The Strength Catalyst

Humility is often misunderstood. It isn't about thinking less of yourself—it is about staying open to learning, recognizing others' contributions, and creating space for the people around you to grow.

In this first Introspective Moments episode, Colleen shares a coaching story about a leader whose humility changed the trajectory of a younger colleague's career. She also explores how even a valuable strength can be overplayed, leaving us reluctant to advocate for ourselves or those we lead.

If you've ever wondered how to lead with confidence while remaining open, teachable, and generous, this brief reflection offers practical ideas to help you use Humility more intentionally in your everyday life and work.

Pam Whitworth, founder of Shanti Children’s Foundation, joins Colleen for a conversation about what happens when the work you care deeply about asks you to grow along with it. Over nearly 30 years, Pam has had to build confidence, advocate for herself, set boundaries, and learn when helping someone means stepping in — and when it means trusting them to find their own way.

Along the way, Pam and Colleen explore how our strengths can help us navigate challenges we may not feel ready for, and how meaningful work can reveal capabilities we didn’t fully recognize in ourselves. Whether you’re leading an organization, navigating a change, or simply wondering how your own experiences have shaped you, Pam’s story offers an invitation to look back and ask: How has the work I’ve done helped me become who I am?

Episode Show Notes

• Shanti Children’s Foundation website: https://shantichildrensfoundation.org/
• Skills Discovery assessment: https://www.skillsdiscovery.com
• Introspective strength affirmation cards: https://www.introspectivecards.com/
• Have a question or want to suggest a guest for the Strengths Catalyst Podcast? Email Colleen ([email protected]) 

Kate Ward, Director of Development at the Ellie Fund, joins Colleen for a conversation about what happens when an organization grows — and your leadership needs to grow with it. As Kate thinks more intentionally about the leader she wants to be, they explore how her relationship strengths shape her approach to fundraising, how she can develop a young team without always stepping in herself, and how drawing on less-used strengths can help her navigate growth and change.

Along the way, they consider when even a powerful strength like Optimism needs to be balanced with something else — and a randomly selected Introspective Card offers a fitting final reflection. At the heart of the conversation is a question worth asking: not simply, "How do I lead?" but "How do I want to lead?"

Amanda de Oliveira, whose role spans finance, human resources, and organizational development at WE CAN, joins Colleen for a special conversation about building a strengths-based culture. Amanda shares how one nonprofit has woven strengths into everyday leadership through intentional conversations, practical habits, and a genuine commitment to helping people grow. This episode offers nonprofit leaders simple ideas for creating workplaces where people feel understood, contribute their best, and help one another thrive.

Episode Show Notes

• WE CAN website: https://www.wecancenter.org/
• Skills Discovery assessment: https://www.skillsdiscovery.com
• Introspective strength affirmation cards: https://www.introspectivecards.com/
• Have a question or want to suggest a guest for the Strengths Catalyst Podcast? Email Colleen ([email protected]) 

Aled Hollingworth, Vice President of Development at buildOn, joins Colleen for an honest conversation about two of the most universal challenges in nonprofit leadership — sustaining momentum through a major organizational transition, and stepping into authority with people who have known you as a peer. Aled reflects on how his strengths shape the way he connects, motivates, and makes decisions that serve not just himself, but the people around him and the mission they share. This episode explores identity, transition, and the quiet wisdom required to lead people well — especially when the path forward isn't yet clear.

Episode Show Notes

• buildOn website: https://www.buildon.org/
• Strengths Profile assessment: https://www.strengthsprofile.com
• Introspective strength affirmation cards: https://www.introspectivecards.com/
• Have a question or want to suggest a guest for the Strengths Catalyst Podcast? Email Colleen ([email protected]) 

Sue May, founder and Executive Director of Love & Cornbread, joins Colleen for a candid conversation about building an organization from the ground up — and the shift required as it grows. What began as a simple act of service has evolved into a complex operation with employees, structure, and new demands on Sue as a leader.

As she reflects on this next phase, Sue shares the challenge of moving from doing everything herself to succeeding through others — learning when to step back, how to build the right structure, and how to use her strengths differently. This episode explores the tension between building and sustaining, and what it takes to evolve alongside your own organization.

Episode Show Notes

• Love & Cornbread website: https://www.loveandcornbread.org/
• Strengths Profile assessment: https://www.strengthsprofile.com
• Introspective strength affirmation cards: https://www.introspectivecards.com/
• Have a question or want to suggest a guest for the Strengths Catalyst Podcast? Email Colleen ([email protected]) 

Tammy Leone, Executive Director of Cape Kid Meals, joins Colleen for a candid conversation about stepping out of a structured corporate environment and into the complexities of nonprofit work. Even several years into the role, Tammy reflects on how different the day-to-day reality feels — with limited structure, competing priorities, and many voices to consider.

As she works to advance important initiatives, Tammy shares what it takes to prioritize, make decisions, and stay focused when everything feels important. This episode explores the challenge of navigating a very different environment — and how to build clarity and confidence along the way.

Episode Show Notes

• Cape Kid Meals website: https://capekidmeals.org/
• Strengths Profile assessment: https://www.strengthsprofile.com
• Introspective strength affirmation cards: https://www.introspectivecards.com/
• Have a question or want to suggest a guest for the Strengths Catalyst Podcast? Email Colleen ([email protected]) 

In this episode of the Strengths Catalyst Podcast, Kathleen Leary, Executive Director of Canine Partners for Life, joins Colleen for a candid conversation about growing into a new role while building and supporting a developing team. Kathleen shares the challenge of stepping back from doing, learning to delegate more intentionally, and navigating the pull of a mission that never really turns off.

This episode explores delegation, work-life boundaries, and the shift required to create a more sustainable and empowering way of working.

Episode Show Notes

• Canine Partners for Life website: https://k94life.org/
• Introspective strength affirmation cards: https://www.introspectivecards.com/
• Strengths Profile Assessment: https://www.strengthsprofile.com (The Strength Profile is now Skills Discovery )
• Have a question or want to suggest a guest for the Strengths Catalyst Podcast? Email Colleen ([email protected]) 

Liz Milner, Executive Director and facility chaplain at the Correctional Institutions Chaplaincy (CIC) in Northern California, joins Colleen for a conversation on resilience, leadership, and the quiet power of leading with deep purpose. As the head of an organization providing spiritual and emotional care to incarcerated individuals, Liz's work demands extraordinary compassion and steadiness — and in this episode, she explores where that steadiness comes from. Together, Liz and Colleen discuss how understanding your unique combination of strengths can transform even the most challenging aspects of leadership, from navigating difficult feedback to shifting between demanding roles with grace and presence.

This episode highlights how strengths like explaining, connecting, and esteem building can reframe challenges into opportunities for clarity, growth, and deeply human leadership — and what becomes possible when we lead in ways that feel both effective and profoundly aligned with who we are.

Episode Show Notes

• CIC Ministries website: https://www.cicministries.org/
• Introspective strength affirmation cards: https://www.introspectivecards.com/
• Strengths Profile assessment: https://www.strengthsprofile.com/en-us/products/free
• Have a question or want to suggest a guest for the Strengths Catalyst Podcast? Email Colleen ([email protected]) 

Brett Donelson, founder and CEO of The Cycle Effect, joins Colleen for a candid conversation about leading a nonprofit organization built through innovation, experimentation, and growth. Brett shares the pressures of scaling without a clear roadmap and how his strengths help him navigate uncertainty, visibility, and differing perspectives as a leader. 

This episode explores confidence, resilience, and the courage required to lead while continuously evolving alongside your mission.

Episode Show Notes

• The Cycle Effect: https://www.thecycleeffect.org/
• Introspective strength affirmation cards: https://www.introspectivecards.com/
• Strengths Profile assessment: https://www.strengthsprofile.com/en-us/products/free
• Have a question or want to suggest a guest for the Strengths Catalyst Podcast? Email Colleen ([email protected])