volunteer program leadership role at Amigos.

We had a real heart-to-heart abou...

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 shares how his seed of information was found during his early exposure to TED, a key source of...

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? What decision do I need to make...

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 for INGOs. "We have to reimagine. We are...

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 was from this place of curiosity that ultimately led Uma to...

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 me accountable' wh...

”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 asks them, "What did you fail at today?"

Mic...

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 regarding her story of her current leadership. When we started talking about what it is...

This week I sat down with Mishelle Rudzinski, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of SPOON. 

Mishelle's story of leadership and co-founding an organization is one like many leaders: She saw a need and decided to fill it. Her leadership story began at a deeply personal level with the adoption of her daughter. A journey which included an incorrect diagnosis, and severe malnourishment. 

It was her own daughter's experience with malnutrition that led to the research of children everywhere who have been living outside of families in what is termed as residential care.

"We co...

Lucia Nasser, President for Vital Voices in Honduras joins us in the leader’s chair to share about Vital Voices, coming back to in person post pandemic, and a personal story about the deep dive into personal growth and what that has to do with leadership.

“When we think of leadership, we usually think of a leader's skills. We focus on the 'what', the 'where', the 'how' and the 'why'. In my personal journey, I have found that the 'who' is very important. Who is that leader? Who is the one coming up with these ideas?” Lucia tells...

In this episode, Ashok Regmi, Executive Director of Street Law, Inc. shares his leadership path with us.

Originally from Nepal, his leadership trajectory started when he worked to establish the first FM channel to use the power of radio to engage and develop a concept to bring education to his community.

He came to the US for schooling, but it was outside of the classroom that he learned real life strategies of leadership sharing. “Development works well when people closest to the problems are put into leadership and they own the solutions. This was the ph...

Kate Moynihan is with us this week. I have known Kate for years and have always admired her leadership savvy.

Kate is the Executive Director of Seva Foundation, a foundation working in over 20 countries to increase the capacity of local hospitals, and develop sustainable eye care programs.

Kate, like nearly all leaders, has seen a drastic change in leadership over the course of the pandemic. She talks about her role as an executive for a non-profit organization during a time of such discord and how she leaned into purpose first. Prioritizing "the why" in what...

I am here with Polly Dunford, the President and CEO of IntraHealth International. Polly has been someone we have been trying to get on our podcast for a long time - since she took this role at IntraHealth in March of 2020.

“It was a crazy time to take over an organization. I started on March 16th, the exact day that the world went virtual…”

In this episode, Polly shares what it felt like to meet staff virtually. She shares about her role, not as the CEO, but as the self identified CPO – Chief People Officer - focusi...

This week is a special episode as we have a Lessons from Leaders Alumni, William (Bill) Abrams, and the successor to his position at Trickle Up, Nathalie Laidler Kylander.  

This episode is unique in that we are able to walk through their experience of transitioning from one CEO to another, including what the overlap time looked like, how they walked it with grace and respect for one another, and how their leadership “trickled down” through the entire organization.

Both are self-proclaimed non-traditional CEO’s, and have much to share about leading right now. I appreciated hearing...

This week, we have Paige Alexander, CEO of The Carter Center, as our guest on Lessons from Leaders.

As I have long been watching the work of The Carter Center, it is a pleasure to sit down with Paige.

We jump right into the conversation:
What is it like to lead right now?
How has communication changed?
What are you hearing from your organization?

Transparency, authenticity, and togetherness, are all qualities that Paige demonstrates.  She admits that it took her time and effort to find the balance of the right a...

This week I sit down with Indira Kaur Ahluwalia, whose work I was initially drawn to  due to all she has been doing for racial and ethnic equity. Indira has built her career on enabling equality systemically on the strength of individual differences initially establishing Development and Training Services (dTS) in 2002 to build gender equality and social inclusion. 

This week I sit with John Stephens who is the CEO of The BOMA Project. John brings a unique leadership lens to his position with BOMA because he has served as a board member, a position for an organization that was funding BOMA, and then interim CEO. From each role, John was able to grow his view of how to best service the organization. 

“It helped me launch, having those close relationships with board members. I knew what was important to them. I knew how the board functioned. I think often times, new CEO’s get overly focus...

Wild Network has been a strong, and foundational support of the Lessons from Leaders podcast over the last 3 years so to have Fiona here with me today is amazing! I like to call our first interaction a meeting of two sisters from different mothers, it was instant connection and friendship. 

In this episode, we start by discussing vision. Fiona has such a gift of seeing where things can grow and be made stronger sharing, “When I have conviction about something that needs to be done, I believe I can be a catalyst for that change. I believe oth...

Welcome back, leaders. We hope that this new year brings innovation and reaching new limits. It is so exciting to start off the new year with leader Brigit Helms, who is the Executive Director at Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University. Brigit's impact has reached corners of the world from Africa, to Asia, to Costa Rica, Latin America, and beyond. In her travels and experience, it is 'safe' to say nothing quite prepared her for entering a new role at a new organization just 6 months into a global pandemic. 

Meeting the new team, ecosystem p...

Our last episode of the new year has arrived and we are thrilled to be in the chair with Caroline Anstey. 

As we wrap 2021, it feels right to be with Caroline, the CEO of Pact who began her role just 2 days after the national lock down. 

It is safe to say the leaders 5 years ago would have never imagined virtually leading organizations. At the beginning of the pandemic there was large concern over losing touch, not getting to know or connect with teams, and hearing Caroline’s experience is not just hopeful and relatable, but some...

"How do we start healing so we can see each other?" 

On this day, in late November, the month of gratitude, I sat in pure amazement listening to Vivian Anderson speak on her journey, experience, and passions. What began as watching a viral video led to years of dedicated, door-knocking, on the ground work. 

"I can't watch another child being harmed," Vivian shares. Which is what drove her from New York, down to the deep south where Pandora's box as she called it was opened. Trauma. Deep rooted racism. 

On a platform like Les...

This week I sit down with Susan Sygall, who co-founded Mobility International USA over 40 years ago. 

“With a donation of $500, it all began.”

We shared a laugh as Susan mentioned this, because $500 has turned into 40 years, and incredible, life changing impact for so many. 

Susan, a wheelchair rider, has a personal and professional commitment to disability rights, as well as women’s issues. She saw the need, the lack of inclusivity and took action that has now lead to impact across 100+ countries. 

“Why not me?” she says. 

This is a recurring th...

Welcome back, we are thrilled to host Esther Benjamin, CEO and Executive Director of World Education Services.

I have known Esther for many years, through organizations and position changes; it is fulfilling to see the successes she has accomplished and contributions she has made, and to be able to share those moments with you.

From Sri Lanka, her family was seeking opportunity which Esther has created time and time again for herself and others, living, working, and traveling in over 100 countries, and organizations across sectors.

Summarizing all of the journey together, Esther said, “Th...

“I was reading recently, about the return to office post Covid. You have a window to try new things and re-imagine your work place because it will get harder in the next few months.”

Jeanne has been someone I have been wanting to sit down with for months. As the President and CEO of Internews, an international media support nonprofit, I felt who could be better to sit in the leaders chair during a time where news, honestly, and information has seemingly been so difficult to come by. 

I have found for so many leaders, looki...

Welcome back to Lessons from Leaders. This week, we are with Ann Warner, CEO of Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network - WREN. 

“It is a privilege to be a CEO but it is also lonely, hard and exhausting. To try and figure it out where there is no formula, where the work is difficult — we are working on reproductive rights, economic dignity and justice, fighting against abortion bans and anti-trans bills….This is a tough context to do this.”

Ann is driven, enduring, flexible, and beautifully well-spoken. Talking to her about, what I claimed is her spir...

Jeff Whisenant is an experienced leader in the nonprofit sector, with more than 30 years of experience in international development and relief, the president and CEO of ReSurge International. 

We were thrilled to welcome him to the Lessons from Leaders chair where he is refreshingly open and honest about diversity, equity, inclusion, and gratitude. 

"There were times where I brought my whole self. But my whole self was 25%. Colleagues stepped up and carried me through those days, I am very grateful for that."

In this episode, Jovana begins with walking us down her journey to leadership. Jovana has been a member of IPPFWHR’s Board of Directors since 2014. She assumed the role of Chair in 2017 at the age of 28, making her the youngest Board Chair in IPPFWHR’s history, which is only just the beginning of the amazing accomplishments made by her. 

Quickly I found how passionate about women's stories Jovana is. She has created a space for conversation, story telling, and lessons that has led to an eye opening understanding of rights, or lack thereof. Her age and experience make...

“I didn’t wake up and decide it’s time to build a crowdfunding platform for a global community of 1.8 million Muslims. I didn’t even think about being an entrepreneur.” 

This week I sit down with Amany Killawi, who has had such a unique and inspiring journey to where she is now, an honoree by INK Magazine’s top female founder. 

Amany is the co-founder and COO of LaunchGood: a global crowdfunding platform for campaigns, projects and creative ideas. She is a social worker turned social entrepreneur who through LaunchGood has raised over 15 million for 1,500+ pro...

This podcast platform inspires me daily. The leaders that come “sit in the chair” leave me feeling hopeful, empowered, and encouraged each time. It is a pure gift to share the space with them. 

Today, I share an extraordinary episode with the incredible DeAnna Hoskins, CEO and President of Just Leadership. 

She shares her deepest motto, what speaks to her, and her guiding light. I just loved one of the things she shared in regards to not losing herself, not losing her power or impact saying, “What I am not going to do is hinder my voice...