Career Journey Episodes

42: Challenging the Nonprofit Status Quo (Tina Postel) SUMMARY What should you put in place at your nonprofit organization before you encounter challenges like those we’re facing right now? That’s one of the many topics Tina Postel and I discuss in episode #42 of the Path podcast, and fortunately you’re not too late to implement many of her great ideas. Families struggling with food insecurities have enough barriers to overcome, and she knew her organization, Loaves & Fishes, had to be more eff...

41: Dealing with Adversity as a Nonprofit Leader (Michael Ward) SUMMARY It’s easy to celebrate successes when things are going well for you as a nonprofit leader, but what about when things don’t go so well? Michael Ward has had some fantastic successes as a fundraiser and nonprofit leader, but what made our conversation so powerful was his willingness to tackle adversity. His thoughtful and proactive approach to dealing with personal and professional challenges offers great insight for anyone o...

39: Nonprofit Leadership in Healthcare Philanthropy (Adam Cook) SUMMARY What’s it like to lead a healthcare foundation in the midst of a pandemic? How do you stay organized when all of your events are pushed off the calendar and everyone you speak with has a new idea? Adam Cook has great insight and perspective on these questions and many more in episode #40 of the Path. He has served multiple health care foundations over the course of his nonprofit career, and we talk about many of the lessons...

037: Maintaining Strategic Focus as a Nonprofit Leader (Brian Maness) SUMMARY What do you do to stay organized in an ever-changing environment with children and families from across the state depending on you? Like many nonprofit CEO’s right now, Brian Maness has had to navigate both the personal and professional demands of nonprofit leadership despite an uncertain landscape around him. Brian is the President & CEO of Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, providing services ranging from ado...

036: Fortune 500 to Nonprofit Founder & CEO (Tina Admans) SUMMARY It’s quite possible that you (or someone you know) have contemplated leaving the for-profit world to pursue an opportunity in the nonprofit sector. That’s exactly what Tina Admans did after moving to Los Angeles over a decade ago. She could very well have stayed on a successful corporate track that included senior positions at Panavision, GE and NBC Universal, but she knew something was missing and nonprofit leadership was calling...

033: Adapting to Short-Term Challenges with Long-Term Benefits (Carrie Bhada) SUMMARY Carrie Bhada’s journey in nonprofit leadership has led her to outstanding higher education and healthcare institutions, but it has also given her the experience of dealing with internal and external challenges. While nothing compares to the unique complexities of the COVID-19 situation, she has utilized previous experiences to adapt and lead her team at North Carolina State University as they navigate this unch...

031: Making the Jump: Corporate America to Nonprofit Executive (Kristin Beck) SUMMARY After twenty years of success in the for-profit arena, Kristin Beck could have easily continued on her upward trajectory. But her inner voice confirmed something was missing and she knew a change might be warranted. She then began a thoughtful process to evaluate her options and make sure she was prepared for the eventual nonprofit leadership opportunity that could take advantage of the skills and experience sh...

SUMMARY Chris Delisio’s career in higher education has led him to a leadership role in one of the largest comprehensive campaigns in the country, as the Time and Change Campaign at Ohio State targets one million donors and a fundraising goal of $4.5 billion. While justifiably proud of his current leadership position, Chris is quick to point to the resources and advice that helped him move along the path to nonprofit success. Chris and I had a great conversation about the skills and experiences ...

020: BONUS: A Dozen Resources for the Nonprofit Professional (Leighton Fogan) SUMMARY Leighton Fogan has not only enjoyed a successful career in the nonprofit sector, but she’s also a dedicated student of professional development resources! Her career path includes hands-on experience at several nonprofits, many successful consulting engagements, and coursework through Columbia University and Duke’s Nonprofit Management program. Episode #20 of The Path features our conversation on three categori...

019: Hiring Talent and Sharpening Your Nonprofit Leadership Skills (Tiffany Capers) SUMMARY Tiffany Capers did not plan to go into nonprofit leadership, and in fact, she thought her graduate degree would take her into a corporate environment. But after opportunities in government and in a community foundation, she found a calling that led to leadership in our sector. She now serves as the Executive Director of the CrossRoads Corporation, which creatively partners with the residents of the Grier...

018: How Do You Blend For-Profit and Nonprofit Leadership Lessons? (Will Jones) SUMMARY Like many in the nonprofit sector, Will Jones gained leadership experience from other arenas, including the social service and for-profit sectors. He now serves as the President and CEO of Thompson, a leading provider of clinical and prevention services for children and families across the Carolinas. Will and I dive into many topics related to the blend of best practices he’s gained from his experience, and w...

017: How Do You Move from Manager to Senior Leader at Your Nonprofit? (Katherine Lambert) SUMMARY Katherine Lambert is passionate about professional development in the nonprofit sector and is a champion for internal candidates who can serve as senior leaders. Her advice provides great insight for other senior leaders who want to better develop their talent, but also provides many clues for those pursuing a new job in the charitable sector. Katherine talks about how she allocates professional dev...

015: Personal Branding for the Nonprofit Professional (Yvonne Levine) SUMMARY What is Personal Branding, and why is it important for you as a nonprofit professional? That’s exactly what Yvonne Levine and I discussed in this episode of the Path. Yvonne’s great coaching and consulting experience with different organizations - and their senior leaders - provides many useful take-aways for current and aspiring nonprofit leaders who want to engage in genuine activities to build their positive brand. ...

#013: Build A 2020 Personal Strategic Plan That Works (Patton McDowell) Summary While the start of a new year often inspires well-intentioned efforts to put a new professional development plan in place, too often the result is a set of vague goals that don’t survive very far into the Spring season. This episode offers multiple ways you can make your plan more actionable and productive for 2020 and beyond. This is the third of three episodes in a year-end series that first covered the keys to an ...

005: New to Nonprofit? 5 Ways to Hit the Ground Running (Mike Blackwelder) SUMMARY One of the challenges of starting a job in the nonprofit sector is the volume of information, skills and experiences you’re trying to learn and manage, often without adequate on-boarding support from your organization. If that challenge is one you’re facing, or you want to do a better job helping develop your staff talent, this episode is for you. Mike and I explore five ways you can accelerate your journey on th...

#004: First Stop on the Nonprofit Path: Sharpen Your Vision (Patton McDowell) Summary Dr. Patton McDowell brings the best in professional development and productivity to Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, helping you find the perfect nonprofit job and guiding you along the path to leadership in the charitable sector. Patton brings 30 years of nonprofit leadership, coaching and consulting experience, and shares best practices for individual and organizational success based on his work with over 2...

#002: The Story Behind the Podcast (Patton McDowell) Summary Dr. Patton McDowell brings the best in professional development and productivity to Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, helping you find the perfect nonprofit job and guiding you along the path to leadership in the charitable sector. Patton brings 30 years of nonprofit leadership, coaching and consulting experience, and shares best practices for individual and organizational success based on his work with over 220 nonprofits and their ...

#001 Trailer Summary Dr. Patton McDowell brings the best in professional development and productivity to Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, helping you find the perfect nonprofit job and guiding you along the path to leadership in the charitable sector. Patton brings 30 years of nonprofit leadership, coaching and consulting experience, and shares best practices for individual and organizational success based on his work with over 220 nonprofits and their staff and board leaders. You’ll learn how...