What Works: Conversations on Nonprofit Leadership with Marla Moody

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.

She walked into nonprofit leadership with zero nonprofit experience and built one of the most purposeful equine welfare movements in America. Melissa Kitchen, President of the Equine Network Foundation, is proving that rescued horses do not just need humans. Humans desperately need them too. 🎬 What You Will Explore in This Episode 🐴 The Rescue Crisis Nobody Talks About 200,000 horses in transition at any moment and rescues at 95% capacity 🧠 Horses as Mental Health Healers Veterans, autistic children and trauma survivors are finding breakthroughs no therapy room could offer 🎯 The One Thing First Framework How Melissa leads an entire foundation solo by doing less and achieving far more 🌿 Building Your Herd Why community, not burnout, is the real infrastructure of every thriving nonprofit If you lead a nonprofit, run a rescue, work in equine welfare, or simply carry more than you should every single day, this episode will reset you. Melissa's story is proof that intentional leadership, radical focus, and a rescued horse can change what you thought was possible. You can get in touch with Melissa Kitchen here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissasauerkitchen/ Website: https://equinenetworkfoundation.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 happens when the world counts you out, your in-laws are breaking you down, community leaders are working to destroy your name, and you have no home to call your own but you build something anyway? Minister Dr. Maddie Cheatham did exactly that. Her story is not a motivational myth. It is moral courage made real, lived out in the darkest corners of survival with a daughter watching and a mother's dying promise fuelling every move. In this unforgettable episode of What Works, Minister Dr. Maddie Cheatham, educator, author, ordained healer, spiritual guide, and founder of Pamela's Big Heart Foundation Inc., shares the raw, unfiltered truth about what it really takes to rise from homelessness, fight a system designed to ignore the vulnerable, and build a legacy that outlives your pain. What you will explore: 🕯 The Deathbed Promise That Changed Everything How a final conversation with her mother Pamela ignited a life mission to uplift minority women and youth 🏚 Building a Nonprofit With No Address The untold reality of founding Pamela's Big Heart Foundation Inc. while living with abusive in-laws and surviving homelessness ⚔ When Community Becomes the Enemy How character attacks, gatekeepers, and institutional resistance could not stop a woman anchored in purpose 💡 The Daughter Who Became the Reason The moment a single look at her child became the most powerful leadership strategy of her life If you are a nonprofit leader, social impact changemaker, community advocate, survivor rebuilding your life, or anyone who believes service can coexist with struggle, this conversation will permanently shift how you see resilience. You can get in touch with Minister Dr. Maddie Cheatham here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minister-dr-maddie-cheatham-14516562/ Website: https://www.pamelasbigheartfoundation.org The world does not wait for perfect conditions to need you. Neither did she. 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.

One mother's love for her son became a lifeline for hundreds of families navigating autism, and the ripple effect is still growing. Christine turned the everyday challenge of raising a neurodivergent child into Sun, Moon, and Stars & Company, a nonprofit built on joy, community, and the radical belief that no family should ever feel alone. In this deeply moving episode of What Works, host Marla Moody sits down with Christine, a full-time medical device sales executive, elected Board of Education member, Connecticut Autism Spectrum Advisory Council member, and founder of one of the most community-driven autism nonprofits in the state. What began as a simple supper club for families craving a judgment-free dinner has evolved into sensory-friendly train rides, adaptive sports, swim safety programs, and a statewide network of nonprofits lifting each other up. 🌟 From Diagnosis to Community — How One Family Changed Everything How a diagnosis at age three and a half sparked a decade-long movement for autism families. 🤝 The Power of Nonprofit Collaboration — Grow Together, Not Apart Why ditching competition and embracing partnership transformed Sun, Moon, and Stars & Company. 🎯 Building Sensory-Friendly Events That Actually Work The frameworks behind capacity control, judgment-free spaces, and real family inclusion. 🌊 The Starfish Swim Club — Safety, Confidence, and Joy How Christine launched an autism-specific swim safety program and why it changes lives. Whether you are a nonprofit founder, a parent of a neurodivergent child, a community leader, or someone who believes in the power of collective impact, this episode will leave you inspired to act, collaborate, and lead with heart. You can get in touch with Christine here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/ Website: https://www.sunmoonandstarsco.org This one is for every parent who ever felt invisible, every founder who ever felt alone, and every community that is ready to rise together. The stars are just getting brighter. 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.

The nonprofit sector is running on a broken hiring system and it is silently destroying mission driven organisations from the inside out. Most leaders are hired to check boxes, onboarded like an afterthought, and handed a role with zero clarity about what change is actually supposed to look like. The cost is not just financial. It is cultural, strategic, and deeply human. With over 30 years across nonprofit leadership, higher education, corporate philanthropy, and executive search, J. Michael Durnil, Ph.D., Director of Executive Search at Cooper Coleman LLC, has seen exactly where organisations lose the plot on leadership and what it genuinely takes to get it right. This conversation with Marla Moody is a masterclass for anyone serious about building thriving, values led, high performing nonprofit teams. 🎬 The Hidden Truth About Nonprofit Hiring Failures Why desperation hires and box checking are quietly setting organisations back years 🎬 Diversity as a Strategic Advantage Not a Checkbox How experiential, cultural, and ideological diversity drives real organisational outcomes 🎬 The Onboarding Gap That Breaks New Leaders Why the most critical 90 days are also the most neglected in the sector 🎬 Succession Planning and the Leadership Loyalty Shift What long tenured executives and younger talent both need organisations to understand right now You can get in touch with J. Michael Durnil, Ph.D. here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmichaeldurnilphd/ Website: https://www.coopercoleman.com/ If you are a nonprofit executive, board member, HR leader, or organisational development professional navigating leadership transitions, talent strategy, or building cultures where high performers actually stay, this episode is your roadmap. 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.

The nonprofit world has a broken system nobody wants to admit , passionate people are being burned out, under directed, and blindsided by leadership gaps that quietly destroy impact. Robby Burroughs, former Managing Director at NDN Collective, Pomo tribal member, college professor, and coach, pulls back the curtain on the uncomfortable reality of working inside mission driven organizations. From facilitating indigenous land back across Turtle Island and building circular revenue models that fund real change, to midnight phone calls and feedback with no direction, Robby shares what nonprofit culture gets dangerously wrong about leadership, burnout, and sustainability. This conversation is raw, real, and packed with frameworks that actually work — from protecting your energy like a non negotiable to why weekly check ins transform entire teams. If you lead people, fund causes, or fight for communities, this episode will shift how you think about impact for good. Connect with Robby Burroughs here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robby-burroughs-291234b9/ NDN Collective: https://ndncollective.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 nonprofit boards are silently killing the very organizations they were built to protect. The uncomfortable reality? It is not a funding problem. It is a governance problem nobody wants to talk about. 25-year C-suite advisor and bestselling author Heather H. Bennett, Partner and Managing Director at Newport LLC, pulls back the curtain on what actually makes a board of directors powerful versus paralyzing. From the hidden value of board networks to the dangerous myth of "give, get, or get off," Heather dismantles outdated board strategies and replaces them with frameworks that actually move missions forward. Whether you are an executive director drowning in board dysfunction or a leader considering your first board seat, this episode delivers the unfiltered truth about board size, member accountability, term cycles, the board matrix strategy, and why camaraderie is your most underrated governance tool. Connect with Heather H. Bennett here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-h-bennett/ Listen to her podcast Growth + Exit: https://www.youtube.com/@GrowthplusEXITPodcast Grab her book "Fun and Fulfilling Careers One Question at a Time" on Amazon Visit FHSR: https://www.fhsr.org We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works! - Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)

The nonprofit sector is running on a broken system nobody wants to admit exists. Behind the mission driven work, there’s a hidden truth leaders rarely say out loud scarcity thinking is quietly destroying team performance, leadership growth, and long term impact. This conversation exposes the uncomfortable reality of outdated leadership strategies, why high performing professionals fail when promoted, and what nobody tells you about leading in resource constrained environments. If you care about leadership, team performance, and sustainable impact, this is a wake up call. In this episode of What Works, Courtney Evans Henke, Managing Director of Partnerships and Communications at Last Mile Health, shares powerful insights from leading global teams across Africa. From transitioning out of an individual contributor role to managing leaders, Courtney breaks down the real leadership challenges most organizations ignore,lack of systemic training, burnout culture, and the dangerous impact of scarcity mindset. This episode dives deep into leadership development, nonprofit strategy, management skills, and how to build high performing teams without sacrificing well being. 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