Nonprofit Lowdown

We're back with our resident Technologista Emily Hicks-Rotella!  In today's pod, we talking about our favorite tech tools, tips and books for how to wrangle our to-do lists, get to inbox zero and manage our focus.  Too much to do and not enough time?  Join the club.  This is a must-listen if you're trying to get to work and for tech to work for you, not against you.   Some of our favorite tools: Airtable Assistant.to Sanebox Slack Trello Boomerang Freedom Zapier Streak Notion Tettra Books we love: Getting Things Done (classic!) Free to Focus Atomic Habits --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nonprofitlowdown/support

You know how there are people in your life who inspire you to level up your game?  Lisette Nieves is one of these people.  She's an educator, a do-er, a coach and an inspiration.  On today's pod we talk about the challenges of managing a board and staff and how to make people feel USEFUL is more important than making them feel happy.  We discuss the dangers of a bored board, why you need to challenge your assumptions about who you need on your board and the emotional labor of leadership. For more Lisette, check out her website here. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nonprofitlowdown/support

People: your biggest asset and perhaps your biggest pain point.  Join me on today's pod with organizational strategist, human capital and DEI expert Sydney Henriques-Payne to explore some of the obstacles and opportunities with your people.  How do you spark cultural change?  How do you bring on the right level of leader for the maturity of your organization?  How do you put DEI in the center of the work and work with people at different levels of "wokeness"?  Sydney is dropping knowledge bombs like it's her job.   Also, Nine Lies About Work is mentioned on the pod. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nonprofitlowdown/support

Humans.  So complicated, amirite? Today I'm talking with Laura Wolff at Ideas42 about the work they do with nonprofits to boost positive behavioral change.  Learn some quick tips and tricks about lowering friction to desired behaviors and how to make teenagers do things.  We discuss simple changes that make a big impact from increasing enrollment to Gifted and Talented programs to decreasing community college dropout rates. To access FREE workshops @Ideas42, click here. For access to resources we mention on the pod, click here. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nonprofitlowdown/support

This one is for all you Founders out there.  Join me as I chat with my friend and professional coach Paul Thallner as we talk about the pitfalls of leadership.  How does one go from a passionate person with a start-up to an effective organizational leader?  How do you use the power of story-telling and narrative to shape culture and why does being a leader just suck sometimes?  Join us for some empathetic, good sense with Paul.  For more info about Paul, check out his company High Peaks Group if you need some coaching to level up! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nonprofitlowdown/support

I don't think you're ready for this jelly.   Two of the fiercest Asian-American women I know are with me on today's pod and we're ready to torch the patriarchy. Join me and my buds Seisei and Cosmo as we discuss what it means to be an Asian-American in the social justice space, how we can use our own privilege in service to others and why the Harvard lawsuit is a wedge issue.  Also, for those of you who want to negotiate a raise for yourself, call Seisei. Click here to get in touch with these badasses. Seisei & Cosmo #rockthecasbah. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nonprofitlowdown/support

What's harder than raising $5M for operating?  How about $34M for a new building?  Join me and my dear friend Amanda Kraus, Founder and CEO of Row NY, to talk about what she's learned about launching a capital campaign for their beautiful new Harlem-based boathouse.  In this convo, we talk about how to know when you're ready, how to avoid cannibalizing your annual fund donors and tips she's learned from Rich Berlin.  Also, can you check out this gorgeous boathouse? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nonprofitlowdown/support

You're not bossy if you are the boss. Today I'm talking with my friend Tammy Dowley-Blackman about her journey as a leader, the challenges faced by folks of color in the development field and how she went from Executive Director to launching her own consulting firm.  We talk about the strategy of scaling, how to think about the business and why motherhood inspired her to be an entrepreneur.  This is a must-listen for those of you who are thinking about striking out on your own. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nonprofitlowdown/support

In today's pod, I'm talking with Judy Levine, Executive Director of Cause Effective.  Judy and her team just released an important white paper about the state of fundraisers of color in the nonprofit industry.    Some value bombs: The single most important factor of success for a fundraiser of color is a supportive Executive Director. People who make the transition into senior development roles often jump orgs to find their right fit.  You can't afford NOT to listen to this episode. Get your hands on the report here. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nonprofitlowdown/support

This is the original bosslady.  On today's pod, I'm talking with former CEO of iMentor and Executive Coach Caroline Kim Oh.  We're spilling the tea on all the things including being the Only Ones in rooms, how Asian Americans have been misused as the "model minority" and how to start your own biz.  As more EDs are leaving their positions, listen to one former ED's story of how she set up her business to work for herself (and conquered her fears in the process!) For more information, check out Caroline here. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nonprofitlowdown/support

Happy July 4th!  Free yourself from the tyranny of white supremacist hiring practices!  Join me for a great conversation with consultant Judy Pryor-Ramirez about how to source, hire and retain folks of color.  Some value bombs: 1) how to assess your current practices 2) how to question white supremacist paradigms in hiring 3) what "Real Talk with Judy" means. For more information about Judy, check her out here. For Judy's recommendation on white supremacist culture, download it here. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nonprofitlowdown/support

So, fun fact: I've always secretly wanted to be a Navy SEAL.  Or a Marine.  Join me on today's pod with my friend retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Bill Wroten.   Here's a value bomb for you: You lead people and manage processes.  Once you talk about managing people, you've reduced them to processes and that's why they don't feel ownership. Boom! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nonprofitlowdown/support

How much of a pain point is hiring for you?  Are you looking to diversify your pool, make your process more equitable and inclusive and retain a diverse workforce?  Duh, aren't we all?  Join me as I chat with Anthony Barrows, Managing Director of Ideas42, as we talk about how they have redesigned their process to mitigate implicit bias.   For NYC-based nonprofits, check out their Behavioral Design Center. For implicit bias test, click here. For Iris Bohnet research, click here. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nonprofitlowdown/support

Today we're chatting with my buddy, Morty Ballen, who lived through the go-go days of charter school expansion.  As the CEO and Founder of Explore Schools, Morty oversaw the replication of three schools in an eight year period.  He shares his lessons learned (spoiler alert: it's the people!) and what is on the other side of leaving after 20 years of being the CEO.  Morty is humble, insightful and good-natured and I enjoyed this conversation immensely.   --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nonprofitlowdown/support

Join me on today's pod as I talk with veteran nonprofit leader, Jane Martinez Dowling.  In today's chat, Jane discusses how her experience as a first-gen college-going, Dominican-American woman has influenced her leadership.  She's been in the top job in three different organizations and also touches on how to be a boss and a mom.  Spoiler alert: leave the guilt and judgement behind.  Jane was a joy! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nonprofitlowdown/support