The Development Debrief

Welcome to this Development Debrief episode sponsored by Boyden Executive Search.

In this episode, we’re talking with the Texas A&M Foundation about how their culture work is transforming the way they recruit, retain, and grow talented staff. Our guests are Jill Trego and Chastity Carrigan with Texas A&M, and Wendy Wilsker with Boyden.

We’ll unpack what they celebrate and what they tolerate, and how their values guide them when things get hard. You’ll also hear how they help outsiders understand their culture, and what it means to live their “why” — unapologetically and authentically.

Let’s dive in.

In this episode, we sit down with David Kennedy, Vice President for Alumni Engagement and Development at Duke University—a leader who’s navigated some of the toughest questions in higher education today. We talk about his career, why Duke's current campaign has no dollar goal, and how they have managed making 20% cuts. David explains his north star phrase which is: our job is to fulfill the mission.

In unprecedented times, when every institution is being asked to do more with less, David shares how strategic realignment is both a financial exercise and a leadership one.

We also touch on how we can develop the skills we’ll need to meet the challenges ahead. It’s a conversation about the craft of leading through change.

This episode is a deeply personal one. I’m honored tosit down with the 22nd President of Trinity College, JoanneBerger-Sweeney, to reflect on her remarkable leadership and the impact of the All In campaign—the most ambitious fundraising effort in the college’s history. Despite serious headwinds, All In achieved extraordinary success, thanks to Joanne’s steady vision, the dedication of Trinity’s trustees, and the commitment of the entire community. In our conversation,Joanne shares stories of perseverance, moments of light through tragedy, and what it means to work with purpose until the very last day.

This episode is dedicated in loving memory to Michael Casey.

What is your wealth's highest purpose?

In this episode, we explore that question with a professional wealth advisor who is passionate about helping millennials use their resources to create real impact.

We’ll dive into donor-advised funds—are you using one?—and why they matter for high-income, mid-career millennials.

You’ll hear how the bunching strategy works, and a special story about his son shaped his personal giving plan.

This is a conversation about aligning strategy with purpose—and why the way you give can matter as much as what you give.

Adrian Colarusso is an investment adviser representative of Target Rock Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission andprincipally located in the state of New York. Registration as an investment adviser is not an endorsement of the firm by securities regulators and does not mean the adviser has achieved a specific level of skill or ability. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Target RockWealth Management and its representatives are properly registered or exempt from registration. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute individualized advice or a guarantee that you will achieve a desired result. You should consult with appropriate tax and/or financial advisors for advice specific to your situation. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of interviewee on the date of the program and are subject to change.

Today I’m thrilled to be joined by Carolyn Vine from Robin Hood, one of New York City’s most impactful organizations fighting poverty. Robin Hood is stepping into an exciting new chapter—launching an endowment campaign that will strengthen their ability to serve the city for generations to come. Carolyn and I dive into how this initiative is taking shape, what it means for New Yorkers, and why continuity in leadership has been one of Robin Hood’s greatest advantages.

 Carolyn oversees all fundraising activities at Robin Hood andleads the Development, Marketing, and Events team in their work raising funds to support the organization in its critical poverty-fighting work. In that capacity, she is responsible for reaching annual fundraising goals of more than $150 million and driving Robin Hood’s development strategy by identifying new partners and initiatives to expand its fundraising platform, including planned giving, an endowment campaign, and a next-generation leadership group.

Prior to joining Robin Hood in 2010, Carolyn worked at the global investment firm, D. E. Shaw & Co., in the Resource Development and Fundamental Research groups, focusing on business development, recruiting, and research.  She has an M.Sc. in African Studies from the University of Oxford. She earned a B.A. in English Literature from Columbia University. A native New Yorker, Carolyn is passionate about making this city a more equitable engine of opportunity for all, and she has fought to do so in her fundraising roles at Robin Hood for over ten years.  She lives in Manhattan with her husband and two small children.

Welcome to today’s conversation with Joel Malina. Together,we talk about communications and we dive into what it means to find balance in your career, while also having big impact.

Joel shares his transition from Cornell to Brunswick, what it takes to define a crisis—and respond effectively usingreflections on October 7th 2023 as a major example.

You’ll hear why listening is the most important thing you can do, how to consolidate information in high-pressure situations, and why having the right messengers matters most in the hardest times.

Joel advises Brunswick’s Foundations, Education& Global Health and Energy & Resources clients on a range of matters, including public affairs, issues and reputation management, profile raising, crisis, media relations, and stakeholder engagement.

Welcome to Season 16! We’re kicking off a brand-new season with a fantastic lineup of episodes ahead, and I’m so glad you’re here.

It’s been a wonderful summer in New Haven—I spent time with family, snuck away to Vermont, and reconnected with friends. One highlight was attending the Parents Fundraising Conference at NYU, hosted by Cory Williams. I had the honor of presenting during a plenary session alongside Claudia Taylor Overstrom, chair of Yale’s Parents Leadership Council.

Claudia and her husband Gunnar have led the PLC for the past year. A Yale alumna with a J.D. from Georgetown Law Center, Claudia also serves as President of the Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

In this first episode of the season—recorded live—we talk about how we work with parents, what partnership really looks like, and why these relationships matter.

Let’s dive in!

Today’s guest, Robin Aviv, is a force in the nonprofit world—a leader who’s redefining how missions are amplified and communities are engaged. Robin is the Founder and Executive Chairperson of Generation S.O.S., a prominent non-profit organization that empowers teens and young adults to make lifesaving decisions about substance use and other mental health issues.

She’ll share how the right speaker can transform the right room, why a participatory board is essential, and what she believes is more valuable than money. We’ll explore how she tracks real growth, tells compelling stories that move donors to action, and leverages one signature event a year to fuel lasting impact.

Today’s episode will focus on leadership and specificallytouches on the challenges of current times. We talk about how to build a high performing team regardless of your current circumstance. Craig Shelley is the President, Fundraising and Strategy Services at Carey & Co. he gives specific examples and does some forecasting on how to manage some of the challenges coming at education and non-profits today.

This episode takes a deep dive into the organization Year Up. Year Up United equips students with the skills they need for success through tuition-free job training. Through access to hands-on experience and skills-first training, they help young adults achieve the future they dream of, while impacting organizations from day one.

 When it comes to fundraising, Year Up stands out because they take the approach of a multi year unrestricted capital campaign every five years. Our guest Susan tells us why this has been successful for them. Their work seems quite applicable to education and there is a lot to learn from their strategy.  

Susan Murray leads Year Up’s revenue teams and servesas an officer of the company and a member of the executive team. She is responsible for creating and executing a strategy to fund Year Up’s operations, growth, and innovation, working closely with Fortune 500 companies and philanthropic investors. She joined Year Up in February 2011, first as Senior Philanthropic Advisor. She led the development team for 8 years and assumed leadership of Year Up corporate engagement team in 2023.Susan and the development team raised nearly $800 million in philanthropy 2011 – 2023, connecting more than 42,000 young adults to quality jobs and partnering with more than 200 major employers on their talent strategies. As the head of corporate engagement, Susan oversees a talent placement business that connects more than 4,500 young adults annually to employers in need of talent. Prior to Year Up, Susan raised capital for the University of Pennsylvania, served as a Director of the Columbia University College Fund, and was part of the NYC2012 team that led New York’s bid to host the 2012 Olympics. She co-founded a youth lacrosse program in Brooklyn and has served on the Domestic Violence Project board. Susan earned her BA from the University of Rochester and her MPA from Columbia University. She is a mom to 3 daughters and lives in Brooklyn with her family.