Mentorship Matters

EverTrue
  • 5.0 (5)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY
Mentorship Matters

A podcast that examines the current and future landscape of fundraising leaders and the power of inclusive mentorship in advancement.

  1. Ep. 42: Navigating big change, feat. Carla Willis, Washburn & McGoldrick

    MAR 13

    Ep. 42: Navigating big change, feat. Carla Willis, Washburn & McGoldrick

    On this episode, host Kim Nyoni welcomes Carla Willis, Managing Principal at Washburn & McGoldrick, for a thought-provoking conversation on navigating the twists and turns of a career in philanthropy. The conversation revolves around the critical skill of preparing for the unexpected in one's career. Kim and Carla delve into the reality that, even with meticulous planning, a career in advancement can be unpredictable at times – things like layoffs, furloughs, promotions, geographic moves are just part of life. And fundraisers have to be light on their feet while navigating the ups and downs of their careers. This episode provides listeners with valuable insights into resilience, adaptability, and accepting change as it comes. Through personal anecdotes and professional advice, Carla illustrates how to remain flexible and responsive to external challenges, emphasizing the need to embrace change rather than resist it. This conversation with Carla is an inspirational guide for professionals at any stage of their career, highlighting the significance of readiness and the power of positive pivoting in the face of big change.

    24 min
  2. Ep 41: Culture eats strategy for breakfast, feat. Edgar Gonzalez, Seattle University

    FEB 27

    Ep 41: Culture eats strategy for breakfast, feat. Edgar Gonzalez, Seattle University

    “As a leader, you get to shape the culture. And that’s a huge responsibility.” Edgar Gonzalez’s family moved to the United States from Argentina when he was nine years old. Edgar recognized the immensity of his parents’ sacrifice, and it filled him with purpose and drive. He set out to study hard, work hard, and find a way to leave this world better than when he found it – while “wearing soft-soled shoes, because [he] stands on the shoulders of those who gave so much.” On this episode of the Mentorship Matters podcast, host Kim Nyoni explores Edgar’s career journey from to student telefund caller, to phonathon program manager, to major gift officer – all the way to Edgar’s current position as Vice President of Advancement at Seattle University. Edgar’s position as a leader is not one that he takes lightly. During this conversation, he reflects on how his identity as an immigrant and a white-presenting Latino man influences his approach to leadership. He explains how he strives to use his “unearned skin privilege to open doors for underrepresented individuals and lift others up.” He acknowledges that while metrics, goals, and bottom-line numbers are important, advancement work really is all about demonstrating genuine care for people – employees, coworkers, donors, students, and the broader community. One of his driving mottos is that “culture eats strategy for breakfast” and he discusses his commitment to building a culture at Seattle University that values people as whole humans. Along his career path, one of Edgar’s valued mentors, Dondi Cupp, explained to Edgar that “You can’t just like people in the advancement business. You have to love people.” Edgar reflects on how a career in fundraising has grown his love for people. Edgar wraps the episode by sharing a few pieces of sage advice for his younger self (and listeners who aspire to be advancement leaders some day): Put in the work to nurture relationships. Pace yourself. Mentorship matters. Tune in!

    52 min
  3. Ep. 40, "Do we have to spend money to make money?" with Jim Langley

    JAN 18

    Ep. 40, "Do we have to spend money to make money?" with Jim Langley

    On this episode of Mentorship Matters, host Kim Nyoni chats with Jim Langley about a money question. The topic on the table is... How much money do we have to spend to raise a lot of money? Kim and Jim dive into a debate about where the fundraising industry is over- and under-investing. They talk about whether some traditional big spend ticket items are really donor-centric. And they discuss some investments that are well worth their fiscal weight. Tune in!

    41 min
  4. Ep. 39, Creating an environment where all people thrive, feat. Lishelle Blakemore, UC Berkeley

    JAN 12

    Ep. 39, Creating an environment where all people thrive, feat. Lishelle Blakemore, UC Berkeley

    On this episode, Kim hosts Lishelle Blakemore, Associate Vice Chancellor of Development at the University of California, Berkeley. Lishelle is a second-generation fundraiser with a passion for building a work environment that values inclusion and belonging as much as fiscal success. Kim and Lishelle discuss UC Berkeley Advancement's recruitment and retention strategy that focuses on growing the careers of diverse fundraising professionals. Lishelle explains Berkeley's specific focus and KPIs for staff culture, well-being, and internal growth opportunities. Lishelle also shares about her own personal journey to UC Berkeley, explaining why she has stayed there for over 30 years – a tenure that is increasingly rare in the industry. Tune in!

    39 min
  5. Ep. 38, Women & Philanthropy, feat. Sallie-Grace Tate, UC Davis

    12/04/2023

    Ep. 38, Women & Philanthropy, feat. Sallie-Grace Tate, UC Davis

    In this episode of Mentorship Matters, Kim interviews Sallie-Grace Tate, the Executive Director of Women in Philanthropy at UC Davis. The discussion centers around the importance of growing women's philanthropy in higher education. Sallie-Grace shares insights into the history of women's philanthropy, emphasizing its long-standing presence in the United States and the evolving trends in modern women's giving. Women play in higher education – making up more than fifty percent of undergraduate populations – yet they are largely overlooked as donors and volunteers. Sallie-Grace challenges traditional assumptions and highlights the influence of women in decision-making processes, especially philanthropy. According to Sallie-Grace, the six key principles that form the foundation of successful women's philanthropy programs are: 1. Insight: Begin with understanding your institution's culture, resonating with women donors, and analyzing data to inform strategies.
 2. Women's Input is Key: Actively seek insights from women donors and volunteers, recognizing that their perspectives are crucial in accelerating fundraising.
 3. Realize Women Give More Than Money: Acknowledge that women contribute in various ways beyond financial donations, broadening the definition of philanthropy.
 4. Leadership Involvement: Ensure top leadership advocates for and supports the initiative, as their involvement is critical for sustainability and resource allocation.
 5. Start the Path Forward: Take the initial step, knowing that the path will be revealed, and embrace the evolutionary nature of the work, acknowledging that progress may be messy but not risky.
 6. Work is Evolutionary: View the initiative as an evolutionary process, adapting and growing over time with diverse partners and funding to achieve articulated goals and impacts. The episode concludes with discussions on the structure of the program at UC Davis, including events, initiatives, and the impact achieved, demonstrating the positive outcomes of this holistic approach to women's philanthropy in higher education.

    33 min
  6. Ep. 37, Advancement at HBCUs, feat. Brent Swinton, Bowie State University

    11/20/2023

    Ep. 37, Advancement at HBCUs, feat. Brent Swinton, Bowie State University

    Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) play a critical role as champions for access to education and social mobility for African Americans and other underrepresented populations. During this conversation, host Kim Nyoni and guest Brent Swinton, VP of Advancement at Bowie State University, discuss how advancement teams at HBCUs lead the way for growth, excellence, and success on campus – and how integrating innovative technology and strategy can help lean teams perform as powerhouses.

    50 min
  7. Ep. 36, Growing affinity-based scholarships, feat. LaDaniel Gatling, Guilford College

    11/07/2023

    Ep. 36, Growing affinity-based scholarships, feat. LaDaniel Gatling, Guilford College

    On this episode of Mentorship Matters, we discuss the crucial role of affinity-based scholarship programs in higher education institutions, emphasizing their importance for recruiting underrepresented student populations who may not qualify for merit-based scholarships. For this convo, Kim is joined by LaDaniel Gatling, Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations at Guilford College, to explore how to set up affinity-based scholarships, their benefits for both the institution and prospective students, and the challenges and considerations involved. They also touch on the impact of recent legal rulings and the potential future trends in scholarship programs, particularly in relation to minority-serving institutions and enrollment management.

    29 min
  8. Ep. 35, Building a more inclusive talent pipeline for advancement, feat. David Lieb, Penn State

    10/23/2023

    Ep. 35, Building a more inclusive talent pipeline for advancement, feat. David Lieb, Penn State

    Penn State has been a leader in championing diversity and inclusion within the field of advancement. From intentional investing in DEIB programming for their staff to proactively recruiting diverse talent, Penn State's commitment to hiring diverse professionals is actively supported by leadership at all levels. This level of focus and intentionality is a crucial factor to weaving inclusivity into both the everyday activities and the long-term strategy on the Penn State team. On this episode, Kim chats with David Lieb, Interim Vice President of Development & Alumni Relations, to discuss the essentials of building an inclusive community and Penn State's efforts to create pathways for diverse advancement professionals.

    29 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

A podcast that examines the current and future landscape of fundraising leaders and the power of inclusive mentorship in advancement.

Information

  • Creator
    EverTrue
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2024
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022
  • Show Website
    Mentorship Matters

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