um, what do you think the skills that you have has helped you in your
nonprofit career pursuing the leadership positions that you have? Well, I
have to say, um, as you heard, I have a degree in journalism. And really
my, my thoughts were never to, even my thoughts have never been while
someday I want to be a ceo of a nonprofit. That was really never even in
my scope of thinking. But
the first job that I interviewed, um, as if after I graduated from the
issue was actually I, I interviewed with a for profit and a nonprofit and
for profit, you know, I'm a new college grad and and I interviewed for
this non power, this for profit. That was actually, you know, it was, it
was, it was a good job, It was pretty good pay a good company in the
valley. And, and when they offered it to me, you know, I had to think
about it and I pondered it for the weekend, just didn't feel right. For
some reason, I'm like, okay, I'm crazy. I just graduated from college. I
can't, you know, it can't be that picky. And then in the meantime, during
that thought process interview for nonprofit, it was longer hours, so way
less pay, you know, uh, just everything opposite of of this job that I had
interviewed first and I ended up just, I felt it though, I felt that It
was the right decision for me. So I took this, this job in this non profit
and I think the skills when you work in a non profit, you may be hired for
one thing, but you have the opportunity to do everything, everything.
And I say opportunity. But now I manage a staff of 50 and I tell them that
too, I said learn everything you can hear. We may have hired you as uh,
you know, a special events coordinator or a development person, but you
can, you know, take opportunity to take advantage of everything and learn
everything that you can looking at an advisory board versus a governing
board. And what's the difference there? So an advisory board is a board
that doesn't have to do share responsibility. And sometimes it's because
you're connected to a national uh, type of, uh, of not for profit. Uh, and
sometimes because, you know, there may be different chapters, you know,
within a certain geography or area. Right? So for us, uh, we try to have a
lot of input, especially from the various geography. So we have a bunch of
bored for Tucson, for Vegas for new Mexico. Why? Because we want to get
that local input and so they do everything that a normal board would do
with the exception is that, that they don't have a fiduciary
responsibility. Not that they don't look at the budget. Not that they
don't look at the financials of that particular program or that area, but
they don't have the authority to encumber the organization to put us at
risk or two, basically approve any kind of debt on behalf of the
organization for us. That's the only difference. Now, that's, that's our
structure. That's the way that we like to manage our boards because we
like our boards to have a safe, we want a divorce to be engaged. We wanted
to feel that they have authority uh, in giving us direction. That's why
again, I don't care whether it's an advisory board or a fiduciary board. I
still consider them to be my bombs. Right? And so I have several 100
bosses right at this point. Uh, and so that, to me is really the only
difference, right? Because they are as committed. You know, they come to
meetings, they offer directions, they're out there, you know, establishing
relationships on our behalf and talking about the good work that we do.
And so we try to manage them the same way. Whether they have that
responsibility or not. Thank you. Do you think joining a board, becoming a
board member is a good next step for introduction to the nonprofit sector.
For those who might be coming from the corporate sector. So should they
kind of try on the, the organization by joining a board? Um, well, I
definitely encourage, um, I always encourage people to sit on a board and
become active in something that they're passionate about. But I also want
to definitely say that joining a board takes work. It takes work and it
takes experience and, you know, we have a young professionals board, which
is a great first step that, you know, they do everything that a board does.
They support the agency. They, you know, they fundraise for the agency,
but they don't have any voting power on issues, but it's a great first
step to get to know that agencies to get to know the responsibilities
because I think where I see board members maybe fail and I've been on
several boards is, you know, someone, someone asked me to be on a board
and I of course, you know, want to want to help, but it wasn't something I
had a true passion for, so I didn't feel like I gave 100%. It really made
me feel horrible and guilty and you know, all those things because you
want to give back and you want to be helpful, be a successful board member
, but unless you have a true passion for, for that organization, that
mission, I just don't think it's gonna be a good fit. I just don't think
that you're gonna be a really successful board member and you know, so
don't ever do I see even when companies, they want to have board members
that represent our agency or represent their company on our board and, you
know, I want to ask them, but is this is this something that you're truly
passionate about or is it something you feel like you have to do because
your company is, is making you do it because we really are, it's just not
successful either way around. So I definitely encourage being on a board
and supporting a board, but also do take board training because being a
member of a successful board, it does take work, it does take work. I
don't even think half the board members realize that they have a fiduciary
responsibility and, you know, if the agency struggles that way and then
they're held responsible. So there's a lot of responsibilities also to
being on a board. So okay, Nora, your insight into board membership, what
that looks like, right? Because most of my experience, um, prior to this
was in board service and board leadership and um, it's, I mean, it's again
, I would agree with laura, it's a great way to be engaged with a
particular issue. I don't think it's probably a great way if you're
interested in working in the sector to get a good understanding of what
it's like to be under the covers. I would say, I look back on my board
service and now that I'm a ceo of a nonprofit, I go, I just have such a
better job,
you know, and I'm still on a couple of boards and I've gone to the Eads
and said, I'm so sorry, I will be a much better, but I get it. So, you
know, I don't think that's necessarily going to give you a good view if
you want a career in non profit. Um, it definitely helps you in terms of
engaging in the community. I think board service and board leadership are
a great way to develop your business skills. You know, I was the chair of
a big board at the age of 26 which just sounds ridiculous. I know, but uh
I learned so much, you know, we let go of the executive director, hired a
new E. D. We went through financing and a move at the facility. And I mean
think of the skills and the experience I got as a business person in a
leadership role on a board of directors. So you will build your leadership
roles tremendously. Uh if you become very engaged and very active on a
board which believe me, they will let you do. Uh So you know, that is
where I think the benefit is for you, whether whatever sector you're going
into is it will build your leadership skills. I don't think it will
necessarily give you a good view of what it's like to work in nonprofit.
Those that are out here, whether they be recent graduates or they're
looking for a new opportunity. How do you think they could kick start
their career into the nonprofit sector?
Well, nothing impresses me more is when I get calls from uh current
graduates or even folks that are looking into transitioning into the
nonprofit sector just to meet for coffee. I mean reach out there and talk
to people and learn about the nonprofit sector and learn. I've had a few
people in the last couple of months, even one person in particular was in
the corporate world and and really wanted to make a transition. So they
really, they wanted to meet with me just to talk about it and to learn as
much as you can. And I've also hired people down the road where they, you
know, took the initiative to call me and talk to me right after they
graduate. And so this is this is my, you know, my my chosen path. And how
do you think I best go about it? And, you know, talk about interviewing
and and the best way to to find the right fit?