Lead for Good

In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Dawn Reese, CEO of The Wooden Floor, for a thoughtful and inspiring conversation on nonprofit leadership, servant leadership, and what it truly means to be a fundraising CEO.
Under Dawn’s leadership, The Wooden Floor has become a nationally recognized model for arts-based youth development, helping underserved youth thrive through dance, academic support, and family services. Since 2005, 100% of students have graduated high school on time and immediately enrolled in higher education.
Throughout the conversation, Dawn reflects on the formative experiences that shaped her leadership philosophy, the mentors who influenced her journey, and why empathy is foundational to effective leadership. She shares practical wisdom on building a culture of philanthropy, developing high-performing teams, balancing operational leadership with fundraising responsibilities, and creating organizational cultures where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.
This episode also explores:
Why servant leadership is both compassionate and powerful
The importance of mentorship, coaching, and lifelong learning
How nonprofit leaders can embrace discomfort to grow
Strategies for developing future leaders within organizations
The value of relationship-centered fundraising
How The Wooden Floor is expanding its impact through innovation and partnerships
Dawn’s reflections on leadership, purpose, and investing in people offer valuable insight for nonprofit executives, emerging leaders, fundraisers, board members, and anyone passionate about creating meaningful impact in their communities.
Watch now and discover why leading with empathy, humility, and intentionality remains one of the most powerful ways to lead for good.
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In this episode of Lead for Good, host Chris Looney sits down with higher education advancement leader Michael Eicher for a masterclass in nonprofit leadership, organizational culture, and campaign strategy. Drawing from decades of leadership experience at institutions including The Ohio State University Foundation, UCLA, and Johns Hopkins University, Mike shares practical wisdom on what it takes to lead one of the nation’s most ambitious advancement enterprises.
The conversation explores:
Why alignment and co-creation matter more than consensus in building bold institutional vision
The leadership principles behind sustaining a world-class advancement culture
How Ohio State built one of the most successful campaigns in higher education history
The importance of investing in people, retaining top talent, and developing future leaders
Why philanthropy must remain both broad-based and transformational
How mentorship, creativity, and asking better questions shape exceptional leaders
Mike also offers candid reflections on imposter syndrome, leadership growth, organizational culture, and the evolving future of philanthropy and higher education advancement. His perspective on building trust, empowering teams, and teaching generosity provides valuable insight for nonprofit leaders at every stage of their careers.
This episode is filled with actionable leadership lessons, strategic thinking, and inspiration from one of the most respected advancement leaders in the country.
Watch or listen to the full episode and discover what it truly means to lead for good.

What does it take to scale a mission-driven nonprofit without losing the heart and soul of the organization?
In this powerful episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Dr. Chad Nelsen, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, for a candid and insightful conversation about leadership, growth, culture, and mission stewardship.
Under Chad’s leadership, Surfrider has grown from a $5 million organization with 30 team members into a nationally influential $15 million organization with more than 85 staff members, all while strengthening its grassroots network, policy impact, and organizational resilience.
In this episode, Chad shares:
His remarkable “mailroom to CEO” leadership journey
The mentors and experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy
How Surfrider navigated financial decline and rebuilt stronger than ever
Why mission focus is critical during periods of growth
The importance of leadership coaching and developing leaders at every level
Lessons learned about scaling culture, systems, and infrastructure
How nonprofits can avoid the dangers of rapid, unsustainable growth
Why steady, intentional growth often outperforms chasing big windfalls
The future of environmental advocacy and Surfrider’s work around climate resilience and ocean protection
One of the most compelling themes of the conversation is Chad’s belief that nonprofit leaders are ultimately stewards of the mission, responsible for making difficult decisions that best advance long-term impact.
This episode is filled with practical wisdom for nonprofit CEOs, emerging leaders, board members, and anyone seeking to grow an organization responsibly while remaining deeply aligned with mission and values.
Watch or listen now to this outstanding conversation with one of the nonprofit sector’s most thoughtful and authentic leaders.

In this episode of Lead for Good, host Chris Looney sits down with John Mangum, President and CEO of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, for a thoughtful and highly practical conversation on what it truly takes to step into a new leadership role and succeed from day one.
Drawing on a distinguished career that includes leadership roles with the Houston Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, John shares a candid look at his leadership journey and the lessons that have shaped his approach to leading complex, mission-driven organizations.
At the center of this conversation is a topic every nonprofit leader will face at some point: the critical first six months in a new role. John offers a clear and grounded framework for how leaders can listen deeply, build trust quickly, and resist the temptation to act too fast before truly understanding the organization. From navigating stakeholder relationships to balancing strategic decision-making with humility and curiosity, this episode provides a roadmap for starting strong and leading with intention.
Listeners will also gain insight into:
Why a “listening-first” approach is essential for long-term success
How to build credibility with boards, staff, and donors early on
The importance of aligning vision collaboratively rather than imposing it prematurely
Practical ways to balance immediate decision-making with long-term strategic thinking
What it means to leave an organization better than you found it
Whether you are stepping into your first executive role or transitioning into a new organization, this conversation is packed with wisdom that will help you lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
🎧 Tune in to hear how great leaders begin their journey and set the foundation to truly lead for good.

In this episode of Lead for Good, host Chris Looney sits down with Betsy Biern, CEO of Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area, for a thoughtful and energizing conversation on nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and building high-performing boards.
Betsy shares her leadership journey, shaped early by a deep commitment to community and service, and reinforced through powerful experiences with donors, mentors, and mission-driven organizations. From her passion for fundraising as a deeply human and values-driven partnership, to her reflections on legacy, impact, and purpose, Betsy offers a compelling perspective on what it truly means to lead in the nonprofit sector.
A central focus of the episode is board engagement and accountability. Betsy unpacks practical strategies for setting clear expectations, onboarding board members with intention, and creating individualized “impact plans” that align each member’s strengths, interests, and capacity with the organization’s mission. She also shares how tools like scorecards, consistent communication, and peer-to-peer accountability can transform board performance from a drain on resources into a powerful engine for mission advancement.
Listeners will walk away with actionable insights, including:
How to shift from “asking” to inviting people into meaningful philanthropic partnerships
Why curiosity is one of the most important leadership traits in fundraising and governance
How to structure board expectations and accountability without creating a punitive culture
The importance of consistent communication, recognition, and clarity in driving engagement
Why nonprofit CEOs should prioritize board leadership as a core part of their role
Betsy’s philosophy is simple yet powerful: lead with invitation, stay deeply curious, and keep the mission at the center of everything. Whether you are a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, this episode provides practical tools and inspiration to help you strengthen your leadership and elevate your organization’s impact.
Tune in for a conversation that will challenge your thinking, sharpen your approach, and equip you to lead for good.

In this episode of Lead for Good, host Chris Looney sits down with Nicole Suydam, CEO of Goodwill of Orange County and former CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, for a thoughtful and practical conversation on what it truly takes to lead in the nonprofit sector.
With more than three decades of leadership experience, Nicole shares the formative moments that shaped her journey, from early leadership development in her youth to rising from a development role to CEO of one of the largest nonprofits in Orange County. Along the way, she reflects on the mentors who guided her, the importance of curiosity and stepping beyond defined roles, and the leadership philosophy that anchors her work today.
The conversation explores several critical themes for nonprofit leaders:
The gap between perception and reality in the nonprofit sector, including misconceptions about profitability, overhead, and operational complexity
Why nonprofit leadership is often just as demanding, if not more so, than for-profit leadership
How Goodwill’s social enterprise model integrates mission and revenue to create sustainable impact
The power of collaboration over competition, and how relationships, trust, and intentionality expand impact across organizations
The role funders play in either enabling or limiting innovation and partnership
Practical leadership lessons on listening, continuous learning, and staying focused on what can be controlled
Nicole also offers a candid perspective on servant leadership, values-based decision making, and the ongoing work required to grow as a leader.
This episode is a must-listen for nonprofit executives, emerging leaders, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of how to lead with purpose, clarity, and impact in a complex and rapidly evolving sector.
Subscribe to Lead for Good for more conversations with leaders who are shaping the future of nonprofit leadership.

Lead for Good featuring Bill Bracken, Founder and Executive Director of Bracken’s Kitchen
In this powerful episode of Lead for Good, Bill Bracken shares a leadership journey shaped by grit, faith, humility, and a deep belief that leadership is influence.
Bill is the founder of Bracken’s Kitchen, launched in 2013 to rescue, repurpose, and restore both food and lives. What began with a food truck and a calling to do something more meaningful than serving luxury hotel guests has grown into a transformative nonprofit serving thousands across Southern California .
But this conversation is not just about food. It is about the heart of leadership.
Bill reflects on his early years in high pressure culinary environments, where technical excellence was prized but leadership development was not . From that experience, he learned a critical lesson many nonprofit leaders understand firsthand: being exceptional at a craft does not automatically prepare you to lead people.
Through personal struggle, rediscovered faith, and an unexpected season of unemployment during the 2008 economic crisis, Bill found clarity in a simple but profound realization. Food was the conduit. Influence was the calling .
Throughout the episode, Bill unpacks what leadership as influence truly means:
Empathy in action, including a life changing moment with a woman named Ruby that reshaped his understanding of dignity and human connection
The difference between feeding people and nourishing them, and why dignity must accompany service
Why kindness should never be confused with weakness
How love, as an action rather than a feeling, transforms teams and cultures
The importance of slowing down, knowing your people, and leading through genuine care
He also shares practical habits that ground his leadership every day, from personally greeting each team member to writing handwritten notes of encouragement .
This episode is a reminder that influence does not require a title. It requires intention. It requires courage. It requires the willingness to be inconvenienced for the sake of others.
If you are a nonprofit leader navigating growth, culture, accountability, and mission, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.
Listen now on YouTube, Podbean, or your favorite podcast platform.

In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Casey Castillo, CEO of the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, for a wide ranging conversation on leadership, culture, and building systems that truly serve people at scale
Under Casey’s leadership, the Food Bank is on pace to exceed 52 million pounds of food distributed this year, translating to more than 43 million meals and reaching 400,000 people each month through an extraordinary network of partners, volunteers, and supporters But this conversation goes far beyond impressive numbers.
Casey shares his leadership journey from program staff to CFO to CEO, including the willingness to step outside his formal job description, say yes to unfamiliar challenges, and grow into greater responsibility. His story is a masterclass in initiative, resilience, and mission driven leadership.
This episode also offers a practical blueprint for building a strong organizational culture. Casey walks through the specific tools his team uses to strengthen alignment, accountability, and performance, including:
Patrick Lencioni’s The Five Dysfunctions of a Team to build trust and healthy accountability
Metronomics and the Metronome platform to connect long term vision with disciplined execution
CliftonStrengths to deepen self awareness and improve team communication
An Organizational Health Assessment to measure performance beyond financial metrics
Net Promoter Score as a simple but powerful employee engagement indicator
You will also hear powerful insights on:
Why leaders must be willing to move faster when culture misalignment appears
How setting bold goals creates momentum, even when you do not hit 100 percent
Why it must be safe to fail if you want transformational progress
How a clear 10 to 20 year vision can unify daily execution
If you care about strengthening culture, increasing accountability, and building a nonprofit that can tackle big, systemic challenges, this episode is for you.
Listen now on YouTube, Podbean, or Substack, and join us as we continue to explore what it truly means to lead for good.

Lead for Good – Episode 7Autumn Strier | Building What the Community Needs Most
In Episode 7 of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Autumn Strier, Co Founder and CEO of Miracles for Kids, for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about what it really takes to build a nonprofit from the ground up and sustain it for more than two decades.
Autumn’s leadership journey begins long before she launched her organization. As a child, she experienced firsthand the life changing impact of people who stepped in to help during times of hardship. That early imprint of generosity shaped a life devoted to service. From UC Santa Barbara to NYU, from New York City government under Mayor Giuliani to Wall Street structuring nonprofit debt, Autumn built an unusually strong foundation in finance, public policy, and strategy before returning to the nonprofit sector.
Then came a defining moment.
After the birth of her daughter and a frightening hospital experience, Autumn overheard another family’s struggle with a critically ill child and the financial devastation that followed. That moment sparked the mission of Miracles for Kids: to support families with critically ill children so they can fight for their child’s life without losing their home, job, or stability in the process.
More than 20 years later, Miracles for Kids serves hundreds of families daily through housing, financial assistance, wellness programs, advocacy, and holistic family support. What began as one woman writing 31 checks from her couch has grown into a multi program organization with staff, volunteers, housing complexes, and thousands of lives impacted each year.
In this episode, Autumn shares practical and candid insights on:
• How to craft a mission statement that fills a true gap in the community• Why charities are built to contribute, not compete• How to recruit and retain a high impact board• The importance of financial fluency for nonprofit leaders• Building strong corporate partnerships through value and alignment• Creating programs directly from the voices of those you serve• Developing a trusted brand rooted in transparency• Leading through recessions, crisis, and constant change• Why strategy must match passion and purpose
Her leadership philosophy is both grounded and inspiring. There is never just a problem, only an opportunity for a new solution. Health is the great equalizer. Take the high road. Work harder than anyone else. And always remember that a small group of committed people can change the world.
If you are launching a nonprofit, leading an established organization, or navigating growth in uncertain times, this conversation offers real world wisdom from someone who has done it.
Listen to Episode 7 of Lead for Good and discover how to build something that lasts by leading with strategy, resilience, and heart.

Matt VandenBerg | Managing Vision, Elevating Sights, Building Momentum In this episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Matt VandenBerg, the 17th President of Ohio Wesleyan University, for a wide ranging and energizing conversation about what it truly takes to lead with boldness, clarity, and conviction. From an unexpected pivot away from medical school to a deliberate beeline toward college presidency, Matt shares the formative moments, mentors, and mindset that shaped his leadership journey. Along the way, he unpacks powerful insights that extend far beyond higher education and into the heart of nonprofit leadership. This episode centers on three transformational leadership themes: Creating a Shared Vision Matt explains why nobody rows hard for a boat they do not believe in. He shares how leaders must not only study culture, but be seen studying it. From shadowing staff across campus to inviting open dialogue, he demonstrates how shared ownership fuels alignment and innovation. Raising Collective Aspirations It is hard to rally people around “stay afloat.” Matt makes the case that leaders must articulate a compelling picture of a better tomorrow and position others as heroes in that story. As he puts it, organizations do not simply exist to preserve themselves. They exist to leverage what they have to create a better world. Building and Sustaining Momentum Momentum is contagious. Wins validate vision. Matt recounts bold, strategic moves including a reimagined presidential inauguration and a fully funded $45 million library transformation announced in one sweeping moment. His message is clear: enthusiasm and progress generate confidence, trust, and further investment. Throughout the conversation, Matt emphasizes humility, clarity, consistency, action, grace, and courage. He challenges leaders to avoid stagnation, embrace calculated risk, and swing for the parking lot rather than simply protect what already exists. If you are a nonprofit leader seeking to galvanize your team, elevate your organization’s ambitions, and sustain forward momentum, this episode delivers both inspiration and practical wisdom. Listen now to Episode 6 of Lead for Good and discover how shared vision, raised sights, and disciplined momentum can transform your leadership and your impact.