The Leadership We Need Now

Stacie Dei
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The Leadership We Need Now is hosted by Stacie Dei, nonprofit leader, coach, and founder of the Appalachian Innovation Collective. This show is for the people holding it all together: nonprofit directors, middle managers, consultants, and quiet changemakers navigating the messy middle of leadership. Rooted in rural resilience, it’s about care as power, empathy as strategy, and kindness as clarity. Real talk for leaders ready to lead with heart, clarity, and courage.

  1. JAN 26

    Rightsizing Leadership in Uncertain Times

    Growth isn’t always the goal.Sometimes sustainability is. In this video, I talk honestly about what it means to right-size as a leader—when funding shifts, resources change, capacity shrinks, or the world no longer supports the scale you once built. Right-sizing isn’t a failure. It’s one of the hardest leadership responsibilities there is. This conversation explores:• Why expansion can become unsustainable—even when the work is good• How short-term funding creates long-term instability• The emotional and human cost of downsizing programs, staff, and operations• How leaders make decisions when there are no good options—only necessary ones• Why this moment requires realism, adaptability, and compassion Many leaders have done everything “right” and still find themselves needing to change course. That doesn’t mean the work failed—it means the conditions changed. This video is for nonprofit leaders, community builders, and anyone carrying the weight of deciding what has to live so the work can continue.💬 If you’re navigating right-sizing right now, you’re not alone.👉 Subscribe for conversations about kind, caring, courageous leadership👉 Learn more about our work at https://appalachianinnovation.org

    16 min

  2. JAN 20

    Running on Fear: The Hidden Cost of Leadership Today

    If you’re leading a team, an organization, a community—or even your household—you’re probably feeling it: the constant instability, the pressure to make the right decision, the fear of what could change tomorrow. In this video, I talk honestly about the emotional and nervous-system cost of leadership right now. We’re navigating rising costs, shrinking resources, shifting systems, and higher and higher expectations that never seem to slow down. Many leaders are operating in a constant state of vigilance—making decisions without certainty, absorbing risk, and carrying responsibility without enough support. This conversation explores:• What it means to lead when everything feels unstable• How fear quietly drains capacity, creativity, and resilience• Why comparison and “expert advice” can sometimes make things worse• The urgent need for community, shared strategy, and collective leadership• How helpers can stop surviving in isolation and start thinking together This isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about naming what’s happening, telling the truth about the cost, and beginning to imagine what leadership could look like if we stopped doing this alone. If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or questioning whether you’re doing enough—this conversation is for you.👉 Subscribe for conversations about kind, caring, courageous leadership👉 Learn more about our work at https://appalachianinnovation.org

    17 min

  3. JAN 12

    What Real Leadership Looks Like on a Hard Day

    Leadership isn’t always polished.It isn’t always confident.And it definitely isn’t always 100%.In this video, I talk honestly about what it looks like to show up when you’re tired, overwhelmed, recovering, or running on empty—especially in nonprofit and community-based work, where the stakes are high and the pressure never really lets up.We’re navigating funding uncertainty, shifting systems, growing community needs, and expectations that don’t always reflect reality. And yet, leaders are still expected to be present, prepared, and moving things forward.This conversation is about:• Showing up when you don’t feel ready• Letting go of perfection and embracing “good enough”• Giving yourself grace without abandoning responsibility• Leading authentically when things don’t go as plannedThis isn’t a polished leadership moment—and that’s the point.If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s okay to lead while exhausted, unsure, or imperfect, this video is for you.💬 I’d love to hear from you—what does leadership look like on your hard days?👉 Subscribe for conversations about kind, caring, courageous leadership👉 Visit https://appalachianinnovation.org to learn more about our work

    9 min

  4. 12/29/2025

    Integrating Advocacy Into Nonprofit Leadership

    In this episode of The Leadership We Need Now, I’m tackling a topic many of us avoid: politics.Not party politics — people politics. Because the truth is, if you care about people, communities, dignity, and compassion, you can’t afford to sit on the sidelines anymore.After 20+ years in nonprofit leadership, I’ve watched countless social service leaders and helpers shy away from political conversations. We’ve been told to stay quiet, to keep it safe, to just keep our heads down. But staying silent is exactly how the systems that harm our communities keep winning.In this video, I talk about:• Why “nonprofits should stay out of politics” is a dangerous myth• How cuts to programs like Medicaid, schools, and safety nets affect us all — even if you think they don’t• Why the people closest to the problems (YOU) must also be closest to the power• How to start engaging, educating, and building an army of people who give a damnThis isn’t about political parties. It’s about right versus wrong. It’s about human rights. It’s about who gets a seat at the table — and who’s on the menu if we don’t show up.💬 I hope you’ll watch, reflect, and share your thoughts. The world needs more kind, caring, courageous people in this fight — and that means you. All opinions are my own:)

    15 min

  5. 12/29/2025

    Kind Leadership, Bold Advocacy: A Talk with Mark Phillips

    When “helping” isn’t enough, kind leaders step into advocacy. In this candid conversation, Mark Phillips, CEO of Catholic Charities West Virginia, joins me to unpack how nonprofits can move from services to systems change—with authenticity, listening, and courage. We talk rural realities, SNAP and food security, donor dynamics, subsidiarity, and why “compassionate” does not mean “quiet.”If you lead, serve, fund, or support a mission-driven org, this one’s for you.

    59 min

  6. 12/29/2025

    Leadership Support Isn’t One Size Fits All

    Leadership support can take many forms — and it should. In this episode, I explore the different ways we show up for one another as leaders: through mentorship, championing, peer support, and co-mentorship.Drawing from over 20 years in nonprofit leadership and strategy, I share real stories about how others have helped me grow — and how I’ve tried to pay that forward. Whether you’re guiding someone new to the field, collaborating with a peer, or putting your name on the line to open doors for someone else, the way we support each other matters.Because the truth is: leadership isn’t a solo act. And it’s time we got more intentional about how we support — and how we allow ourselves to be supported.➡️ Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who’s helped you lead better.

    15 min

  7. 12/29/2025

    People-ing at Work is Messy and That's Okay

    Staff management can break your heart as you build your capacity as a leader.In this video, I talk honestly about the emotional and strategic weight of managing people—especially in mission-driven work.You’ll hear real lessons from my own leadership journey, including: The Reality of Managing People (0:41 – 2:24)Every Team Is a Science Experiment (2:21 – 3:18)Balancing People and Process (3:00 – 5:32)When Leaders and Staff Struggle (5:32 – 7:42)Facing Conflict & Hard Truths (7:42 – 9:54)Feedback & Leadership Styles (9:35 – 10:36)The Weight of Leadership Responsibilities (10:36 – 12:20)Key Takeaway: No Perfect System (12:42 – 14:16) No one is perfect at managing others. Leadership is messy and constantly changing. Leaders bring their personal lives into work (stress, distractions, emotions), and so do staff. Each project, team, or day is unpredictable. Different people + different circumstances = different results. Leaders must give themselves grace and focus on doing the right thing, not perfection. Leaders juggle two responsibilities: The human side (emotions, relationships, compassion). The process side (contracts, outcomes, programs, funders). You can control process outcomes, but you cannot fully control people. Knowing when you lack clarity and focusing on regaining “sea legs.” Communicating openly about personal struggles without making excuses. Supporting staff through struggles and sharing responsibilities. Hard conversations are necessary, though uncomfortable. Some people may not be right for the job — and leaders must face that reality. Compassionate leaders often resist conflict, but conflict management is essential. Safe spaces for honest talk are critical to healthy teams. Leaders must consider how feedback is given vs. received. No one is perfect in conflict or feedback delivery — sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Leaders juggle contracts, deadlines, and high workloads. If one staff member under performs, others notice and it impacts morale. Balancing compassion with accountability is a constant act. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to staff management. Relationships, communication, and vulnerability are the ongoing tools. Leadership is an experiment, not a formula.

    15 min

  8. 12/29/2025

    Skip navigation Search Create 4 Avatar image Staff Management Isn’t for the Faint of Heart

    Staff management can break your heart—or build your capacity as a leader.In this video, I talk honestly about the emotional and strategic weight of managing people—especially in mission-driven work.You’ll hear real lessons from my own leadership journey, including:✅ The tension between empathy and accountability✅ How clear expectations protect both you and your staff✅ Navigating burnout, boundaries, and misalignment✅ The moments that made me doubt myself—and what got me throughIf you’ve ever felt overwhelmed leading a team, you’re not alone.🧭 Let’s talk about what it really takes to manage well, even when it's hard.

    15 min
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About

The Leadership We Need Now is hosted by Stacie Dei, nonprofit leader, coach, and founder of the Appalachian Innovation Collective. This show is for the people holding it all together: nonprofit directors, middle managers, consultants, and quiet changemakers navigating the messy middle of leadership. Rooted in rural resilience, it’s about care as power, empathy as strategy, and kindness as clarity. Real talk for leaders ready to lead with heart, clarity, and courage.

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