On Board with Transparent Leadership

Dr. Catherine Alicia Georges is a Professor and Chairperson Emerita at City University of New York–Herbert H. Lehman College. She is a longtime educator and a distinguished nursing leader.

She shares her journey from the U.S. Virgin Islands, inspired by nurse midwives in her community, and reflects on the challenges women, especially women of color, face in leadership.

Dr. Catherine Alicia Georges talks about the value of mentorship, staying true to your purpose, and leading with clarity, strength, and a deep commitment to community. Her story offers real insight for anyone looking to make a meaningful impact.

Key Moments

00:00 Transparent Leadership  

05:45 Mentorship's Empowering Impact  

06:34 Many Mentors Varied Guidance  

10:59 Women's Assertiveness in the Workplace  

14:37 Support Young Women Leaders  

19:54 Career Advancement Advice Read and Learn  

21:34 Enhancing Strengths and Networking

Connect with Dr. Catherine Alicia Georges

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-c-alicia-georges-ab37aa19 

Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lehman_College 

The key to impactful leadership lies in proactive problem-solving, fostering connections, and driving unity within communities.

Mark Raymond, Jr., a dynamic leader with a multifaceted background in hospitality, sciences, television, and social entrepreneurship, shares his journey. As the former chairman of the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, Mark discusses his proactive approach to leadership and his dedication to disability advocacy through the Split Second Foundation.  

Mark emphasizes the economic advantages of empowering individuals with disabilities and the critical role of caregivers. He highlights the importance of unity within the disability community, offering strategic insights and ambitious plans to improve services on both national and international scales. 

Key Moments

04:16  Advocacy for PCA Coverage

08:18  Empowering People

12:03  Finding Purpose

27:26  Leadership through Learning

34:32  Unified Advocacy

37:46  Expanding Services

Connect with Mark Raymond, Jr.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-raymond-jr-45a61379 

Website: https://www.splitsecondfoundation.org/ 

Great leadership is about cultivating smarter teams, fostering mentorship, and embracing the richness of a variety of perspectives.

Steve Guthrie, President and CEO of Aviva and Easterseals Blake Foundation, shares his leadership philosophy and professional journey, detailing his transition from military service to social work. He emphasizes the importance of developing internal leadership through a structured curriculum and highlights the value of hiring smarter individuals to build strong, effective teams. 

Steve shares strategies for maintaining work-life balance, including morning runs and meditation. He underscores the importance of disconnecting in today’s always-connected world. Steve praises the mission-driven passion of his team at Easterseals Blake Foundation and reflects on how his military and legal backgrounds have shaped his leadership style. Additionally, he explores themes of mentorship, transparency, and morale, offering valuable insights into leadership challenges, mental health, and his favorite leadership literature.

Key Moments

05:03 - Work is as impactful as the military.

07:15 - Military service inspired a passion for helping.

12:41 - Pat Trefoil shaped Guthrie’s career.

15:50 - Core values: care, character, communication, cooperation.

21:00 - Transparency and development are key.

33:10 - Recognize when to ask for help.

Connect with Steve Guthrie

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-guthrie-jd-msw-lmsw-aa342919a 

Website: https://www.avivatucson.org/about-aviva/  

             : https://www.easterseals.com/blakefoundation/ 

The key to leadership is transparency, direct communication, and making data-driven decisions.

Lisa Gable, a five-time award-winning author and business leader, serves on the Advisory Board of 6Star Capital. With her extensive experience, including serving under four U.S. presidents and as a U.N. delegate, Lisa offers invaluable insights into leadership, mentorship, and strategic decision-making.

Lisa delves into the vital role of transparency and clear communication in leadership. She explores how data-driven decisions can navigate complex challenges. Reflecting on her career, Lisa outlines three pivotal phases: building credentials, applying experience, and mentoring the next generation. She also shares her unique approach to balancing work and life while overcoming leadership hurdles. Tune in for an insightful discussion about the transformative power of technology in shaping leadership and education in our rapidly evolving world.

Key Moments

04:14 Diplomatic Transparency

07:11 Research for Solutions

11:19 Crisis Leadership

17:21 Quarterly Rankings

23:07 Engaging Leadership

25:53 Retraining for Equality

Connect with Lisa Gable

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisagable 

Website: https://www.6starcap.com/ 

“I’d rather you invest massively in what makes your heart sing than give an obligatory gift to Catholic charities”

Kerry Alys Robinson, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, discusses the importance of staying grounded amid a busy schedule and highlights the value of the "ministry of presence."

She addresses challenges faced by Catholic organizations, particularly the need to engage younger generations in philanthropy, and the paradox of declining individual giving despite rising global wealth. Kerry advocates for collaboration among nonprofits to enhance the impact and shares her favorite reads and the positive effects of generosity on mental wellness.

Learn Kerry’s transition to her leadership role, her admiration for her colleagues, and how her faith influences her leadership style. 

Key Moments

00:00 Carrie: Philanthropy Leader

12:26 Finding Fulfillment

20:41 Innovative Risk-Taking

29:07 Generosity and Engagement

35:23 Friends' Spirit

Connect with Kerry Alys Robinson 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-alys-robinson-914507 

Website: https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/

“There is an urgent need for early intervention and robust support in STEM fields for people with disabilities.”

Rory Cooper is a member of the Easterseals National Board of Directors, a leader in rehabilitation science and technology, and a decorated Paralympian. 

Rory highlights the need for personalized education and innovative assistive technologies for air travel. While he successfully re-engineered his own wheelchair for air travel, he points out that access should be available to everyone without the need to go through such lengths to ensure safe and accessible transportation. He also shares insights from his work on wheelchair design for airports and discusses the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act, along with personal stories about resilience and the value of community support.

Key Moments

20:21 Easterseals’ Veteran Advocacy

21:52 Integrating Veterans

17:18 Embracing Challenges

38:44 Employment & Inclusion

35:58 Inclusive Air Travel

Connect with Rory Cooper

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rory-a-cooper-phd-ply-57795915/ 

Website:https://www.easterseals.com/ 

As CEO of The Arc of the United States, Katy Neas reveals the inner workings of an organization that promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. From The Arc’s expansive network of nearly 600 chapters to its innovative approaches to funding, Katy Neas’ leadership fuels the advancement of disability advocacy. Katy dives into the future of Medicaid, shedding light on potential changes and their implications. 

She also highlights the game-changing benefits of hybrid work for parents and shares her journey through advocacy, emphasizing the value of networking and powerful collaborations with organizations like Easterseals.

Key Moments

1:08 Feels Like Coming Home

4:41 Public Policy Advocacy

12:56 Staying Positive

19:35 Balancing Work & Hybrid Work

Connect with Katy Neas

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-neas-6588583/ 

Website: https://thearc.org/ 

"Leading with transparency and vulnerability is key to fostering trust and driving impactful change."

With more than 30 years at Easterseals, Donna shares her leadership journey, emphasizing accountability and authenticity. She also highlights her grandmother’s resilience and her unique approaches to well-being, including family time and esports.

Tune in for Donna’s leadership lessons and insights into nonprofit collaboration. Gain valuable advice and inspiring stories from a committed leader.

Key Moments:

00:00 Easterseals are emblematic of unique and incredible service.

05:25 ADA raised awareness, of the importance of continued education.

11:51 Challenges of visibility and connection in the workforce.

14:08 Transparency is crucial for effective leadership.

19:38 Spending time with family, serving others, esports.

22:27 Pragmatic approach to improving health care impact.

23:49 Disparities in healthcare inclusion must be addressed.

27:19 Involved with Easterseals ARC, focused on advocacy.

30:48 Nonprofits need collaboration and face ego and fear.

35:44 Leading by fostering collaboration and professional growth.

40:13 Admiring genuine, authentic, and humble leadership qualities.

42:21 Reading books about political relationships and CEO concerns.

Connect with Donna Elbrecht:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-elbrecht-ab3ba013/ 

Website:https://www.eastersealsnei.org/about-us/

In today's episode, Easterseals President and CEO Kendra Davenport interviews Beverly Johnson, President and CEO of Easterseals Northeast Central Florida. They discuss the value of in-person interactions in managing a hybrid workforce and the impact of social media on workplace dynamics. Beverly highlights her vision of farm property for children with disabilities and shares a tense meeting experience to underscore the need for clear communication. The episode concludes with insights on balancing professional and personal life, the role of mentors, and the continuous pursuit of growth in leadership.

Key Moments

00:00 Always do the right thing for others.

03:59 Management today is harder than ever, and a hybrid workforce is tricky.

08:14 Developing the ability to handle disagreement graciously.

10:42 A way to calm down and reconsider.

16:18 Listening leads to creating opportunities that empower children.

17:53 Praise for a special place and plans.

21:48 Story about a colleague in the office turnaround.

26:00 Ensuring families are supported in medical care.

30:23 Grateful for contextual example, shared Cornell study.

35:34 Leaders adapt to changing political climate challenges.

38:18 Pivoting to bipartisan support for necessary work.

44:05 Overcome shyness and ask for conversations with leaders.

45:30 Easterseals offers valuable opportunities for personal growth.

50:32 Embrace progress, learn from mistakes, and keep pushing.

51:38 Embrace positives, support others, overcome setbacks, and promote inclusion.

Connect with Beverly Johnson

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bevjohnsonmha

Website: https://www.easterseals.com/necfl/

In today's episode, Genny Winter, Board Chair of Easterseals, Inc., shares her insights on leadership and mentoring. The conversation begins with Kendra emphasizing the need to stay open to positive and negative workplace behaviors as avenues for growth. She passionately encourages taking personal responsibility for one’s learning, moving beyond the confines of employer-provided education. This sets the stage for a broader discussion on how nonprofits, like Easterseals, foster inclusive, judgment-free environments for individuals with disabilities.

With her extensive energy sector and nonprofit leadership background, Genny Winter elaborates on the value of board diversity, particularly the inclusion of individuals with disabilities. She discusses how diverse experiences enrich nonprofit boards and why aligning potential members’ missions with the organization’s goals is crucial.

Kendra and Genny also discuss the increasingly important topic of work-life balance. They explore how today’s employees prioritize this alongside job fulfillment, presenting unique challenges for nonprofit leaders who must manage resources while creating an appealing work environment. 

Key Moments

06:54 Informal mentors provide diverse learning opportunities.

09:08 Learning from past failures to improve leadership.

13:06 Encouraging empathy and collaboration for better outcomes.

16:48 Create a culture of constructive feedback and make tough decisions.

20:41 Leadership is the same in profit/nonprofit settings.

23:15 Transitioning to managing remote teams, juggling family.

25:49 Leaders should be accessible and communicate effectively.

29:29 Nonprofits face fierce competition for limited funds.

33:53 Create a conducive environment to retain the best talent.

38:19 Board's challenge: finding diverse, committed members.

40:03 Board members want impactful, aligning experiences.

44:52 Exploring impactful books for personal and leadership growth.

49:11 Managing hybrid work environments, challenges, and advice.

51:32 Remote work brings cost challenges, and self-advocacy is essential.

Connect with Genny Winter 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genny-winter-b956368 

Website: https://www.easterseals.com/