The goals that make your stomach flip are often the ones tied to purpose—visibility, leadership, impact, change. They ask you to show up in a bigger way, and that can feel risky. Not just “what if I fail?” risky, but “what if I’m seen?” risky.

Episode 3 of Plated Perspectives is live. Do you know where your food comes from and why?

Kimberly Lewis has a fun and candid conversation with Noah Wilson-Rich, CEO of The Biodiversity Lab on the importance of all of the wonders of nature and how it comes together before hitting our dinner plates.

#Platedperspectives #motivationalmuse #goodwill #thebiodiversitylab

When we talk about leadership today, there is no question that women have made meaningful strides. Yet, when we look more closely at the data, it becomes clear that progress at the highest levels remains uneven—and in many cases, slow.

Emerging leaders don’t need a perfect title to lead—they need clarity, consistency, and the courage to grow in public. Use the steps below as a practical roadmap to strengthen your leadership identity while accelerating your career.

If a goal scares you, it usually isn’t because you’re incapable. It’s because you care.

The goals that make your stomach flip are often the ones tied to purpose—visibility, leadership, impact, change. They ask you to show up in a bigger way, and that can feel risky. Not just “what if I fail?” risky, but “what if I’m seen?” risky

Nonprofit work attracts people with big hearts and strong values. Yet even in mission-driven organizations, leaders sometimes notice a quiet pattern: staff and volunteers doing the minimum, avoiding visibility, hesitating to lead, or staying “safe” instead of stepping into their full contribution. It can look like low initiative, inconsistent follow-through, or a reluctance to take ownership.

Freedom is often framed as a personal ideal—something we feel, claim, or defend. But in nonprofit leadership, freedom is also structural. It shows up in policies, budgets, board decisions, workplace culture, and the unspoken rules that determine who gets heard, who gets protected, and who gets to thrive.

Summer is for sunshine, community, and the kind of joyful moments that remind people why they care. For nonprofits, it’s also the perfect runway into fall fundraising season. When you connect summertime fun to a clear fall plan, you turn warm-weather engagement into year-end impact.

Below are practical ways to enjoy summer while quietly (and smartly) setting up your strongest fall campaign yet—without losing the magic of the season.

Kimberly B. Lewis interviews Steve Preston, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International on how he leads a global organization with the ultimate goal of helping people reach their potential through the power of work.

Plated Perspectives is a new passion project of Kimberly B. Lewis

Kimberly B. Lewis, Motivational Muse podcaster interviews Rachael Watson, CEO of Blue Clae. Rachael is a consultant and global advocate of children's nutritional needs.