What Works: Conversations on Nonprofit Leadership with Marla Moody

Nonprofit leaders, HR professionals and ambitious managers who feel stretched thin will discover how one promoted top performer rebuilt her leadership through honest feedback and real self awareness.

Megan Foley, SPHR, HR Director at A Chance To Grow, joins Coach Marla on What Works to share executive coaching lessons, healthy workplace culture and nonprofit leadership insights. Explore perfectionism, generational differences in the workplace, managing someone out with dignity and HR leadership.

🎯 The Promotion Trap: building leadership skills after a fast rise
🧭 Integrity Within: leading with authenticity and feedback
⚖️ The Boundary Line: setting boundaries and protecting work life balance
🏛️ The Outside Voice: benefits of executive coaching for managers

You can get in touch with here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganfoley/
Website: https://www.actg.org/

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

Ambitious professionals and nonprofit leaders who feel stuck waiting for permission will discover how to develop leadership skills without a title, using mentorship, curiosity and low cost professional development.

Julio C. Govreau, Director of Human Resources at Unleashing Potential, brings HR wisdom on personal growth, leadership development and career growth to What Works with Coach Marla.

🎯 The Ownership Awakening: Your development is your responsibility.
🤝 The Mentor Exchange: how to find a mentor and make every conversation count.
🧭 Leadership Before the Title: build leadership skills through volunteering and board service.
📈 Calm in Uncertainty: how to build adaptability as a leader and earn trust.

Learn informational interview tips, nonprofit leadership development ideas and a leadership mindset for long term success.

You can get in touch with here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julio-c-govreau-mba/
Website: https://upstl.org

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

Nonprofit leaders, fundraisers and emerging managers who feel pressure to hide parts of themselves will discover why authentic leadership builds deeper trust, stronger donor relationships and lasting impact for young people.

Jaz’ Vick, Managing Director of Development at OneGoal, joins What Works to show how calculated authenticity, vulnerability, emotional intelligence and self reflection turn connection into influence. Ideal for anyone mastering nonprofit fundraising, donor relations and youth advocacy.

Key takeaways:
🎯 The Armor That Fits Only You: bring your whole self to work
🔑 The Prism of Trust: share with care, never overshare
🎓 The Mighty Middle: college access for students who need attention
🤝 Are We Okay: conflict resolution that builds trust

You can get in touch with here on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jazdvick
Website: http://www.onegoal.org

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

Farah shares practical insights on building stronger relationships, creating a sense of belonging and making space for people to feel comfortable being themselves. She also discusses the value of third places, active listening, vulnerability, authenticity and empathy in both professional and personal life.

🎯 How can leaders build stronger connections?
🎯 What makes a third place meaningful?
🎯 How can vulnerability support better leadership?
🎯 How can empathy improve the way we work together?

The conversation also explores loneliness, identity, stress, decision making, community building and the importance of creating environments where people can connect, contribute and thrive.

Connect with Farah Salim Eck:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faraheck/
Website: https://unfoundation.org/

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

Trust is the currency most nonprofit leaders never learn how to spend, and Karrah Lompa built an entire career learning how to earn it. As Managing Director of the UCLA Social Justice Research Partnership and Co-Founder of the Watts Leadership Institute, Karrah has spent over a decade proving that grassroots community leaders already hold the real solutions to their neighborhood's hardest problems, they just need partners bold enough to trust them.

In this episode of What Works, Karrah breaks down trust based philanthropy, unrestricted funding, nonprofit sustainability, and why chasing grants can quietly destroy a mission.

02:53 Why do grassroots leaders already hold the real community solutions
08:58 How do you build trust across different community subcultures
17:55 Why unrestricted funding changes everything for nonprofit sustainability
27:08 What happens when nonprofits start chasing dollars over mission
41:58 Why should every nonprofit leader finally learn to pay themselves
52:47 Is infrastructure the missing piece behind passion driven nonprofit work

If you are a philanthropist, funder, program officer, or nonprofit leader ready to build real community trust and sustainable impact, this conversation will reshape how you give and lead.

Connect with Karrah Lompa here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karrah-r-lompa/
Website: https://luskin.ucla.edu/

The future of philanthropy will not be written in grant applications, it will be built in trust, and that future starts now.

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

Anna Mottice learned long before she ever stepped into a boardroom that the best performances never happen by accident, they happen by design. Today she leads alumni engagement at OHSU Foundation, quietly rewriting what nonprofit leadership looks like by proving that creativity and data are not rivals fighting for attention, but partners building trust, loyalty and community impact that lasts.

This conversation is a masterclass in leadership psychology, organizational culture and intentional growth for anyone building a mission driven brand.

Connect with Anna Mottice on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amottice/
Learn more about OHSU Foundation: https://ohsufoundation.org/

The future belongs to leaders brave enough to hold both.

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

Sharon Attipoe-Dorcoo, MPH, Ph.D. of TERSHA LLC brings a powerful human centered leadership perspective that challenges transactional thinking and reconnects leadership with culture, relationships, storytelling, humility, and meaningful community impact.

🎯 Storytelling Beyond Data: Turning evidence into experiences people remember
🎯 Culture Shapes Leadership: The narratives leaders carry into every decision
🎯 Ego Meets Humility: The tension every serious leader must navigate
🎯 Leading Through Change: Finding clarity, creativity and purpose in uncertainty

You can get in touch with Sharon Attipoe-Dorcoo here on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonattipoe-dorcoo/
Website:
https://tershallc.com/

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

Nonprofit growth demands more than funding. Heather Collier, founder and president of Ascend Consulting, brings 18 years of experience helping nonprofits build strategic capacity, strengthen internal systems, and create sustainable community impact.

Heather challenges the idea that bigger is always better. Growth should follow community need, mission alignment, organizational capacity, and the ability to actually deliver. She explains why visibility is not sustainability, why grant chasing can create serious operational strain, and why strategic planning must connect fundraising, communications, programs, staff, and the board.

00:00 Building Nonprofit Growth Around Real Community Needs
10:43 Growth Without Mission Drift Or Resource Strain
12:36 Aligning Strategy Fundraising Communications And Programs
22:59 Building Stronger Teams Through Humble Leadership
26:10 Staff Investment That Prevents Burnout And Turnover
37:20 Preparing Infrastructure Before Nonprofit Growth Accelerates
44:09 Using Organizational Life Cycles To Prioritize Growth

You can get in touch with Heather Collier here on LinkedIn: LinkedIn profile not supplied

Website: http://Ascendconsultingmn.com

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

Joe Darago left the pulpit to fight a four and a half billion dollar problem: well meaning donors funding orphanages that hurt the very children they want to save. As Executive Director of The Hope Effect, Joe reveals how his organisation moves children out of institutions into real families, and why the nonprofit world needs an abundance mindset paired with fierce stewardship.

🎬 What you will explore:
🎬 The four and a half billion dollar orphanage funding problem
🎬 Building trust with an interpreter across government meetings
🎬 Why clarity took Joe years of failed communication to learn
🎬 What his wife's new business exposed about his own leadership

Built for nonprofit founders, missions minded entrepreneurs, and leaders working across language and culture.

You can get in touch with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joedarago/
Website: https://www.hopeeffect.com/

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

Kamy Akhavan spent over two decades walking into the most divided rooms in America and leaving with something nobody else could, proof that listening is the most radical act of civic leadership alive today.

Managing Director of the USC Center for Political Future, Kamy has trained elected officials, legislators, and the next generation of civic leaders to navigate political polarization, bipartisanship, and civil discourse with curiosity over combat.

🎙 The Exhausted Majority: America's Silenced Political Middle Ground
🧠 Oxytocin Politics: The Neuroscience That Unlocks Real Listening
🏛 Civic Leadership Built From Radical Discomfort and Growth
💡 Curiosity as Strategy: Bridging Political Divides That Feel Impossible

You can get in touch with Kamy Akhavan here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamyakhavan/
Website: https://dornsife.usc.edu/center-for-political-future/

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

Matthew Stephens stepped into a nearly 200 year old institution and chose to reimagine what it truly means to serve the living. As President and CEO of Mount Auburn Cemetery, America's first garden cemetery, he is rewriting the rules of legacy nonprofit leadership, nature rooted community healing, and purposeful organisational change one green acre at a time.

🏛 The 200 Year Vision That Quietly Transformed American Public Space
⚖ Shepherding Change Inside a Legacy Nonprofit Under Real Pressure
🌿 Nature as the Most Underrated Leadership Strategy Nobody Is Talking About
🕯 The Invisible Cost of Driving Culture Without Celebrating the Journey

You can get in touch with Matthew Stephens here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-r-stephens/
Website: https://mountauburn.org

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

Deanna Wilken turned a seven person volunteer operation into a 128 strong global force spanning 28 countries, and she did it without a single salary line. As Founder and President of Human Rights Research Center (HRRC) and Co-Founder of Unruled Masses, Deanna has built something most leaders only talk about: a team that actually wants to stay.

🎙 The Volunteer Empire: Scaling a 128 Person Mission Driven Global Force
📡 Truth Under Fire: Decoding Misinformation and Disinformation in Real Time
🏗 Operations as Culture: The Human Infrastructure Behind High Impact Nonprofits
🔄 Retention Without Paychecks: The Accountability Framework That Keeps Teams Alive

You can get in touch with Deanna Wilken here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-wilken/
Website: https://www.humanrightsresearch.org

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

Brad Voss left a successful business career, boarded a plane to Nairobi, and chose the hardest mission of his life, rebuilding futures for street-connected children through Remade.

When Kenya's government mandated the shutdown of every residential care facility in the country, Brad did not fight it. He listened. He researched. And he led a complete reinvention of a 30-year-old organization from institutional care to full family reunification, even before he fully believed it would work.

🏛 The Mandate That Became a Movement
How Kenya's Care Reform Act forced a 30-year nonprofit to rebuild from the ground up
🤝 When the Leader Must Be Led
Why Brad's Kenyan team understood the change before he did and what that unlocked
🌍 Equality of Authority
The cross-cultural trust model rewriting how Western organizations and local leaders actually work together
🐓 One Chicken, One Mother, One Life Transformed
How sustainable family-based solutions create dignity no institution ever could

You can get in touch with Brad Voss here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-voss-1845072/
Website: https://www.remadekenya.org
We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

What if the only thing standing between a child and their future was one person who believed in them first? Thais Rezende, CEO of BUILD.org and former CEO of BizWorld.org, scaled a nonprofit into the world's largest teacher led entrepreneurship education movement, reaching 850000 students globally. This is not charity. This is the unleashing of talent the world keeps overlooking.

In this episode of youth empowerment and social entrepreneurship, we explore why opportunity inequality is the real economic crisis, and how mentorship, mindset, and bold education models are rewriting what is possible for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

📌 The Opportunity Gap Nobody Wants to Admit
🔥 Rewriting Failure Into the Most Powerful Business Tool
🤝 Mentorship That Actually Moves the Needle
🌊 The Ripple Effect of One Entrepreneurial Mindset

If you are a school leader, nonprofit founder, impact investor, CSR director, educator, or youth program builder, this conversation is your blueprint for scalable social impact.

You can get in touch with Thais Rezende here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thais-rezende-1768a27/
Website: https://build.org

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

Most nonprofits are bleeding talent and calling it a budget problem. Heidi Bailey, Founder of Bluebird Coaching LLC, spent years inside the eye of that storm as both an HR Director and Executive Assistant, and what she discovered will permanently change how you think about your people strategy.
📌 The Hidden Price Tag Nobody Budgets For Turnover costs up to 50% of an employee's salary. Every time.
📌 The Belonging Crisis Destroying Retention Only 21% of employees feel they truly belong. Here is what that silence is costing you.
📌 The First 18 Months Make or Break Everything Why entry level employees are your highest retention risk and your greatest untapped asset.
📌 The Coaching Advantage Your Competitors Are Ignoring Why external coaching outperforms internal HR development every single time.

You can get in touch with Heidi Bailey here on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidibailey/
Website: https://www.bluebirdcoaching.studio/

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

Tyler Chein walked away from a neuroscience PhD to answer one question no nonprofit dares to ask out loud: who is your data actually working for?From brain development labs at the University of Michigan to leading research and evaluation strategy at TRAILS, a national school-based mental health nonprofit, Tyler brings a framework that transforms data from a compliance burden into the most powerful strategic asset a mission-driven organization can hold.
🔬 The Theory of Change Blueprint | Your data strategy crumbles without this foundation
📊 Data Equity Beyond the Average | The ethical failure hiding inside "it works overall"
🔄 Continuous Improvement vs Reporting Theater | Real-time monitoring that drives real decisions
💡 Leading Up as a Data Champion | Why being too diplomatic cost Tyler more than it savedIf you lead a nonprofit, run program evaluation, or champion social impact at scale, this episode will permanently reshape how you think about impact measurement, community trust, and data-driven leadership.

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

What if the real reason your nonprofit is quietly falling apart has nothing to do with your team and everything to do with the culture you are building as a leader without even knowing it? Alex Montgomery, Managing Director of Team VKA, left a civil rights law career to spend over 20 years transforming how mission driven organizations operate, lead, and sustain impact. She is not here to recite theory. She is here to change how you think about leadership, operations, and the people who carry your mission every single day.

📋 The Culture Audit: When the Real Problem Sits at the Top
🔑 Operational Clarity: Roles, Ownership, and the Architecture of Team Trust
🗓️ Meeting Design That Moves Missions Not Just Agendas
🌱 Boundaries as Bold Leadership: Living Your Values Out Loud

Nonprofit executive directors, operations strategists, board leaders, and organizational consultants, this episode is your playbook. If you are ready to build the kind of culture where brilliant people stay, grow, and actually solve the problems the world needs solved, start here.
You can get in touch with Alex Montgomery here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-montgomery-a9121a54/
Website: https://www.teamvka.com
The mission will not wait. Build the culture that is worthy of it.

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

Most people think rescuing a trafficking survivor is the finish line. Merrie Karimov, Founder and CEO of Harbour Hope International, is here to prove it is only the beginning. With over 28 years of nonprofit leadership and a front row seat to some of the most overlooked truths in the anti-trafficking space, Merrie is rewriting what restoration really looks like inside Central Florida and far beyond it.

🏛 The Myth of the Quick Fix: Why Recovery Takes Years, Not Moments
🤝 People Over Programs: The Relationship Model That Changes Everything
🔑 Unlocking Barriers: Criminal Records, Trauma Freeze and the Hidden Employment Wall
🌱 From Survivor to Leader: How Harbour Hope Builds Spheres of Influence

If you lead a nonprofit, volunteer in social services, care about human dignity, or simply want to understand what real community restoration looks like, this conversation was made for you.
Connect with Merrie Karimov here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merrie-karimov-912860275/
Website: https://harbourhope.org
The women being served are not victims waiting to be saved. They are warriors already rising.

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

What if the secret to a thriving nonprofit was not a bigger budget, but a braver culture? Henriette Recny, President of People and Organizational Strategy at The Literacy Lab, has spent over 15 years building workplaces where purpose does not cost people their wellbeing. A former career teacher turned organisational architect, Henriette brings a radical yet grounded philosophy to nonprofit leadership, one that dares to say: growing organisations do not have to burn their people down to build something great.
📖 The Literacy Crisis No One Is Talking About Inside Nonprofits
🌱 The Gardener Framework: Leading Teams Without Burning Them Out
🔄 Adaptive Leadership and the Art of the Pivot Under Pressure
🧭 Start Where You Are: The Onboarding Blueprint That Changes Everything
If you lead a mission driven team, manage people in a high pressure environment, or are building nonprofit culture from the ground up, this episode will shift how you think about sustainable leadership, staff retention, and human centred operations.

You can get in touch with Henriette Recny here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henriette-recny/
Website: https://theliteracylab.org

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.

What if the antidote to a fractured, algorithmically poisoned society was already broadcasting 60 years ago?
David Fischer, President and General Manager of KNKX Public Radio, walked away from a 35 year performing arts career, picked up a ringing phone on a beach, and said yes to the most urgent mission in media today.

🎙 From Burnout to Broadcast: A Career Reinvented Against All Odds
📡 The KNKX Blueprint: How Dual Format Radio Rewires Divided Communities
🧠 Solutions Journalism vs Breaking News: The Model That Actually Heals
⚖️ Nonprofit Accountability in a Trust Deficit World: The Standard We Must Hold
When profit driven algorithms deliberately deepen division, public media without paywalls, without advertisers, without selling your data becomes the most radical act of civic courage alive. David unpacks why community convening through jazz, blues, and fearless local news is not nostalgia. It is the future.

Connect with David Fischer here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-fischer-5975876/
Website: https://www.knkx.org/

We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention

#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.