Embodying change: Transforming power, culture and well-being for people in aid – Details, episodes & analysis

What does it mean to sit in the gray areas of change? 

How can philanthropy better support nonprofit leaders and staff in these challenging times?

In today’s episode of Embodying Change, host Melissa Pitotti speaks with Elisha Smith Arrillaga, a thought leader in philanthropy and the leader of the research team at the Center for Effective Philanthropy. Elisha shares her journey from a childhood deeply influenced by civil rights activism to her role in shaping effective philanthropic practices. The conversation covers critical topics, including the findings from the 2024 State of Nonprofits report, which highlights the ongoing burnout crisis among nonprofit leaders, and the transformative impact of large, unrestricted gifts as seen in Mackenzie Scott’s philanthropy.

Elisha also provides a sneak peek into their upcoming research, exploring the differences in grantee experiences when receiving funds directly from foundations versus intermediaries. This episode is packed with insights for anyone passionate about the future of philanthropy and nonprofit well-being.

Today’s Guest

Elisha Smith Arrillaga is the Director of Research at the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP). She has dedicated her career to ensuring that philanthropic practices are grounded in research and focused on maximizing their positive impact on nonprofits and the communities they serve.

Website: Center for Effective Philanthropy
Social Media: LinkedIn

You’ll  hear:

• What embodying change means in the context of philanthropy
• Elisha’s journey from a childhood rooted in social justice to leading research at CEP
• Insights from the 2024 State of Nonprofits report on burnout and staff well-being
• The impact of Mackenzie Scott’s large, unrestricted gifts on nonprofit organizations
• How funders perceive nonprofits' capacity to manage large gifts and what this says about the system

Resources mentioned

• The Big Gifts Report: The Impact of Large, Unsrestricted Gifts
• State of Nonprofits 2024: What Funders Need to Know
• Trust-Based Philanthropy: Trust-Based Philanthropy Project
• Haas Fund Case Study: SSIR article on operationalizing trust
• Wellbeing Project: The Wellbeing Project

Quotes

• “Embodying change means being able to sit in the gray areas and take the best of all kinds of solutions.” – Elisha Smith Arrillaga
• “Supporting nonprofit leaders and staff is crucial to achieving their missions—burnout can't be ignored.” – Elisha Smith Arrillaga
• “Receiving large, unrestricted gifts boosts leadership confidence and allows for greater innovation and impact.” – Elisha Smith Arrillaga
• “Flexibility in funding allows organizations to plan effectively and respond creatively to challenges.” – Elisha Smith Arrillaga
• “There are assumptions about nonprofits’ ability to manage large gifts, but our research shows they can, and they do amazing things with those funds.” – Elisha Smith Arrillaga

Call to Action

• Subscribe to the Embodying Change podcast for more inspiring conversations.
• Visit cep.org to learn more about the Center for Effective Philanthropy and their research.
• Join or listen to the replay of the CEP’s webinar on October 15th to dive deeper into their latest report on intermediaries in philanthropy.

How can we create a thriving workplace culture in the humanitarian sector? 

In today’s episode of Embodying Change, host Melissa Pitotti welcomes Leanne Marega, a pioneer in humanitarian workforce well-being and a founder of Thrive Worldwide. Leanne shares her journey from Interhealth Worldwide to founding Thrive Worldwide, emphasizing the critical role of culture in fostering thriving workplaces. You’ll hear about the importance of healthy boundaries, the challenges of leadership in times of crisis, and practical steps to create supportive work environments.

Leanne also opens up about her personal battle with cancer and how it influenced her perspective on well-being and leadership. Her story of hope and community support during a challenging time offers valuable insights for anyone facing similar struggles. 

Today’s Guest

Leanne Marega is Co-Founder and CEO for Thrive Worldwide bringing over 15 years experience in the wellbeing industry. Prior to Thrive, Leanne worked with InterHealth Worldwide for eight years, 4 of those years as Regional Director for Eastern Africa based in Kenya. Leanne is an entrepreneur with a heart to see people and organisations flourish. Leanne has a Masters from University of East London (UEL) in International Humanitarian Psychosocial Consultation. She is also a trained Coach from the Awaken Coach Institute. Leanne lives between the UK and Kenya with her husband. She thrives in community, going on long walks, cooking, baking and reading a good book.

Website: thrive-worldwide.org

Thrive LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thriveworldwide/

Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanne-marega-kennedy/

You’ll Learn

• What embodying change means on a personal and organizational level
• The journey from Interhealth Worldwide to Thrive Worldwide
• The importance of culture in supporting staff well-being
• Practical steps for creating healthy boundaries for thriving
• The role of leadership in fostering a supportive work environment
• Leanne's personal journey with cancer and how it reshaped her views on leadership and community

Resources Mentioned

• Thrive Worldwide’s Website: thrive-worldwide.org
• 2024 Burnout State of Workplace Report: gallup.com
• McKinsey on Organizational Health: mckinsey.com
• Deloitte’s Insights on Employee Well-being: deloitte.com
  
  

Quotes

• “Embodying change means it literally comes from the inside out.” – Leanne Marega
• “We need to look at the system and consider how leaders lead and managers manage to foster a thriving workplace.” – Leanne Marega
• “Transformation takes time and commitment, especially in the humanitarian sector.” – Leanne Marega

Call to Action

• Subscribe to the Embodying Change podcast for more inspiring conversations.
• Visit thrive-worldwide.org to learn more about Thrive Worldwide and their work.
• Connect with Leanne Marega on LinkedIn for further insights and updates.

Join us in this conversation with Helen Dunnett, Melissa’s accountability buddy. In today's episode, Helen shares her personal journey of transformation and discusses the powerful tools of nonviolent communication and assertiveness that have shaped her approach to coaching. She also shares the story of how she approached Melissa years ago to become her accountability buddy, and the five questions she designed to guide their weekly conversations. 

What You'll Learn:

• The story of Helen's career transition from communications and marketing to coaching.
• Insights into nonviolent communication and how it can transform workplace and personal relationships.
• Practical tips for becoming more assertive without infringing on others' rights.
• The impact of coaching on personal empowerment and stress reduction.

Featured in This Episode:

Helen Dunnett, an ICF accredited coach, works with organizations to develop their teams. She brings together her experience of teamwork and team leadership with her coaching tools to create highly practical training modules that enable participants to walk out of each session armed with insights and skills that should create a step-change in performance. She has worked for over 25 years in the UK and Belgium with a diverse range of team structures such as freelance teams, volunteers, start-ups and small organizations, federations, multinationals and consulting agencies.

For Our Listeners:
Check out Helen's website for a copy of the Accountability Buddy Starter Kit here:
https://www.helendunnett.com/home/accountability-buddy

Many thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the podcast and Michelle Sandler for help designing the Kit!

Join host Melissa Pitotti as she welcomes change advocate Cindy Rocha for a morning conversation filled with insights on embracing vulnerability and stepping out of comfort zones for transformative personal and professional growth.

Highlights:

1.     Defining Embodying Change: Cindy explains how real change involves putting oneself in the 'growth zone' — a space beyond comfort that necessitates learning, unlearning, and relearning.

2.     Navigating Change and Discomfort: Discussing the discomfort that accompanies change, Cindy illustrates how adapting to new situations is crucial for development and progress.

3.     Impact of Technological Evolution: They delve into the accelerated pace of technological advancements and its effects on society and individual adaptability.

4.     Transformation through AIESEC: Cindy shares her transformative journey with AIESEC, highlighting the organization's role in fostering international understanding and leadership skills.

5.     Applying Lean and Six Sigma in Humanitarian Efforts: The conversation turns to how Lean and Six Sigma methodologies can streamline operations and improve efficiency in humanitarian contexts.

6.     The Critical Role of Mental Health: Cindy and Melissa discuss the importance of acknowledging and supporting mental health in the workplace to ensure a healthy, productive workforce.

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on how they can push beyond their comfort zones and embrace change both personally and professionally.

Follow Cindy on LinkedIn to continue the conversation and gain more insights into making impactful changes. linkedin.com/in/cindyrocha

Cindy Rocha has spent the last 15 years creating bridges between different sectors and managing programs to create positive change. This all started while she was a college student in Sinaloa, her home state in northern Mexico, and joined AIESEC, an international student association present in 100 countries. Founded after the 2nd World War with the mission of "peace and fulfillment of humankind's potential," AIESEC is a youth-led organization that facilitates international understanding through exchanges and leadership development programs. While those opportunities are readily available for students in the Global North, that was not the case in Cindy's local context. She worked for AIESEC at the national, regional and global level, joining AIESEC International, a multicultural team leading a network of more than 60,000 volunteers worldwide. In her final AIESEC position, Cindy was appointed Director for the Africa region, and became the first woman in that role in 60 years of organizational history. After AIESEC, Cindy has held a variety of jobs in the social impact field: She worked in corporate responsibility and process improvement for a multinational company, then as a UNDP consultant to engage the private sector in projects around the Sustainable Development Goals in Mexico, transitioned to the nonprofit sector in a disaster response organization, and currently focuses on mobilizing philanthropy to strengthen the ability of communities to withstand disasters and recover equitably when they occur. 

Tune in next time for more inspiring stories and practical advice on the Embodying Change Podcast!

Annemarie Shrouder shares her personal journey with identity and discusses her work building inclusive cultures and communities. She and Melissa explore the difference between learning and BEING something (embodying change), the challenges of mixed race identity, creating safe and/or brave spaces, and the importance of representation, belonging and community support.

Topics Discussed: 

•  Identity and embodying change
•  Inclusion and belonging in organizations
•  Leadership, empathy and localization 
•  Diversity in leadership and overcoming barriers
•  Creating inclusive cultures and speaking up against injustice

Key Insights:

•  Embodying change means living what you learn, not just talking about it
•  Inclusion alone is not enough without addressing oppressive systems 
•  Self-care and vulnerability are acts of resistance for historically disadvantaged  groups
•  Both safe spaces and brave spaces are needed to have meaningful conversations (and this article by Elise Ahenkorah takes it a step further talking about accountable spaces)

Annemarie Shrouder – international best-selling author of Being Brown in a Black and White World: Conversations for Leaders on Race, Racism and Belonging - has spent more than 20 years in the field of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) as a facilitator, consultant, and international speaker. An expert in EDI with a Masters in Bias Awareness, Annemarie assists in the creation of healthy workplace communities through her Signature Methodology and Inclusive Leadership Program. Organizations turn to Annemarie when they are looking to build environments where people can learn and are supported, and where they are acknowledged and valued.  She also delivers presentations and keynotes, and can be booked for speaking engagements that inspire people to notice more, and raise awareness about the importance of inclusion. Annemarie works with diversity broadly and is passionate about healing the racial divide and supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion. 

To learn more, check out:

• Her website: https://annemarieshrouder.com/
• Her community for leaders committed to building belonging: https://ediwithheart.wordpress.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemarieshrouder/
• Her book: https://annemarieshrouder.com/book/

“Embodying change is the difference between learning something and BEING something.”

-       Annemarie Shrouder

In this episode, Melissa Pitotti and Nasra Ismail have a candid conversation about navigating transitions, power dynamics, and the principles of localization in the humanitarian sector. They share personal anecdotes and insights into their professional journeys, discussing the challenges and opportunities they encountered along the way. From experiencing shifts in power dynamics to embracing localization as a personal and professional practice, they delve into the complexities of working in the humanitarian field and the importance of aligning personal values with professional endeavors. Join them as they explore the intersection of personal and professional growth, which could be helpful for anyone navigating career transitions or seeking to create meaningful change in their communities.

Background

Nasra Ismail is Alight's newly appointed U.S. Enterprise Executive Director, where she leads a team to build and expand welcoming communities for newcomers to the United States. With a career spanning two decades, Nasra's journey has taken her across the globe, from leading public policy in Washington D.C. to delivering humanitarian aid in East Africa and shaping social justice movement strategy in philanthropy for the past three years. As a first-generation immigrant, Nasra champions interconnected communities founded on principles of equity and inclusion, all working towards a shared future. Nasra has held leadership roles at organizations including the U.S Millennium Challenge Corporation, Care US, Oxfam International, Co-Impact, and GivingTuesday. Her unique blend of experiences in humanitarian, public, and philanthropic sectors all reflect her core values, which were enriched by her personal displacement journey from Somalia. 

In this episode, Melissa and Nasra

• reflect on their professional journeys, highlighting the transitions they've experienced and the lessons learned
• discuss the impact of power dynamics on relationships and professional interactions, sharing personal experiences of navigating shifts in power
• share insights into the principles of localization and its significance in empowering local communities to drive change and participate fully in humanitarian efforts
• explore the intersection of personal and professional values, emphasizing the importance of aligning one's purpose with their work
• offer encouragement and advice for individuals navigating career transitions or seeking to create positive change in their communities
• discuss the role of community support and collaboration in fostering personal and professional growth, highlighting the value of mutual aid and solidarity

Melissa's conclusion

Community is the #1 thing you need when navigating a values-aligned career transition in the humanitarian sector.

Resources mentioned

• Nasra Ismail's LinkedIn profile: linkedin.com/in/nasraismail
• Nasra Ismail's X (Twitter) profile: @NAS_isms
• Nasra is the U.S. Enterprise Executive Director of Alight, and you can learn more about Alight at: https://wearealight.org/ 
• Their previous podcast conversation can be found here: https://changemakingwomen.com/guest-series-embodying-change-4-nasra-ismail-director-of-the-somalia-ngo-consortium/ 

In this episode Melissa speaks with Joy Kolin, Executive Director and Board President of Giving Joy.

Joy has 20-years of experience in the field of international development, a career that has taken her to over 60 countries. Throughout her travels, Joy found herself touched by a common trend - the immense ability of women to affect positive change if given the resources and opportunities to do so. In 2018 she established Giving Joy as a way to harness and grow the power and the influence of women-led ventures the world over. Now, women from any country, across any trade or industry, can apply for a one-time grant between $250 to $500 to jump start and/or expand their operations.

To learn more check out:

-       Giving Joy: https://givingjoygrants.org 

-       Email: [email protected] 

***Thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***

How can we better manage our workload, as per Commitment 8 of the Core Humanitarian Standard?* 

In this episode Melissa speaks with Wouter Smeets, a design-thinker, about how to re-shape our work in a way that gives us energy, rather than drains it.  He gives us some good questions to ask ourselves, like: How do we design our morning routine? What makes a break a good break? What task can we do first that will put us on good footing for the rest of the day? What are some life-centric strategies for managing our calendar? He also reveals a free, work-enhancing drug that has zero side effects. And he talks about a ground-breaking process he’s involved with to create a safe space for exchanging ideas that is also a brave space for experimenting with putting these ideas into practice to make our work more life-enriching.

Wouter Smeets co-founded Prototype You, a community lab for explorers who challenge accepted norms about work, to co-create ways of working where people and organisations thrive. It’s a community lab with workshops, conversations, and experiments to cultivate work that enriches people’s lives. When he’s not working he’s usually visiting the sea, hiking, or running on the athletics track.

To learn more check out:

-       Wouter on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wouter-smeets/

-       Prototype You at https://www.prototypeyou.nl/community 

-       Wouter’s newsletter where he shares gems from the lab here: https://prototypeyou.ck.page/newsletter 

-       Wouter’s email is: [email protected] 

***Thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***

*Core Humanitarian Standard Commitment 8: Communities and people affected by crisis receive the assistance they require from competent and well-managed staff and volunteers. 

In this conversation, Melissa speaks with Sabrina Prioli, the author of a memoir called “Rise up, phoenix” and one of the victim/survivors of the 2016 Terrain Compound Attacks in Juba, South Sudan. Sabrina shares her insights into how to better support victim/survivors and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. She also explains the nuances of the words “victim” vs. “survivor” and how to cope when hearing about traumatic incidents like hers. 

*Note: This conversation includes references to rape and may be triggering for some listeners.*

Sabrina Prioli is currently a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, Mental Fitness Coach and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). She is an independent consultant and she supports organisations in raising awareness, prevention and preparation on the issue of sexual abuse, violence and rape. She worked for years as an aid worker and consultant for humanitarian projects. Sabrina helped develop the planning, monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) plans for her own and different partner implementing projects. She has worked as a researcher and PM&E consultant for universities, NGOs and governments in Latin America, Africa and Europe. She has experience and knowledge in the thematic areas of protection, education, economic empowerment and gender equality which allow her to develop the appropriate indicators and PM&E tools. In 2011 she created a foundation “Fundacion Hilo Sagrado”, dedicated to the conservation of culture and tradition of the indigenous peoples of Guajira, in Colombia, to strengthen the identity and social role of women. In 2021, for her civil commitment in favour of women victims of violence and abuse, she won the "Woman Award 2021" and the award “Il Paese delle Donne Award 2021." In 2022 she won solidarity award, “Premio Solidarietà” Premio Nazionale Pratola 2022. Sabrina has a degree in Sociology, a Masters in Project Management for International Organisations, and Certification in Monitoring & Evaluation & Facilitation.

• Sabrina's website: https://en.sabrinaprioli.com/
• Sabrina's 2020 memoir "Rise up, phoenix": https://en.sabrinaprioli.com/il-mio-libro 

***Thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***

In this episode Melissa speaks with Dr. Aiysha Malik, a mental health specialist at the World Health Organization working for a world that supports, improves, and does not harm mental health. They discuss the WHO guidelines on mental health and work and accompanying WHO-ILO policy brief. What do the guidelines say and what can you do with them?

Check out the WHO guidelines on mental health at work here: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240053052 

And the WHO-ILO mental health at work policy brief here: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240057944

***Thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***

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