Heather Sheldon’s Post

Did you know? 50% of nonprofit employees are either burnt out or in danger of burning out, one in two organizations cite a lack of development and growth opportunities as the reason why leaders leave their organizations, and nearly 70% of C-suite leaders are seriously considering quitting for a job that better supports their well-being. We can do better for the leaders who support our communities. We can and we must. We're thrilled to be announcing a pilot program in partnership with Working for Women to address these issues head-on. Through this partnership, Impact Table and Working for Women are forging a new and much-needed approach to supporting women leaders in social impact with a leadership accelerator program and access to all Impact Table offerings made available to all Working for Women nonprofit partners. Until now, the Impact Table has been only available through an open enrollment model for individuals, so the group accelerator model is an exciting opportunity for both Impact Table and Working for Women to demonstrate how, through partnership, we can create an even more expansive ripple of impact by addressing the critical needs of connection, support, and ongoing growth that women have. Through this partnership and the visionary leadership of Marssie Versola and Beth Bengtson, we're initiating solution-based thinking and direct action to a critical issue affecting the sector and those who choose to be a part of it. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gwzpUPCj #CollectiveImpact #ImpactTable #WorkingforWomen

Leadership, Nonprofits, and Women Empowerment: A Triad for Change In the nonprofit world, leadership is more than just a position; it’s a calling to serve, inspire, and create lasting impact. Today, I want to highlight the incredible power of women in leadership and how their unique perspectives are transforming communities around the globe. **Empowering Women** Women leaders bring empathy, resilience, and a collaborative spirit that drive nonprofits to new heights. Their voices amplify the needs of the marginalized and bring innovative solutions to the table. When women lead, we see: - Inclusive Communities: Women leaders prioritize inclusivity, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued. - Sustainable Solutions: Their forward-thinking approach leads to sustainable and impactful programs. - Empowered Teams: Women leaders foster environments where everyone can thrive, promoting growth and development. **In the nonprofit sector, we have the unique opportunity to champion women’s leadership.** By supporting and mentoring emerging female leaders, we not only elevate individual careers but also enhance the effectiveness and reach of our missions. To all the incredible women leaders out there: Your dedication, passion, and vision are making the world a better place. Keep breaking barriers and leading with heart. Together, we are creating a brighter future for all. Let’s continue to lift each other up, celebrate our successes, and drive meaningful change. #Leadership #WomenEmpowerment #Nonprofit #Inspiration #ChangeMakers #artprovidedbyAIgeneration #womenleaders

Thank you Dr. Sayu Bhojwani for writing this critically important piece that I know is resonating with many of our colleagues. Additional supports are needed to allow women of color leaders to not sacrifice our well-being for the sake of those we are called to uplift, care for, and empower. Some of the tangible aspects of my work at the Building Movement Project that I have observed that have made me feel supported are the following: 1) a professional development fund for our employees, which I will use for my coaching, 2) a co-executive director model with two phenomenal leaders - Frances Kunreuther and Sean Thomas-Breitfeld - who share in the burden of the work and create a culture of care for the organization, 3) shared leadership amongst our Senior Leadership Team (co-EDs, the fabulous Deepa Iyer, and me) where we build consensus, listen and honor the perspectives of our peers to make strategic decisions for the organization. No one gets left behind. We work together. We row the boat together. Let's continue to create organizations and institutions that have support built in, and let's work together to create a sector where this is the norm. Thanks in advance to our funding partners for paying attention to this emergent, yet unsurprising issue.

Although Mission Up Consulting is a company of one, I couldn't do what I do without brilliant friends, champions, and business partners. In light of last week's election results, I've been thinking about community -- how to build it and how to be it. And in this moment, I'm thinking about the women who comprise my community, for whom I am so thankful. I'm taking a beat right now to shout-out these women who lift me up, teach me tons, and make me a better consultant (and person😄): Tania Bhattacharyya, who I've known for YEARS from the OC nonprofit community and recently started working with. Tania is the queen of thought leadership for women in the social impact space. Follow her now! Melinda Bostwick, who always keeps CSR real and is such a champion for those who work in CSR. I’m excited to be part of a new CSR Leaders Group Coaching Cohort co-led by Melinda. (DM me for more info!) Lorrie Foster, who opened a pivotal door for me in 2020 by inviting me to interview global companies about their employee volunteer programs -- a wonderful and joyful consulting opportunity. Lorrie is a thoughtful leader whose generosity and wisdom have inspired me. Stephanie B Kim, for being an incredible thought partner and motivator since 2019, when we worked on the Census together. Earlier this year, Stephanie engineered a business retreat for us to work on our businesses instead of just in our businesses. Marssie Versola, for building the Impact Table, a community dedicated to connecting and supporting mission-driven women leaders. I greatly appreciate this group and the personal and professional development opportunities it provides. I consider myself beyond lucky to have met Marssie. I am so grateful for the valuable feedback, resources, tools, knowledge, and motivation these women offer. My entrepreneurial journey is that much more rewarding (and less lonely) because of them. 🙌 Who are your entrepreneurial or accountability partners who make your professional journey more rewarding? Tag them below! 🔽 #CSR #collaboration #consulting #community

A necessary and timely piece by Dr. Sayu Bhojwani on women of color and leadership. Thank you, Sayu, for writing about what a lot of folks are experiencing, and what shows up in data and anecdotally too. Romana Lee-Akiyama - appreciate you lifting up some promising practices and possibilities Building Movement Project and beyond. More below.

With the recent election results, we know that many organizations are evaluating how best to move forward. In times like these, having a clear, resilient strategy is essential to continue driving social impact, staying mission-aligned, and adapting to shifting priorities. As a boutique strategy firm, we’re here to help organizations adapt and thrive. Our approach is about co-creating strategies with you. By working alongside your team through executive and organizational facilitations, we institutionalize sustainable strategies that ensure buy-in across all levels. Together, we can build robust pathways to resilience, advance mission-critical goals, and continue making a difference, no matter the challenges ahead. If your organization needs a partner to help navigate these times, let’s connect. We’re committed to supporting you in creating cultures that sustain creativity, innovation, and a lasting social impact. #InnovationStrategy #SocialImpact #Resilience #Leadership #NonprofitSupport https://lnkd.in/eai_8hqt

What qualities define a powerful woman leader? On Monday, the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance hosted its annual Power of Women event. Hosted by Grant Thornton LLP (US), the event featured a conversation with Cathy Bessant, the new president and CEO of Foundation For The Carolinas and Janet LaBar, President and CEO of Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. As the CLT Alliance’s 2023 Legacy Leader recipient, Cathy shared insights from her 42-year groundbreaking career in financial services at Bank of America and her vision for this new philanthropic leadership role. For such an accomplished leader, Cathy was refreshingly down-to-earth, funny, and authentic. A few key takeaways from Cathy's inspiring remarks: On Transitions: Respecting the past while charting a bold new future are keys to a great leadership transition. She is undertaking a strategic planning process to shape the Foundation's community engagement strategies. On Philanthropy: Giving is more about the passion than the money. She encouraged getting engaged through giving as part of well-rounded civic engagement. On Women's Leadership: Women still face the challenges of battling double standards. Performance, not personal branding, is the best self-advocacy. On Work-Life Balance: Like many working moms, Cathy admits "you're going to do some piece of it incorrectly every day." Her tips? Self-awareness, investment in friendships, asking for help, and using your own yardstick to measure success. On Responsible AI: Cathy highlighted AI/AR's power to drive data-driven insights while underscoring the importance of developing this technology responsibly to protect personal data. Throughout the event, Cathy inspired with her authenticity, determination to "run towards" opportunities, and perspective that courage and empathy are ultimate superpowers. The Charlotte community is fortunate to have such a principled, visionary leader at the helm of one of our region's most impactful organizations. #womenshistorymonth #womenempoweringwomen #womeninleadership #womenbusinessowners #charlotte #barbararozgonyi 

Before women can take the lead in philanthropy, two things need to happen: 💡 Break Barriers: Learn from top leaders at Yale University, Pomona College, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and University of California, Berkeley on how to navigate gender biases and step into leadership roles. 🤝 Build Networks: Connect with powerful women in the industry, and discover how to leverage your personal brand to drive change. You’ll not only accelerate your career but also play a crucial role in redefining the future of philanthropy. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gbA43mMr

As a business where women make up the majority of our leadership positions, Almora Advisors supports Women's History Month and efforts to change the landscape in nonprofit leadership opportunities for women. This fascinating piece linked below by AAUW (American Association of University Women) reflects major issues in nonprofit leadership, such as the startling fact that while women make up 75% of jobs in nonprofit organizations, they make up just 22% of chief executive roles at nonprofits with annual budgets of at least $50 million. We highly encourage you to read this summary and view the full report to learn more about how nonprofits can do more to help women succeed as leaders. #womenempowerment #womenshistorymonth #nonprofitorganization #womeninbusiness #nonprofitleadership

What was the question? Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of participating in the second Wonderful Women event in Birmingham alongside Ellie Rich-Poole and Kate Faxen. Hosted by Mills & Reeve at their fabulous new offices, this event brought together women from a variety of professions and career stages. Our first speaker San Johal, FCIPD Johal posed the question "Who here is nosey or curious about people". I know I am! To lead with empathy and compassion surely we need to be? We have to notice what is not being said, to take a person-centred approach, and to ask more about the things we don’t know or understand. The #wonderfulwomen movement has three purposes: 💜 to create space for women to ask for and seek help. Too often we focus on the needs of others at the expense of our own.  At our events, we aim to connect people for some in-the-moment mentoring or to provide a platform to voice a challenge. A great time for active listening! 💚 to raise awareness of the amazing work of GFS - a charity that supports young girls to be themselves, to feel safe and valued. Our ask is for you to be more curious about their work - please follow them on LinkedIn. 💛 to be inspired by keynote speakers who use the PechaKucha presentation format (not easy!) to share with us their leadership stories. Being curious about different approaches, styles and lived experiences makes us better leaders. Each of our speakers - Sarah J. L. Higgins, Olivia Johnson and Parv Sangera were all incredible at encouraging us to be more curious about ourselves too. How we showcase our uniqueness, how we lead with gratitude, and how we reach out to nurture the next generation. What have you been curious about lately? Nicola Lee Victoria Allison Amanda Capon Jessie Swinfield