Episodes

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...

016: 4 Writing Practices for Nonprofit Success (Clay Hodges) SUMMARY The concept of writing might not be an activity that brings back pleasant memories (late-night term papers anyone?), but as attorney Clay Hodges illustrates, it is a powerful tool to activate in your productivity toolbox. In this episode of the Path, Clay and I explore four different writing rituals and routines that can help you build skills for professional development and more effective communication. How can you utilize jou...

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. ...

014: Finding Your Nonprofit Leadership Shadow (Will Sparks) SUMMARY What is your leadership shadow, and why should you worry about it? That’s exactly what Dr. Will Sparks and I discuss on this episode of The Path. He’s spent 20 years researching the characteristics of great leaders, and also the “shadow” side of their leadership styles which often hold them back in ways they’re not even aware. Will and I explore the practical aspects of his studies, and how nonprofit leaders can amplify their po...

#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 ...

#012: 7 Professional Development Books for Your 2020 Reading List (Patton McDowell) This is the second episode in a three-part series focused on an effective year-end review and an actionable personal strategic plan for the year ahead. Many goal setting exercises include an effort to read more on professional development topics, and this episode recommends seven books that correspond with each “stop” on Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership. Listen to hear summaries of the following outstanding reso...

#011: Planning for 2020? Start With These 4 Year-End Exercises to Close Out 2019 First (Patton McDowell) Summary While it’s hard not to look ahead to a new year (and a new decade) in 2020, this episode of the Path reminds us that a good annual review process helps clarify and sharpen your focus for the year ahead. Patton outlines four distinct exercises that will help guide your review in a way that goes further than simply answering whether you achieved your goals or not. This special episode -...

010: Overcoming 3 Barriers to Nonprofit Leadership Success (Karen Mitchell) SUMMARY Dr. Karen Mitchell has seen too many talented professionals who, despite great potential, do not achieve the kind of leadership success they deserve. What are the barriers that prevent this ultimate success? That is exactly what Karen and I discuss on this episode, particularly the three skills in particular that if mastered, can help accelerate leadership opportunities. The first thing we discuss is the ability ...

009: Do You Have A Nonprofit Talent Management Strategy? (Karen Geiger) SUMMARY What is talent management, and why is it important? Dr. Karen Geiger has worked with dozens of organizations and has seen what makes successful ones work, and what individual leaders can do to advance their career and the organizations they lead. Karen is a teacher and trainer at heart and combines personal experiences as well as those she’s had within the corporate, education and nonprofit sectors to offer wise coun...

008: Leadership Lessons & Telling Your Nonprofit Story (Don Jonas) SUMMARY Don Jonas knows that the key to effectiveness in the nonprofit realm is being able to explain the good work you are doing. He has always been a student of nonprofit leadership, and we had a great conversation about communication strategies, mindfulness/wellness techniques, and leadership lessons he’s learned during his career. We discussed the factors that influenced his career path and the lateral entry into the nonprofi...

007: Know Your Numbers: Maximizing Data for Nonprofit Success (Shannon Hinson) SUMMARY While emotion plays a part in telling a compelling story about your nonprofit, Shannon Hinson reminds us that knowing your numbers is both a powerful tool to focus your time and energy as well as the best way to assure much greater fundraising success. Shannon and I had a great conversation about many lessons she’s learned after joining the nonprofit sector as a “lateral entry”, and what she believes are the k...

006: Navigating Your Nonprofit Career & Creating Positive Workplace Culture (Michelle Hamilton) SUMMARY Michelle and I had a great discussion on all three phases of a nonprofit career: getting started and navigating your first nonprofit job; advancing into leadership as you move through your mid-career; and maximizing leadership opportunities once you achieve them. Michelle also shares great resources and tips to stay organized amidst a busy nonprofit lifestyle and how to develop a positive wor...

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...

003: Maximizing the Talent of Women in the Nonprofit Sector (Penny Hawkins) SUMMARY While nearly 75% of nonprofit professionals are women, less than half of the CEO’s in the sector are female, and those in leadership are making 30% less than their male counterparts. Penny and I had a great conversation about these and other important topics facing women in the nonprofit community, and topics that are equally important for their male colleagues. She also shares great advice and resources for wom...

#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...