313: What They Don’t Tell You About Being a Nonprofit Leader (Kevin Dean)

SUMMARY

Special thanks to TowneBank for bringing these conversations to life, and for their commitment to strengthening nonprofit organizations. Learn more about how they can help at TowneBank.com/NonprofitBanking.

What happens when your first day as an executive director ends in tears - and your second day requires laying off most of the staff? In episode #313 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Kevin Dean shares the raw truths about the loneliness, imposter syndrome, and burnout that often accompany nonprofit leadership. From leading a turnaround at Literacy Mid-South to scaling the Tennessee Nonprofit Network, Kevin reveals how he built his support system, learned to fundraise as an introvert, and developed a long-term career plan grounded in both lived experience and education. He offers hard-won lessons on board engagement, strategic risk-taking, and authentic mentorship - urging seasoned leaders to guide the next generation. A must-listen for navigating the highs and lows of leadership in the nonprofit sector.

ABOUT KEVIN

Kevin Dean is President & CEO of the Tennessee Nonprofit Network and a nationally recognized leader in nonprofit capacity building. His previous roles include Executive Director of Literacy Mid-South, Director of Development at Hope House, and Community Services Director at Volunteer Memphis. He holds a BA in Communications from the University of Memphis, an MA in Executive Leadership from Christian Brothers University, and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Learning from Vanderbilt University. A licensed Standards for Excellence consultant and BoardSource-certified in board education, Kevin has earned numerous honors, including Memphis’ Top 40 Under 40, the ProLiteracy Award for Community-Based Adult Literacy, and Memphis Magazine’s CEO of the Year. He currently serves on the National Council of Nonprofits board and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis’ Community Development Advisory Council.

EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES 

• Ready for your next leadership opportunity? Visit our partners at Armstrong McGuire
• Want to chat leadership 24/7?  Go to www.delphi.ai/pattonmcdowell
• Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
• Have you gotten Patton’s book? Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector – also available on Audible
• Don’t miss our weekly Thursday Leadership Lens for the latest on nonprofit leadership