How did you learn to lead? Was it a bad boss? A graduate program? Trial and error? I love asking this question in workshops and coaching conversations. People often pause, realizing that being a leader has become so intrinsic to who they are that they’ve forgotten how they got there. ...
Like many professionals, I came into the nonprofit sector because I wanted my work to matter and genuinely wished to contribute to something beyond myself. That sense of purpose is powerful because it has helped me to stay committed through...
In the nonprofit sector, urgency often feels unavoidable. When funding is uncertain, community needs are growing, and the stakes are human lives, it can feel irresponsible not to operate in crisis mode. Many women leaders I work with say the same thing: “If I don’t...
As leaders, we often believe our job is to have all the answers. To know everything. To never look uncertain. But here’s what that belief actually costs us. It keeps us stuck, it keeps our teams stuck, and it quietly drives us toward burnout. ...
Most people join the nonprofit sector because they care. They care about their communities, their clients, and their missions. And when you care deeply, it’s easy to slip into “doing whatever needs to be done,” even when it’s outside your...
Conflict is an inevitable part of working in any organization. Tension will arise whenever people work together under conditions of shared goals, limited resources, varying priorities, and differing communication styles in nonprofit and mission-driven environments, where stakes often feel high,...
In the nonprofit sector, confidence is often measured indirectly. We talk about capacity, resilience, competence, and commitment. We assess leadership through outputs delivered, crises managed, funding secured, and communities served. And yet, many women leaders I work with — accomplished,...
Image: Faculty of Science at the University of Windsor Ottenbrite Lecture Series (L-R: Dean of Science, Proffesor Claudio Verani; Gemma Grey-Hall, CFRE; Shelley Ottenbrite; Dave Ottenbrite; Ruth Ottenbrite; Mark Ottenbrite; and guest Lecturer Proffesor Christa Brousseau). With nearly 15 years of experience in...
If you are getting your hands on the career ladder and seeking to climb, it can be hard to find a rung up at times. Good opportunities are few and far between, competition is fierce, and it can be nigh-impossible to stand out from...
This article was previously published by CareerWise and is reprinted with permission. It had been nine months since my husband lost his job, and we were still reeling from that when I learned my own work contract would end in three months....
