Welcome to the ”Lead for Good" podcast, designed for nonprofit leaders at every level. Join us as we connect with top nonprofit professionals, diving deep into the traits, strategies, and actions that drive successful leadership in the sector. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and insights needed to elevate your leadership skills and maximize your impact. In each episode, our host, Chris Looney, interviews an inspiring leader committed to making a difference. Today on the Lead for Good podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Chad Nelsen, the dynamic CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, one of the most influential environmental nonprofits in the country dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves, and beaches. Under Chad’s leadership, Surfrider has experienced a remarkable transformation, growing from a $5 million organization with a staff of 30 to a $15 million powerhouse with over 85 team members, while strengthening its grassroots chapter network, policy influence, and national impact. In this conversation, we’ll explore what it takes to scale a mission-driven organization effectively and responsibly, from strategic alignment and culture building to capacity investments, leadership shifts, and infrastructure development. If you're a nonprofit leader seeking to grow without losing your soul, this one’s for you. Get ready for an enlightening conversation that will inspire you to lead for good! Don’t forget to like and share this video with fellow nonprofit leaders! #nonprofitleadership #leadershipdevelopment #nonprofitpodcast #inspiration #leadforgood

Today on the Lead for Good Podcast, we’re joined by John Mangum, President and CEO of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. John has a remarkable background in arts leadership, with previous roles at the Houston Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In this conversation, we’ll dive into the critical first six months of a CEO’s tenure—what it takes to listen, learn, set direction, and begin leading effectively. Whether you’re stepping into your first executive role or transitioning to a new organization, John’s insights will help nonprofit leaders think strategically about how to start strong and build trust from day one.

Welcome to the ”Lead for Good" podcast, designed for nonprofit leaders at every level. Join us as we connect with top nonprofit professionals, diving deep into the traits, strategies, and actions that drive successful leadership in the sector. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and insights needed to elevate your leadership skills and maximize your impact. In each episode, our host, Chris Looney, interviews an inspiring leader committed to making a difference. Today on Lead for Good, we are thrilled to be joined by Betsy Biern, the Chief Executive Officer of Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area. With a dynamic background in nonprofit leadership and a deep commitment to transformative impact, Betsy has helped guide one of the most beloved nonprofit organizations in the world through innovation, strategic growth, and unwavering mission focus. Under her leadership, Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area continues to bring hope, strength, and joy to children with critical illnesses. On this episode we’ll explore Betsy’s leadership journey and her insights around how to empower and support nonprofit board members to lead with clarity, purpose, and accountability. Get ready for an enlightening conversation that will inspire you to lead for good! Don’t forget to like and share this video with fellow nonprofit leaders! #nonprofitleadership #leadershipdevelopment #nonprofitpodcast #inspiration #leadforgood

Welcome to the ”Lead for Good" podcast, designed for nonprofit leaders at every level. Join us as we connect with top nonprofit professionals, diving deep into the traits, strategies, and actions that drive successful leadership in the sector. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and insights needed to elevate your leadership skills and maximize your impact. In each episode, our host, Chris Looney, interviews an inspiring leader committed to making a difference. Today we welcome Nicole Suydam, who has devoted more than three decades to empowering individuals through human service leadership. Nicole currently serves as the CEO of Goodwill of Orange County and was before that the CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. To talk about Nicole as an expert leader in the nonprofit sector is a compliment but just too limiting for all that Nicole is as a person and has achieved professionally. Nicole has been a good friend for decades and I’m thrilled to be able to dig into her leadership journey with you all. We’ll also explore the perceptions versus realties of the nonprofit sector and then have a discussion about how collaborations among nonprofits are not competitive but expansive. Get ready for an enlightening conversation that will inspire you to lead for good! Don’t forget to like and share this video with fellow nonprofit leaders! #nonprofitleadership #leadershipdevelopment #nonprofitpodcast #inspiration #leadforgood

Welcome to the ”Lead for Good" podcast, designed for nonprofit leaders at every level. Join us as we connect with top nonprofit professionals, diving deep into the traits, strategies, and actions that drive successful leadership in the sector. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and insights needed to elevate your leadership skills and maximize your impact. In each episode, our host, Chris Looney, interviews an inspiring leader committed to making a difference. Today we welcome Bill Bracken, the passionate founder and Executive Director of Bracken’s Kitchen, who will share his inspiring leadership journey and speak to a leadership concept as “Leadership is Influence.” For those unfamiliar, Bracken’s Kitchen is a nonprofit founded in 2013 that works via food rescue, culinary training and a community feeding program to rescue, re-purpose, and restore both food and lives. Get ready for an enlightening conversation that will inspire you to lead for good! Don’t forget to like and share this video with fellow nonprofit leaders! #nonprofitleadership #leadershipdevelopment #nonprofitpodcast #inspiration #leadforgood

Welcome to the ”Lead for Good" podcast, designed for nonprofit leaders at every level. Join us as we connect with top nonprofit professionals, diving deep into the traits, strategies, and actions that drive successful leadership in the sector. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and insights needed to elevate your leadership skills and maximize your impact. In each episode, our host, Chris Looney, interviews an inspiring leader committed to making a difference. In this episode, we welcome Casey Castillo, a strategic leader and hands on advocate for food security and systemic resilience in his community. Casey is the current CEO of the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, a large and impactful food bank with a mission to provide nutritious food to people in need, to advocate for the hungry, and to educate the public about hunger related issues. Following a discussion of Casey's leadership journey to the top of the food bank, we will discuss how to incorporate valuable tools to build a great organizational culture. Get ready for an enlightening conversation that will inspire you to lead for good! Don’t forget to like and share this video with fellow nonprofit leaders! #nonprofitleadership #leadershipdevelopment #nonprofitpodcast #inspiration #leadforgood

Welcome to the ”Lead for Good" podcast, designed for nonprofit leaders at every level. Join us as we connect with top nonprofit professionals, diving deep into the traits, strategies, and actions that drive successful leadership in the sector. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and insights needed to elevate your leadership skills and maximize your impact. In each episode, our host, Chris Looney, interviews an inspiring leader committed to making a difference. In this episode, Autumn Strier, a highly-driven nonprofit co-founder and CEO with extraordinary leadership skills and a passion for helping those in need. The nonprofit Autumn confounded and leads is called Miracles for Kids which helps families with critically ill children fight bankruptcy, homelessness, hunger and depression so they can fight for their child’s life. The conversation with Autumn covers the essentials of building a successful nonprofit from the ground up, paying particular attention to the mission statement, recruitment of the board of directors, program development, and more. Get ready for an enlightening conversation that will inspire you to lead for good! Don’t forget to like and share this video with fellow nonprofit leaders! #nonprofitleadership #leadershipdevelopment #nonprofitpodcast #inspiration #leadforgood

Welcome to the ”Lead for Good" podcast, designed for nonprofit leaders at every level. Join us as we connect with top nonprofit professionals, diving deep into the traits, strategies, and actions that drive successful leadership in the sector. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and insights needed to elevate your leadership skills and maximize your impact. In each episode, our host, Chris Looney, interviews an inspiring leader committed to making a difference. In this episode, Matt vandenBerg, the 17th President of Ohio Wesleyan University, shares about his leadership journey to the presidency and then leads a conversation around the importance of creating a shared vision, elevating sights, and building momentum. Get ready for an enlightening conversation that will inspire you to lead for good! Don’t forget to like and share this video with fellow nonprofit leaders! #nonprofitleadership #leadershipdevelopment #nonprofitpodcast #inspiration #leadforgood

Welcome to the ”Lead for Good" podcast, designed for nonprofit leaders at every level. Join us as we connect with top nonprofit professionals, diving deep into the traits, strategies, and actions that drive successful leadership in the sector. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and insights needed to elevate your leadership skills and maximize your impact. In each episode, our host, Chris Looney, interviews an inspiring leader committed to making a difference. In this episode, Chris Simonsen, the CEO of Orangewood Foundation, a large nonprofit providing innovative services that uplift and empower young people who face a variety of challenges, shares about his leadership journey with a focus on the move from for profit leadership to the CFO role and then into the CEO role. Get ready for an enlightening conversation that will inspire you to lead for good! Don’t forget to like and share this video with fellow nonprofit leaders! #nonprofitleadership #leadershipdevelopment #nonprofitpodcast #inspiration #leadforgood

Welcome to the ”Lead for Good" podcast, designed for nonprofit leaders at every level. Join us as we connect with top nonprofit professionals, diving deep into the traits, strategies, and actions that drive successful leadership in the sector. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and insights needed to elevate your leadership skills and maximize your impact. In each episode, our host, Chris Looney, interviews an inspiring leader committed to making a difference. In this episode, Claudia Keller, a CEO of one of the countries largest food banks, shares about her leadership journey and helps the audience understand key issues around transitions from the for profit world to the nonprofit sector and also about building collaborations with individuals and nonprofit organizations. Get ready for an enlightening conversation that will inspire you to lead for good! Don’t forget to like and share this video with fellow nonprofit leaders! #nonprofitleadership #leadershipdevelopment #nonprofitpodcast #inspiration #leadforgood