In this episode of The Executive Hustle Podcast, Kirsten and Shila talk about the neighbors we don't see who face food insecurity, what succession looks like when your predecessor is still down the hall, and why moving from local to system-level leadership means giving up the work you love doing with your hands. She also shares the demanding decisions you make as a leader to lead with integrity and how to tell difficult stories with dignity. Shila Ulrich started as a volunteer stocking shelves at a small-town pantry with her husband on a night off. Today she's CEO of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, chosen from a national search of about 450 candidates to lead hunger relief across 27 counties. Some highlights from our conversation: Hunger lives next door. About 15% of people in the region use the charitable food network. That's one or two houses on your street.Honor the legacy you inherit. Her predecessor, Joe Arthur, is still on staff, so Shila's team gets curious past decisions instead of blaming previous leadership. Staying in the mission looks different at scale. Going from unloading trucks to leading a 27-county system meant finding her place in the mission without the physical work.Respond instead of react. Shila names a steady, non-anxious presence as the undervalued skill. It matters even more as the first woman CEO in a logistics-heavy organization during the SNAP crisis.Hire strategists. Her mandate for all four chiefs she's hired was to think above the job and across departments. For more info on Shila: LinkedIn Website SHILA ULRICH BIO: Shila Ulrich serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, where she leads the organization’s mission to reduce hunger and strengthen communities across the region. Prior to assuming her role at the Food Bank, Shila served as Executive Director of The Caring Cupboard, a choice food pantry serving the Palmyra, Annville, and Cleona communities. During her tenure, she led significant organizational growth, including the successful effort to assume operations of the JOY Food Pantry in Jonestown. Shila is deeply committed to community-driven solutions and has served in numerous leadership and advisory roles. She served on the boards of Palmyra Interfaith Manor and the Lebanon County Housing Authority, and was a member of the Better Together Lebanon County Steering Committee and the Healthy Food Access Committee, where she previously served as co-chair. Alongside other community leaders, she co-founded Palmyra’s Great Give, a grassroots initiative that has raised more than $200,000 for over 50 local organizations since its beginning. In recognition of her leadership and community impact, Shila was inducted into the Lebanon County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018 in the category of Women Demonstrating Leadership. She also received an Alumni Citation from Lebanon Valley College in 2022 for her contributions to the community. Shila holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Lebanon Valley College, a Master of Social Work from Temple University, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Duke University. KIRSTEN YURICH BIO: Kirsten is a licensed behavior analyst, speaker, author, and retired CEO who partners with business leaders to help them achieve more of what matters most to them. Kirsten’s clients are high performing CEOs, founders, and executives looking to “level up” in life and business. Kirsten share’s her expertise in leadership, performance management, and learning with executives through coaching or consulting, peer groups, and speaking. For more info, check out Kirsten Yurich HERE.
