The Route to Success

In this enlightening conversation, Patrice Brown shares her unique journey into leadership, emphasizing the importance of resilience, joy, and self-care. She discusses how small moments of joy can help navigate stress and uncertainty, the role of faith in maintaining hope, and practical rituals for resetting the mind. The dialogue also explores the significance of building connections in leadership and how nature can inspire a sense of peace and responsibility. Ultimately, Patrice advocates for taking care of oneself as a leader to better support others.

Key Takeaways:

Hope is something you practice every day.
Joy is not a luxury; it is a tool.
Finding joy in small moments can change your perspective.
Faith can provide grounding during difficult times.
Self-care is essential for effective leadership.
Building connections with team members fosters joy.
Nature teaches us to slow down and appreciate life.
Rituals like tea and breath work can reset your mind.
Recognizing others' struggles enhances leadership effectiveness.
Taking care of yourself allows you to better influence others.

Connect via Patrice via https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricebrown/

In this conversation, Renee Hastings, president and CEO of Executive Help Now, shares her insights on leadership, resilience, and the importance of operational clarity in business. With over 20 years of experience, she discusses the lessons learned from both good and bad leaders, the significance of hiring for values, and the challenges of delegation. The conversation emphasizes the role of faith and community in navigating difficult times and the power of sharing resources and support among peers.

Key Takeaways:

Renee's leadership journey is shaped by both good and bad experiences.
Bad leaders teach valuable lessons on what not to do.
Operational clarity is essential for reclaiming time and focus.
Delegation is often hindered by fear and perfectionism.
Hiring for values is more important than hiring for skills.
Building a supportive community is crucial for success.
Prayer and seeking wisdom guide decision-making during challenges.
Effective communication fosters trust and collaboration.
Sharing resources can lead to unexpected solutions.
Authenticity and vulnerability are key in leadership.

Connect with Renee via https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneehastings17/

Subscribe to The Route To Success for more conversations on leadership, resilience, nonprofit impact, personal growth, and real world advocacy.

What if leadership challenges inside your organization are not caused by people but by broken systems?

In this episode of The Route To Success, Sara Orellana speaks with organizational psychologist and nonprofit leader Inga James about how leaders can build healthier organizations by focusing on systems, culture, and trauma informed leadership.

Inga James explains why organizations should be seen as living systems rather than rigid structures. Drawing from her background in social work and executive leadership, she shares how systems inside an organization influence behavior, performance, and even conflict between teams.

Sara Orellana and Inga James explore practical ways leaders can recognize system strain, improve workplace culture, and create environments where employees feel heard, supported, and empowered to do their best work.

This conversation also dives into burnout, leadership boundaries, transparency in decision making, and the role of psychological safety in building strong teams.

If you are a nonprofit leader, executive, manager, or founder looking to strengthen your organization and support your team more effectively, this episode offers practical insights you can start applying right away.

Topics covered in this episode

• Why organizations function as living systems
• How leadership systems shape employee behavior and performance
• The difference between fixing people and fixing systems
• Trauma informed leadership in real workplace situations
• The connection between burnout, boundaries, and leadership
• Why transparency builds trust inside organizations
• How leaders can identify early signs of system strain

Guest
Inga James
Founder of Organizational Renewal Group and Organizational Psychologist specializing in leadership development, workplace systems, and trauma informed organizational practices.

Connect with Inga James on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/inga-l-james/

Learn more about Inga James
https://renewalgroupllc.com

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to the channel and share this episode with leaders and teams working to build healthier organizations.

In this conversation, Nikki Hamilton shares practical self-advocacy tools for victims and families, emphasizing the importance of knowing options, asking for clarity, and documenting conversations. She discusses building a nonprofit resource navigation network, highlighting the significance of partnerships and understanding community needs. The conversation also covers the selection of a high-caliber board, focusing on character and expertise, and concludes with strategies for sustainable growth and preventing burnout in nonprofit organizations. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the challenges faced by leaders in nonprofit organizations, the importance of understanding the ongoing trauma experienced by victims, and the need for effective communication in advocacy. They emphasize the significance of acknowledging trauma, the power of grace and gratitude, and the necessity of being seen and heard in the healing process. The discussion also highlights the distinction between advocacy and opposition, offering practical phrases to foster understanding and collaboration.

Connect with Nikki T Hamilton on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkithamilton/

Subscribe to The Route To Success for more conversations on leadership, resilience, nonprofit impact, personal growth, and real world advocacy.

Welcome to The Route To Success with Sara Orellana

In this powerful episode, Sara sits down with Nikki T Hamilton, longtime victim advocate, nonprofit leader, and founder of A Promise Kept Foundation. This conversation dives deep into advocacy, resilience, trauma recovery, and what it really takes to navigate systems that can feel overwhelming and cold.

Nikki explains why advocacy is not a personality trait but a skill that can be learned, practiced, and strengthened over time. She shares practical tools for building that skill in everyday life, especially during emotional situations when it feels hardest to use your voice.

Inside this episode, you will learn:

• What advocacy actually means in clear, practical terms
• Why advocacy is the driver behind true resilience
• How to separate emotions from facts during high stress situations
• Why victims often feel supported in crisis but alone in the long journey
• The gaps in the justice system when it comes to long term support
• How to teach children advocacy without labeling them as difficult
• Simple language shifts that reduce conflict and increase understanding
• The power of tone, body language, and neutral communication
• Why asking “Can you explain why?” changes everything

Nikki also shares the decades long journey behind Justice for Angel Ormston and what it has required from her year after year. From parole hearings to public opposition, she speaks honestly about re trauma, persistence, and protecting families while navigating the criminal justice system.

This episode is especially valuable for:

• Victims of violent crime
• Families navigating custody or parole hearings
• Parents raising emotionally intelligent children
• Nonprofit leaders balancing advocacy and compliance
• Anyone who wants to strengthen communication and self advocacy skills

If you have ever struggled to use your voice in a difficult moment, this conversation will give you clarity, language, and courage.

Connect with Nikki T Hamilton on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkithamilton/

Subscribe to The Route To Success for more conversations on leadership, resilience, nonprofit impact, personal growth, and real world advocacy.

In this powerful episode of The Route to Success, we sit down with Kadie Black, President and CEO of Voices for Children Foundation, also known as Be A Voice in Miami, Florida. Kadie shares how her organization is transforming the lives of children in foster care by helping them shift from survival mode to a mindset of hope, resilience, and possibility.

Voices for Children partners with the Guardian ad Litem Program to advocate for youth navigating the foster care system. From providing basic necessities like clothing and hygiene products to funding college tours, therapeutic wilderness trips, mission trips to the Dominican Republic, and independent living support, their work fills the critical gaps that often determine a child’s future.

In this conversation, you will learn:

• How experiential learning and travel help youth build confidence and resilience
• The impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences and how positive experiences can change life trajectories
• Why supporting relatives and kinship caregivers prevents children from entering group homes
• The real challenges young adults face when aging out of foster care
• Practical ways you can get involved through CASA, Guardian ad Litem programs, or local foster care nonprofits

Kadie also shares moving real life stories of families who were stabilized with small but strategic support, preventing siblings from being separated and keeping children out of high risk placements. The episode highlights how early intervention, compassion, and community involvement can reduce homelessness, trafficking vulnerability, and incarceration among former foster youth.

If you care about foster care reform, youth advocacy, trauma informed leadership, nonprofit impact, or building resilience in at risk youth, this episode will inspire you to take action.

Learn more or get involved at beavoice.org

Follow Kadie Black on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/kadieblack/

Subscribe to The Route to Success for more conversations with leaders creating meaningful change in their communities.

Welcome to The Route to Success with Sara Orellana.

In this powerful episode, Sara sits down with retired Air Force Colonel, pilot, nonprofit leader, and private equity founder Austin Moore for a real conversation about faith, fear, service, and leadership under pressure.

Austin shares how growing up in humble circumstances shaped his mindset and why he considers early adversity a gift rather than a limitation. From wrestling under Hall of Fame coach Russ Weiner to building a 26 year military career and retiring as a colonel in the United States Air Force, his journey is rooted in discipline, belief, and personal responsibility.

Inside this episode, you will learn:

• Why having no backup plan can force you to make Plan A work
• How to accept feedback without letting it break your confidence
• The difference between criticism from supporters and noise from detractors
• Practical tools for managing fear when it feels overwhelming
• How focusing on positive outcomes rewires your response to anxiety
• Why service should start now instead of someday
• How to grow an organization without losing mission clarity
• The leadership lessons that transferred from military service to nonprofit CEO to private equity
• How prayer, meditation, and time outdoors create grounded leadership

Austin also reflects on his time leading the Special Operators Transition Foundation, where he helped grow the organization by more than 300 percent while staying focused on serving special operations veterans transitioning into meaningful careers. He explains why growth should follow mission, not ego, and how strong leadership requires constant alignment with purpose.

This conversation explores imposter syndrome, self doubt, resilience, and what it really means to move forward when fear is loud. Austin shares a powerful story from pilot training about sitting alone in a jet before his first solo flight and choosing to shift from what if I fail to what if I succeed.

If you care about leadership development, military transition, nonprofit growth, private equity leadership, faith driven decision making, or building resilience under pressure, this episode delivers practical insight and honest reflection.

Connect with Austin Moore on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinamoore/

Subscribe to The Route to Success for more conversations on leadership, hope, resilience, service, and real world growth.

Leadership rarely follows a straight path. In this episode of The Route To Success, Sara Orellana sits down with Chantel Scherer, Executive Director of the Nassau Humane Society, to talk about resilience, leadership, and the unexpected opportunities that shape a career.

Chantel Scherer shares her remarkable journey from professional golf and international business in London to leading a nonprofit organization dedicated to animal welfare. With decades of experience across communications, government work during COVID, and nonprofit leadership, she offers powerful insights on building teams, running mission driven organizations with business discipline, and staying grounded while leading others.

Sara Orellana and Chantel Scherer explore what collaborative leadership really looks like, why nonprofits must operate with strong business strategies, and how leaders can grow through challenges, failure, and constant learning. The conversation also dives into burnout, ego in leadership, and the importance of building support systems like executive coaches and peer networks.

This episode of The Route To Success is a thoughtful discussion for anyone interested in leadership, nonprofit management, personal growth, and purpose driven work.

What you will learn in this episode

• Why leadership paths are rarely linear
• The power of collaborative leadership and building strong teams
• How nonprofits can run sustainably like businesses
• Managing burnout and staying grounded as a leader
• Why failure and risk taking are essential for growth
• The role of communication, trust, and adaptability in leadership

If you are passionate about leadership, nonprofit impact, career growth, or building meaningful work, this conversation with Chantel Scherer offers valuable lessons and inspiration.

About the guest
Chantel Scherer is the Executive Director of the Nassau Humane Society. With a global career spanning professional sports, international business, government communications, and nonprofit leadership, she brings a unique perspective on mission driven leadership and organizational growth.

Follow Chantel Scherer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chantelscherer/

About the host
Sara Orellana is the host of The Route To Success podcast, where she shares real conversations with leaders about resilience, purpose, and the journeys that shape impactful careers.

Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, growth, and success stories from inspiring professionals around the world.

#TheRouteToSuccess #LeadershipPodcast #NonprofitLeadership #ChantelScherer #SaraOrellana #CareerGrowth #LeadershipJourney #NonprofitManagement #AnimalWelfare #PersonalGrowth

What does it really take to lead a nonprofit successfully and raise millions of dollars for a mission?

In this episode of The Route To Success, host Sara Orellana sits down with veteran nonprofit leader Jake White to talk about leadership, fundraising strategy, and the realities of running mission-driven organizations.

With more than 35 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, Jake White has helped organizations raise over $150 million, including a single $5.3 million fundraising ask. In this conversation, he shares practical lessons on building donor relationships, creating strong systems, working with boards, and guiding teams through financial and organizational challenges.

Sara and Jake also discuss the leadership mindset needed to grow nonprofit organizations, how transparency strengthens teams, and why focusing on outcomes rather than activities can transform an organization’s impact.

If you are a nonprofit leader, executive director, board member, fundraiser, or someone interested in mission-driven leadership, this episode offers valuable insights you can apply immediately.

In this episode you’ll learn

• How successful nonprofits build strong fundraising systems
• What it takes to raise major gifts and build donor trust
• The role of board leadership and governance in nonprofit success
• Why transparency and communication matter for strong teams
• How leaders can stabilize organizations during difficult times
• Practical lessons from raising more than $150 million for nonprofits
• Leadership habits that improve culture and team performance

Guest
Jake White
Nonprofit leader with over 35 years of experience in fundraising, leadership, and organizational strategy. Throughout his career, he has helped mission-driven organizations raise more than $150 million and build sustainable development systems.

Connect via https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakewhitemba/

Books mentioned in this episode

• Turn the Ship Around
• Leaders Eat Last
• Extreme Ownership
• It’s Your Ship
• The Fundraiser’s Guidebook by Jake White

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, subscribe, and share it with leaders and professionals working in nonprofit organizations.

About the podcast

The Route To Success is a leadership podcast hosted by Sara Orellana, featuring real conversations with leaders about resilience, growth, leadership, and building organizations that make a meaningful impact.

#NonprofitLeadership #FundraisingStrategy #LeadershipPodcast #JakeWhite #SaraOrellana #NonprofitManagement #LeadershipDevelopment #TheRouteToSuccess

Welcome to The Route to Success! 🎙️

In this powerful episode, Sara Orellana sits down in person with Joseph Zolobczuk, Executive Director of the YES Institute, for a thoughtful conversation about resilience, identity, connection, and hope in uncertain times.

For more than three decades, Joseph and the YES Institute have helped transform conversations around gender, orientation, and mental health—creating spaces where youth, families, and communities can build understanding and thrive together.

In this episode, Sara and Joseph explore:

• How small sparks of hope can help us through our darkest moments
• Why community and connection are essential for mental health
• Rethinking resilience as growth and evolution, not just “bouncing back”
• The power of listening in difficult conversations
• How families and communities can rebuild trust and understanding
• Practical ways to navigate burnout, uncertainty, and loneliness

Joseph also shares insights from his own journey at age 18, how one conversation changed his life, and why no one has to face their struggles alone.

This conversation is an honest, compassionate reminder that every person has value, purpose, and the potential to create meaningful connection—even in challenging times.

✨ If you’ve ever struggled with uncertainty, identity, burnout, or feeling disconnected, this episode is for you.

🔗 Connect with Joseph via https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-zolobczuk/

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