In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Sherece West-Scantlebury, a 30-year veteran of the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors and CEO of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. Dr. West-Scantlebury shares her powerful journey, from a 7-year-old who knew things could be better to a leader committed to shifting power and changing systems.

She offers essential wisdom for anyone looking to make a lasting impact. You'll learn what truly sets successful candidates apart in mission-driven work—it's not just about what you've done, but how your unique skills and lived experiences will move the mission forward. Dr. West-Scantlebury reminds us that you don't need permission to do good and that in a world full of challenges, there's only one path forward: “See something, make something happen.”

For Dr. Sherece West-Scantlebury, CEO of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and 30-year veteran of the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, successful candidates succinctly articulate how their contributions will advance the mission. Candidates with staying power join the sector with a social justice heart and are not driven by ego. They are self-aware of their own power, biases and growing edge to serve the mission instead of their individual needs. The best interviewees are those who get to know the organization before the interview and understand how the role they are applying for is pivotal to the organization. They ask questions that are thoughtful and curious, not to impress but to truly understand the work and the people it impacts. They include their accomplishments as well as their lived experience to showcase how they will use their skills and perspective to further the mission.

As early as age 7, Dr. West-Scantlebury – then she went by Sherece and was unimpressed with the broken playground, among other things in her neighborhood – knew things could be better. She started her career in policy and advocacy and grew to become an influential nonprofit and philanthropic executive. After thirty years in the non-profit and philanthropy sectors she knows that lasting change requires a shift in power that leads to a change in systems that hold back the disenfranchised. Listen in to hear about her impactful journey which began in housing advocacy and led her to becoming the founding CEO of the Foundation for Louisiana, the current CEO of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and a founding board member of the Women’s Foundation of the South. She shares more about the policies and systems that affect housing, how underinvestment in communities is a policy choice that spans generations and how people working 2-3 jobs are still economically insecure. Insights from her journey will benefit anyone interested in joining the sector.

Looking at the sector as a whole. At this moment, Dr. West-Scantlebury encourages those new to the sector not to be deterred by the current chaos. In addition to providing necessary services in our communities, the nonprofit sector is a notable portion of our local economies.

She reminds listeners that you do not need permission to do good, to impact systems and to positively impact change. As she puts it, there is only: “see something make something happen. Instead of complaining about the change you want, be the change you want it to be.”

In the future she hopes to see funders and nonprofits working together as co-creators where funders build trust with grantee partners so they are comfortable with community-defined impact and make unrestricted, multi-year gifts. She wants to see nonprofits being leaders instead of lagging behind when it comes to technology or innovative ways of work. This requires that all in the sector hone their craft; she encourages listeners to read, A LOT…alot, alot, and make regular space for thinking and planning.

In this crossover episode, Samar Kargbo of the Sort of Sure podcast interviews Asking for Good host Katherine Pooser about the nonprofit sector, fundraising and overcoming Imposter Syndrome. 

Begin your transition to the nonprofit sector by volunteering and making a personally meaningful gift. These interactions with the sector will give any job candidate a leg up as they have demonstrated commitment to the sector. 

For those ready to become development professionals, listen in to hear two essential frameworks to become a successful fundraiser:

• Be INTERESTED + INTERESTING to create strong donor relationships 

• Every ask is an invitation to change the world and should include these essential elements:

PROJECT + TIMING + AMOUNT

Finally, hear how to overcome Imposter Syndrome in the job search by identifying and reframing Automatic Negative Thoughts.

Lisa Lager is a nationally recognized philanthropy expert, all-around fundraising guru, and mentor to host, Katie Pooser. In this inspiring episode, Lisa shares why she prioritizes mentoring, lessons learned along a robust four-decade career journey, and provides invaluable advice for navigating job interviews and offers with confidence. Listen in as Lisa shares:

✨ See Beyond the Sparkle: Learn why it's crucial to approach new opportunities with open eyes, ditching those rose-colored glasses to truly assess if an organization is the right fit for you.

🤝 Mentorship Magic: Discover the profound impact of mentorship and hear firsthand how Lisa has guided countless professionals toward fulfilling careers.

🧐 Interview Intelligence: Unlock the secret to using the interview process to gather essential information, empowering you to make informed decisions when you land an offer.

🌟 Crafting Your Legacy: Be inspired by Lisa's journey in helping donors create meaningful legacies and how her own career has become a powerful reflection of her values.

Tune in for a dose of career wisdom that will leave you feeling empowered and ready to make a real difference!

Professor David Rhode, author of Passion Isn’t Enough: a practical guide for nonprofit leaders, uses the foundation for nonprofit success outlined in his book to advise job seekers. David has coached hundreds of nonprofit CEOs to grow their organizational capacity and scale. He knows that finding the right people and putting them in the right positions is essential. HIs insights will deepen your understanding of the sector overall and help job seekers artfully navigate the interview process.

Listen in as we discuss: 

About the Guest: 

David Rhode founded Dot Dot Org where he mentors nonprofit CEOs and helps nonprofit organizations grow their capacity and impact. David is a nonprofit founder; he scaled and ran the global organization for almost 15 years. David's career began in the for profit sector at blue chip companies like Procter and Gamble, H.J. Heinz and others. David is the author of "Passion Isn't Enough: A Practical Guide for Nonprofit Leaders". 

He is a Wharton MBA and currently teaches non profit branding and nonprofit consulting at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Show Notes: 

Stanford Social Innovation Review 

Podcast: How to Hire the Right Person Every Time by Brooke Richie Babbage

Nonprofit Hive 

Dot Dot Org

Ellen Gifford wants you to find your authentic voice by defining your purpose and understanding your non-negotiables. With these you can define the WHY that will guide your career. She drops fundraising truth bombs and tells us what to do to get out of the rut of being a subject matter expert.

Ellen reserves the right to get smarter and thinks you should too. Having a growth mindset and saying yes to the stuff that scares us makes a difference. She reminds listeners that while people do want to help others grow and develop, it may not be front of mind when they're caught in their own hamster wheel. In every organization, there should be people who are there to champion your professional growth and development - many are specially trained members of the human resources team. And what if your company doesn't have it? You get to be that leader yourself.

Are you thinking of starting your own not-for-profit? On the eve of the 5th anniversary of a nonprofit she founded, Ellen shares that resilience and belief in the mission are linchpins. Take notes from her lessons learned:

a.  Know how you will make money; make a business plan

b.  Get the IRS designation/legal status ASAP

c.  Build relationships. Get to know the people in your community and nationwide.

And when it comes to fundraising-

-With funders, “No means. No, not right now.” 

-The staff of funding organizations may not be the decision makers but they are your champions in the room and they want to see nonprofits succeed.

-Stay true to your organization, don’t create or bend programs to fit to a funding application

About the Guest:

Innovative Human Resources executive, coach, business consultant and nonprofit founder with nearly 30 years of leadership experience in the healthcare, insurance, entertainment and hospitality industries.

Ellen has successfully helped both small not-for-profit organizations and multi-billion dollar corporations grow their businesses by advising them on how to execute on business strategies that enable them to outpace their competitors even in times of complex talent landscapes.

Ellen is known for her ability to build highly productive human resources organizations and she does this by empowering others to use their gifts and talents to deliver on high priority business strategies.

When she is not working she loves to travel and discover new sites, eat new food and meet new people. When she visits new places she often goes to the locations that are less traveled so she can gain a more authentic perspective. As a passion project, she runs a professional theatre company that employs artists from all over the world. They perform live theatre in site-specific spaces with a mission to “reimagine live theatre with innovative experiences that bring our community together”.

Ellen earned her MBA degree from Oklahoma Christian University and is a certified Lean Leader, SHRM-certified HR professional, and a Results Based Leadership Institute graduate. Her leadership has earned her the Ultimate Software Innovation Award and recognition from publications such as Becker’s Hospital Review.

Ok, ok it’s not as catchy as No-Shave November or Dryanuary but it’s important…DON’T sit December out, you can make real progress in your job search. 

In this episode, for those new to the sector, we take a few minutes to talk through what is happening at the height of giving season and what leaders and hiring managers are thinking about this December including the 🪦“nonprofit killer” bill.

There is no hiring season, nonprofits are hiring now. Each role represents a problem the organization is looking to solve. By the time a position is posted on the organization’s website, it’s almost certain the team has been working beyond capacity. APPLY NOW! You will not be overlooked if you apply in December. 

MUST DO: Revamp your elevator pitch for the season. As you reconnect with your oldest pals and loved ones, let your answer to the inevitable question, “so, what are you up to these days?” be filled with your values, your future and the impact you want to make. People who are interested in knowing what you’re up to usually want to help you. 

EXTRA CREDIT: Take time in December to be your own coach. Take a break from your plan and look onto your job search with an outsider’s eye to find and fill gaps. These four questions can get you started:

EXTRA EXTRA CREDIT: Dig deeper and listen to the full episodes referenced.

Keep your job search moving in December, 2025-you will thank you. 

Episodes Referenced: 

Use your North Star to be Value-Add & the First Professional Doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership

Guide to Getting Back to Work

Selectively apply, Ace your interview

Imposter Syndrome Can Wreck your Nonprofit Job Search, Before it Even Starts

Weak Ties, Big Results: How to Network Beyond your Inner Circle (Part 3 of 3)

Judy left an executive role in the not-for-profit sector to become a mission-driven entrepreneur. She and her co-founder of EvolveMe built a gap-filling, job search program for women in midlife.

Listen in to hear these keys to search that apply to everyone:

1. Ditch the career ladder and the “shoulds.” Your first step is about checking in with you. Check out their free SWOT** tool in the show notes.

**Strengths, Wishes, Opportunities and Truths

2. Don’t go it alone. Judy shares the power of community. Job seekers from a variety of industries and experience gain confidence faster and see new paths when they are on the search together.

3. A compelling “elevator pitch” is about your future, the impact you want to have, and your values.

4. Defining and managing your personal brand puts you in the drivers seat. This articulation helps your network make the best connections for you.

5. Try it on. Strategic volunteering (even one day) or project-based work will give you the exposure to the not-for-profit sector you need to see if it’s a right match for you at this moment.

For women in midlife, this is a can’t miss episode. Judy shares most common stumbling blocks and how to clear them. (Hint: growth mindset, self-reflection, career reframing, it’s not too late). She noticed that women tend to focus on doing a great job in their current role and neglect to think about their career.

If you don’t know where to begin or are feeling rudderless, this episode is for you. Judy distills the job search and will help you move your bias toward action.

Show Notes:

EvolveMe Website

EvolveMe SWOT resource

EvolveMe's Reinvention Collective training

Schedule your EvolveMe complimentary 1:1 call here

About the Guest:

Judy Schoenberg is co-founder of Evolve Me where she works with groups of women in midlife looking to relaunch, reinvent or level up their careers. She also works with companies invested in building and sustaining top female talent. 

She honed her skills at national organizations like Girl Scouts of the USA and the Ms. Foundation for Women as well as locally at Pace University’s women’s leadership initiative and has also worked for  community-based and start-up ventures. Her work has been featured at the White House, MAKERS, npr.com, Forbes.com, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune and The Washington Post.

Additionally, she brings her background as a wellness coach to promote an integrated approach for women exploring meaning and work. She holds leadership roles at several nonprofit educational institutions and a Master's of Education in human development and psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

#careercoach #nonprofit #careertransition #jobsearch #philanthropy #midlife #thirdsector

Tired of feeling like a passenger in your own career? Join us as we chat with Christa Stelzmuller, a seasoned tech pro who traded the hustle of e-commerce for world-changing work. Christa made a bold leap into the not-for-profit world, landing the coveted role of Chief Technology Officer at charity:water.

Learn how she navigated the transition, filled in knowledge gaps, and found a mission and culture that truly resonated.

Whether you're considering a similar switch or simply want to take more control of your professional path, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration.

Listen in and take some pointers from her process:

Christa digs into tech in the not-for-profit sector. Two essential transferable skills for moving from the for-profit to not-for-profit sector are change management and database/CRM management. She shares examples of transferable skills from sales funnels to fundraising and using data for storytelling. She shares that success comes when you can drive data through to the human experience. 

A year into her sector-switching role, she’s very happy she made the shift. She encourages you to go for the career switch of your dreams.  

A common thread throughout Christa Stelzmuller’s career has been a multidisciplinary approach to leveraging data and technology for better decisions, better products, and better delivery. She is focused on building innovative and useful digital experiences and is deeply motivated by mission. She has a demonstrated ability to translate a vision to a strategy and then connect that strategy to execution. Key to that are her strengths in communication and team leadership. She easily pivots between conversations with investors and board members, fellow leadership team members, and more junior team members and fosters high levels of productivity through a service-oriented, participative approach to leading her teams.

Dreaming of a career change with purpose? You're not alone! In this episode, career development coach Emily Lamia shares practical advice on how to design your ideal not-for-profit job and make it a reality. Discover how to:

Emily's expert advice will inspire you to take control of your career and create a fulfilling path in the nonprofit world. Don't wait any longer – start planning your pivot today!

Ready to turn your passion into a fulfilling career? Hit play and start your journey towards a more meaningful job!

About the guest:

Emily Lamia founded Pivot Journeys in 2016 to provide professionals with the strategies and support they need to find meaningful work and to empower them to be inspired, engaged, and effective on the job.

As a career development coach, she has been helping people grow and develop in their careers for over a decade. She has supported countless people to network more effectively, interview more confidently, and think more strategically about how to get where they want to go. But, before that, she had to navigate my own career journey.

She knows what it’s like to feel stuck and be unsure of how to find the right kind of work for you, and how to land the job you want. She also knows what it’s like to work on a dysfunctional team with bad management. And I know a bad manager can be the reason you leave your job.

Her goal is to make it less painful for you to identify what you love doing and for you to get the opportunity to do it.

As a Gallup-certified Strengths Coach, certified Designing Your Life Coach, and certified administrator of an Enneagram assessment, Emily has completed 100+ hours of training and regularly participate in ongoing education to become the best coach she can be for her clients.

Dr. Lisa Orbe-Austin, a licensed psychologist and career coach, joins us to discuss how Imposter Syndrome can hold people back in their careers and how to overcome it specifically in the context of a non-profit job search.

You’ll learn:

Imposter Syndrome is a common issue, but it doesn’t have to hold you back. This episode will equip you with the tools you need to launch your non-profit career with confidence.

Resources Referenced:

Own Your Greatness: Overcome Impostor Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life

Your Unstoppable Greatness: Break Free of Impostor Syndrome, Cultivate Your Agency, and Achieve Your Ultimate Career Goals

Dr. Lisa Orbe-Austin provides career advice on NBC LX

Career Transitions

Instagram

Pomodoro Technique

The Impostor Phenomenon: Psychological Research, Theory, and Interventions

Dr. Valerie Young