The Good We Share

In this episode, Kate sits down with Nicole R. Smith, Executive Director of the Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (AL!VE), to talk about the power of volunteers and the leaders who support them. Nicole shares her personal journey, lessons learned from a career dedicated to helping others serve, and why strong communities begin with connection and belonging. Together, they explore what motivates people to give their time, how leaders can inspire lasting engagement, and why empowering volunteers creates impact that reaches far beyond a single moment of service. An uplifting conversation about purpose, community, and the good we share when people help people.

#TheGoodWeShare #VolunteerLeadership #Leadership #PurposeDriven

AL!VE Volunteer Standards - https://www.volunteeralive.org/professional_standards.php

In this episode, Kate chats with Vanessa Harris – a proud member of Woman’s Life Chapter 817, Girl Scout mentor, community builder, and self-proclaimed optimist. Vanessa shares how one spark of service can ignite a flame for generations, the family legacy that shaped her, and why strong communities are built by ordinary people rising to extraordinary needs. A hopeful, heart-forward conversation about love in action, leadership, and the good we create when we show up for each other.

#TheGoodWeShare #FraternalBenefitSocieties #Leadership #LiveFraternally #PurposeDriven

In this episode of The Good We Share, Kate sits down with Brent Williams, Founder and CEO of Benekiva, a company built on the belief that the insurance industry can do better for people. Together, they explore how purpose and innovation can transform the way organizations serve their members and communities. This episode dives into:

• How technology can be more than a tool for life insurers

• The belief that business should create value for people first

• What it means to serve mission-driven organizations, like fraternal benefit societies

• How innovation and compassion work together when families need it most

It’s a conversation about what happens when mission-driven technology starts with empathy, service, and the people it’s built for.

#TheGoodWeShare #FraternalBenefitSocieties #Leadership #LiveFraternally #PurposeDriven

Welcome to the very first episode of The Good We Share podcast, hosted by Kate Shafer, Director of Member Engagement and Communications with the American Fraternal Alliance.

In this kickoff conversation, Kate chats with Allison Koppel, CEO of the American Fraternal Alliance, to explore:

• What it means to lead with purpose in the fraternal sector
• How Allison’s career path—from growing up around trade associations to nearly 20 years at the Alliance—shaped her leadership style
• The power of mission-driven organizations to create real community impact
• Stories of fraternal members stepping up in extraordinary ways, from disaster relief to building beds for kids in need
• The importance of mentorship, especially for women in leadership, and how to recognize potential in others

If you’ve ever wondered what “living fraternally” means—or how purpose-driven leadership can transform communities—this episode will inspire you.

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#TheGoodWeShare #FraternalBenefitSocieties #Leadership #LiveFraternally #PurposeDriven