NYC, Nonprofits, and Equity with Lakimja Mattocks, Ep. 30

EPISODE SUMMARY

Our first connection was on LinkedIn, and a serendipitous moment happened in person at a Black Women Talk Tech event as I overheard someone say, “Non-profit is my thing.”  I turned to see who it was and saw that the comment came from my guest Lakimja Mattocks.

Lakimja has been in the non-profit space since 2004.  Her work has focused on government contracts management, program development and management, cohort-building and leadership development in partnership with nonprofit leaders, staff and board members.

We discuss the myths of non-profit organizations, what equity is in the non-profit sector, the gap that exists in community-based organizations and more.

CLICK HERE to listen to our conversation

A FEW KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

• Leadership is about action and behavior, not about the title, hierarchy or salary.

• There are bright spots in pay equity in the nonprofit sector, and around coalitions coming together to build the work and tell the story.

•  As a leader, it’s important to sit in discomfort to come to a solution when convening and bringing people together.

SHAMELESS PLUG

Nonprofits Make New York

LinkedIn 

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION

What is a myth that you believed about the nonprofit sector and why?

LINKS AND RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

Lakimja Mattocks on LinkedIn

Black Women Talk Tech

Ahead of The Curve

OTHER EPISODES OF INTEREST

SIPS & Leadership (Ep 25): Gary Bagley of New York Cares

SIPS & Leadership (Ep. 7): Rahsaan Harris, PhD of Citizens Committee for NYC

SIPS & Leadership is a monthly livestream ‌on LinkedIn, highlighting leaders changing the world who are engaged in social impact and public service (SIPS).

Legacies of War on Storytelling as Part of Leadership with Sera Koulabdara Ep. 29

EPISODE SUMMARY

Serving in multiple leadership roles throughout her career, Sera Koulabdara knows a thing or two about being mission driven as Executive Director of Legacies of War, the only international U.S.-based advocacy and educational organization working to address the impacts of the American Secret War in Laos and conflict in its neighboring countries of Cambodia and Vietnam during the Vietnam War-era, including the removal of unexploded ordinance (UXO) and victims/survivor assistance. 

On this episode, as we discuss leadership in our personal and professional lives, communication and how self-care makes you serve others more effectively.

CLICK HERE to listen to our conversation 

A FEW KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

6 things on being an aspirational leader

• Belief in what you do and live it everyday

• Persistence

• Learning from our mistakes

• Ask for help

• Over communicate because things can be misinterpreted. Come from positive intentions

• The importance of being kind to others and self-care for yourself

• The importance of storytelling to demonstrate leadership

• Feeling safe is a human and universal right

SHAMELESS PLUG

Write to your members of congress on the things you care about

Directory of Representatives

Legacies of War

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION

What would it take for you to feel safe in your neighborhood or community?

LINKS AND RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

Legacies of War

Sera Koulabdara on Twitter

Sera Koulabdara on LinkedIn

Nelson Mandela quote : “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

OTHER EPISODES OF INTEREST

SIPS & Leadership (Ep 35): Devon Davey on Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership

SIPS & Leadership (Ep 25: Gary Bagley of New York Cares

SIPS & Leadership is a monthly livestream ‌on LinkedIn, highlighting leaders changing the world who are engaged in social impact and public service (SIPS). 

Vaccinating the World with Jason Cecil, Ep. 28

SIPS & Leadership Episode 28 with Jason Cecil on Vaccinating the World

EPISODE SUMMARY

Working on the policy side of CDC, Jason Cecil is a lawyer by trade and now a public health analyst. Jason is working with various cross sectors to eradicate polio. He believes that you have to come at people as equals, and develop relationships with local leaders to move your organization forward with bigger impact.

CLICK HERE to listen to our conversation

A FEW KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

• Eradicating disease globally takes a lot of behind the scenes work in various cross sectors, not just one organization

• Infodemic is a term used by WHO that describes false information especially around the pandemic and immunizations

• The importance of working with local opinion leaders with influence and community 

SHAMELESS PLUG

PolioEradication.org on how it impacts our current day

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION

What industries do you think could benefit working with cross sectors?

LINKS AND RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

https://www.cdc.gov/

World Health Organization

Gates Foundation

SIPS & Leadership is a monthly livestream ‌on LinkedIn, highlighting leaders changing the world who are engaged in social impact and public service (SIPS).

Leadership as an Antidote to Bullying with Susan Raisch, Ep. 27

SIPS & Leadership Episode 27 with Susan Raisch on Leadership as an Antidote to Bullying

EPISODE SUMMARY

A Former public relations and public affairs consultant for more than 25 years, Susan Raisch is an author and speaker specializing in issues that affect the home, education, and health. She has worked on projects for a wide variety of television and publishing companies, including HBO, MTV, Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop, ABC News, Scholastic, and HISTORY, among many others. She also recently worked with the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) in the WTC Health Program, which treats and monitors the health of the FDNY certified 9/11 first responders.

We talk about the misconceptions of bullying, how a book on bullying prevention turned out to be a book on leadership, and bullying that happens in the workplace.

CLICK HERE to listen to our conversation

A FEW KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

• Parents have modeled resilience during the pandemic, and by their examples and support, have modeled leadership for their children.

• Bullying has 3 aspects:

• Intentional 

• Repeated 

• Imbalance of power

• Bullying happens in the workplace and the ways to deal with it.

SHAMELESS PLUG

Sign up for her newsletter for resources on anti-bullying for both children and adults at TangledBall.com

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION

Have you experienced bullying and how did you handle it?

LINKS AND RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

https://tangledball.com/

OTHER EPISODES OF INTEREST

SIPS & Leadership (Ep. 6): Katharine Manning of The Empathetic Workplace

SIPS & Leadership (Ep. 13): Brian McComak of Hummingbird Humanity

SIPS & Leadership is a monthly livestream ‌on LinkedIn, highlighting leaders changing the world who are engaged in social impact and public service (SIPS).

Expanding the Definition of Leadership with Jennifer Gresham, Ep. 26

SIPS & Leadership Episode 26 with Jennifer Gresham on Expanding the Definition of Leadership

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE

EPISODE SUMMARY

Jennifer Gresham is the Founder and the Executive Director of the non-profit Work for Humanity, with an inspiring “bigger and bolder is easier” mission to create 10 million jobs in 10 years across the small business sector. Our conversation sparked further discussion on how the pandemic fueled small business growth, forcing many people to pivot their business models and adapt to the changing needs of consumers, leading to the creation of new products, services, and business opportunities.

CLICK HERE to listen to our conversation as we discuss different types of leadership, some learning lessons from her military experience, and the mindset shift that has to happen for both workers and small business employers.

A FEW KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

• Organizations and businesses benefit when there is focus on human performance, team performance and rewards.

• Job quality should be the gold standard for attracting talent.

• Cultural shifts are easier to navigate at a smaller level versus change being led by bigger conservative boards.

SHAMELESS PLUG

Consider donating to Work For Humanity to support small businesses and the employees they hire

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION

What are your thoughts on employees having to meet all the qualifications in a job listing? 

LINKS AND RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

Work for Humanity

OTHER EPISODES OF INTEREST

SIPS & Leadership (Ep. 42) Tami Forman on Caregiving Skills Propelling Leadership and Career Return

Creating Lasting Impact through Purpose Driven Leadership with Gary Bagley, Ep. 25

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE

Gary Bagley is the Executive Director of New York Cares, New York City’s largest organization devoted to driving community impact through volunteer-led programs. Gary defines leadership as a product of all the actions you take.

CLICK HERE to listen to our conversation as we discuss rallying behind a common vision, the importance of being present as well as forward thinking and collaboration.

A FEW KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

• A leader's role is not just to manage people, but also to inspire and excite them about a common mission and values.

• Leadership in the nonprofit space is unique, and it involves unifying diverse stakeholders behind a common vision while being grounded in values and the mission

• Companies that want to make a difference need to ensure that their vision aligns with what will make a real impact, rather than just what they envision making a difference

SHAMELESS PLUG

Consider donating to New York Cares

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION

How have you operated in spite of the pandemic?

LINKS AND RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

New York Cares

Tada Theatre

OTHER EPISODES OF INTEREST

SIPS & Leadership (Ep.7): Rahsaan Harris on Creating Inclusive Spaces and Empowering Ideas

SIPS & Leadership (Ep. 18): Anita Gundanna and Vanessa Leung on Successful Co-leadership in Building Equity for Asian American Communities

SIPS & Leadership is a monthly livestream ‌on LinkedIn, highlighting leaders changing the world who are engaged in social impact and public service (SIPS).