This episode of the Success Fundamentals Podcast features Eugena Oh, President and CEO of the I Have a Dream Foundation. Breaking the chains of poverty is at the core of Eugena’s advocacy. She joined Teach for America as a student which opened her eyes to the opportunity in nonprofits to make a career and difference in society at the same time.

She shares how you can find joy in whatever you do, but having a career that is aligned with your values maximizes your potential for happiness. In her case, creating a lasting change by being present in their Dream Scholars’ lives throughout their development is what gives her the drive to keep going.

Eugena shares that success is the tangible impact she and her organization provides to less fortunate students. She shares her thoughts on money, how it is both a need and wretched thing, and how power is best wielded authenticity.

HIGHLIGHTS

02:27 Learning the values of education, integrity and respect for people regardless of background from her parents

06:31 Finding joy is a mindset but your chosen career can maximize your potential for fulfillment 

08:48 The opportunity to do more and having no regrets

13:06 Joining Teach for America as an undergrad

18:59 The mission of I Have a Dream Foundation to create opportunities for every child

32:46 Success is impacting the lives of the children they serve

39:44 Creating buy-in and raising funds for programs is constant work

42:22 The role of the nonprofit in society

49:17 Creating positive change versus letting egos clash

57:52 Creating positive impact versus perpetuating the system

1:03:40 Money is a wretched thing, authenticity has reach when combined with power 

1:12:53 Support the I Have a Dream Foundation and connect with Eugena

QUOTES

05:32 "Everyone has an important role to play and I think the way that we play that role, the way that we show up for that role, is so important regardless of what that role might be."

15:49 "I just really missed the mission-driven work. I got a great training and I was working on some really interesting cases with great clients but I was not attached to the mission of our clients the way that I was attached to the mission of my previous job."

20:40 "If we want to change the lives of young people, we need to do it one at a time and we need to meet them where they are and we need to invest deeply in them."

24:15 "There's no silver bullet. There's no secret sauce. It's just time. It's trust. It's investment."

1:01:06 "Am I doing a disservice to the children that we serve if the children that we serve today, we're helping them out, but their children and their children's children, are they going to continue to need these services because of what I'm doing?"

1:02:41 "I ultimately think there's a way to be here and do good work but also not act like there isn't also a larger systemic challenge. I'm still wading my way through that right now."

You can connect with Eugena through the links below.

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugena-oh-she-her-hers-695337/
• Website (I Have a Dream Foundation) - https://www.ihaveadreamfoundation.org/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ihdfnational/
• Email - [email protected]

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