In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Casey Castillo, CEO of the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, for a wide ranging conversation on leadership, culture, and building systems that truly serve people at scale

Under Casey’s leadership, the Food Bank is on pace to exceed 52 million pounds of food distributed this year, translating to more than 43 million meals and reaching 400,000 people each month through an extraordinary network of partners, volunteers, and supporters But this conversation goes far beyond impressive numbers.

Casey shares his leadership journey from program staff to CFO to CEO, including the willingness to step outside his formal job description, say yes to unfamiliar challenges, and grow into greater responsibility. His story is a masterclass in initiative, resilience, and mission driven leadership.

This episode also offers a practical blueprint for building a strong organizational culture. Casey walks through the specific tools his team uses to strengthen alignment, accountability, and performance, including:

You will also hear powerful insights on:

If you care about strengthening culture, increasing accountability, and building a nonprofit that can tackle big, systemic challenges, this episode is for you.

Listen now on YouTube, Podbean, or Substack, and join us as we continue to explore what it truly means to lead for good.

Lead for Good – Episode 7

In Episode 7 of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Autumn Strier, Co Founder and CEO of Miracles for Kids, for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about what it really takes to build a nonprofit from the ground up and sustain it for more than two decades.

Autumn’s leadership journey begins long before she launched her organization. As a child, she experienced firsthand the life changing impact of people who stepped in to help during times of hardship. That early imprint of generosity shaped a life devoted to service. From UC Santa Barbara to NYU, from New York City government under Mayor Giuliani to Wall Street structuring nonprofit debt, Autumn built an unusually strong foundation in finance, public policy, and strategy before returning to the nonprofit sector.

Then came a defining moment.

After the birth of her daughter and a frightening hospital experience, Autumn overheard another family’s struggle with a critically ill child and the financial devastation that followed. That moment sparked the mission of Miracles for Kids: to support families with critically ill children so they can fight for their child’s life without losing their home, job, or stability in the process.

More than 20 years later, Miracles for Kids serves hundreds of families daily through housing, financial assistance, wellness programs, advocacy, and holistic family support. What began as one woman writing 31 checks from her couch has grown into a multi program organization with staff, volunteers, housing complexes, and thousands of lives impacted each year.

In this episode, Autumn shares practical and candid insights on:

• How to craft a mission statement that fills a true gap in the community

Her leadership philosophy is both grounded and inspiring. There is never just a problem, only an opportunity for a new solution. Health is the great equalizer. Take the high road. Work harder than anyone else. And always remember that a small group of committed people can change the world.

If you are launching a nonprofit, leading an established organization, or navigating growth in uncertain times, this conversation offers real world wisdom from someone who has done it.

Listen to Episode 7 of Lead for Good and discover how to build something that lasts by leading with strategy, resilience, and heart.

Matt VandenBerg | Managing Vision, Elevating Sights, Building Momentum In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Matt VandenBerg, the 17th President of Ohio Wesleyan University, for a wide ranging and energizing conversation about what it truly takes to lead with boldness, clarity, and conviction. From an unexpected pivot away from medical school to a deliberate beeline toward college presidency, Matt shares the formative moments, mentors, and mindset that shaped his leadership journey. Along the way, he unpacks powerful insights that extend far beyond higher education and into the heart of nonprofit leadership. This episode centers on three transformational leadership themes: Creating a Shared Vision Matt explains why nobody rows hard for a boat they do not believe in. He shares how leaders must not only study culture, but be seen studying it. From shadowing staff across campus to inviting open dialogue, he demonstrates how shared ownership fuels alignment and innovation. Raising Collective Aspirations It is hard to rally people around “stay afloat.” Matt makes the case that leaders must articulate a compelling picture of a better tomorrow and position others as heroes in that story. As he puts it, organizations do not simply exist to preserve themselves. They exist to leverage what they have to create a better world. Building and Sustaining Momentum Momentum is contagious. Wins validate vision. Matt recounts bold, strategic moves including a reimagined presidential inauguration and a fully funded $45 million library transformation announced in one sweeping moment. His message is clear: enthusiasm and progress generate confidence, trust, and further investment. Throughout the conversation, Matt emphasizes humility, clarity, consistency, action, grace, and courage. He challenges leaders to avoid stagnation, embrace calculated risk, and swing for the parking lot rather than simply protect what already exists. If you are a nonprofit leader seeking to galvanize your team, elevate your organization’s ambitions, and sustain forward momentum, this episode delivers both inspiration and practical wisdom. Listen now to Episode 6 of Lead for Good and discover how shared vision, raised sights, and disciplined momentum can transform your leadership and your impact.

In this compelling episode of Lead for Good, host Chris Looney sits down with Chris Simonsen, Chief Executive Officer of the Orangewood Foundation, for an insightful conversation about purpose driven leadership, financial stewardship, and what it really takes to transition from CFO to CEO in the nonprofit sector.

Chris’s journey is anything but typical. After achieving his career goals in the for profit world as CFO of a $3 billion organization, he made a bold decision to accept a 70 percent pay cut and step into nonprofit leadership. What followed was not only personal alignment, but transformational impact for thousands of young people across Orange County.

From navigating the Great Recession to building a $70 million charter school campus and growing the organization’s endowment from $2 million to $30 million, Chris shares candid lessons from nearly two decades of mission driven leadership.

Why a successful for profit executive chose purpose over paycheck

What nonprofit leaders can learn from financial discipline and long term sustainability planning

How to successfully transition from CFO to CEO and earn board confidence

The mindset shift required when moving from operations to organizational vision and fundraising

How servant leadership shapes culture, trust, and team performance

Why nonprofits must rethink outdated views on overhead and investment in talent

What the “network nonprofit model” looks like in action and how collaboration stretches limited resources

How broadening mission definitions can unlock new funding streams and greater impact

Chris offers practical guidance for interim leaders seeking permanent roles, emerging executives building board relationships, and nonprofit organizations striving for financial resilience in uncertain times.

He also challenges the sector to embrace deeper collaboration, innovate beyond traditional funding silos, and prepare for a future where government resources may decline and nonprofits must adapt creatively.

If you care about sustainable growth, mission alignment, culture building, and long term impact, this episode delivers practical wisdom from a leader who has walked the path from financial steward to chief executive.

Subscribe to Lead for Good and join us as we continue exploring the leadership journeys shaping the future of the nonprofit sector.

In this powerful episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Claudia Keller, Chief Executive Officer of Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, for an honest and energizing conversation about nonprofit leadership, courageous decision making, and the strength of collaboration.

Claudia’s leadership journey is anything but traditional. She began in the for profit retail fashion world, rising through the ranks before making a bold transition into nonprofit executive leadership. What followed was a 20 year career marked by grit, growth, and a deep commitment to serving communities with dignity and impact.

In this episode, you will hear:

How transferable skills from the for profit sector can strengthen nonprofit leadership

The difficult early lessons of accountability and making tough personnel decisions

What it was like to join a major food bank just weeks before the COVID 19 pandemic

How crisis reshaped Second Harvest and accelerated the evolution of the “modern food bank”

Why collaboration is not optional in today’s nonprofit landscape

The story behind Orange County’s “Sisters in Good” and what authentic CEO peer support looks like

Practical wisdom for aspiring and current nonprofit leaders navigating frustration, growth, and change

Claudia shares candid insights about leadership under pressure, holding people accountable with compassion, and measuring progress even when the work moves at the speed of collaboration. Her perspective on board engagement, cross sector partnerships, and nonprofit resilience will resonate with leaders at every stage of their journey.

If you are a nonprofit executive, board member, emerging leader, or someone considering a career in the sector, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.

The problems nonprofits tackle are complex and enduring. As Claudia puts it, if they were easy, someone else would have solved them long ago. That is why strong, collaborative, thoughtful leadership matters more than ever.

Listen in and be inspired to lead with courage, collaboration, and conviction.

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, Robert Santana, a CEO of one of the countries largest Boys and Girls Clubs associations, a social entrepreneur, board advisor, leadership consultant, and disrupter for good, shares about his leadership journey and helps the audience understand key issues around being future ready and being a futurist leader. 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, Dr. Stefanie Johnson, best selling author of "INCLUSIFY" and the leader of the Colorado University Boulder Center for Leadership, shares about her leadership journey and helps the audience of leaders understand key issues around inclusion, stress, and unconscious bias. 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 ”Lead for Good,” your go-to 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. 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