Lead for Good

In this compelling episode of Lead for Good, host Chris Looney sits down with Chris Simonsen, Chief Executive Officer of the Orangewood Foundation, for an insightful conversation about purpose driven leadership, financial stewardship, and what it really takes to transition from CFO to CEO in the nonprofit sector.
Chris’s journey is anything but typical. After achieving his career goals in the for profit world as CFO of a $3 billion organization, he made a bold decision to accept a 70 percent pay cut and step into nonprofit leadership. What followed was not only personal alignment, but transformational impact for thousands of young people across Orange County.
From navigating the Great Recession to building a $70 million charter school campus and growing the organization’s endowment from $2 million to $30 million, Chris shares candid lessons from nearly two decades of mission driven leadership.
In this episode, you will learn:
Why a successful for profit executive chose purpose over paycheck
What nonprofit leaders can learn from financial discipline and long term sustainability planning
How to successfully transition from CFO to CEO and earn board confidence
The mindset shift required when moving from operations to organizational vision and fundraising
How servant leadership shapes culture, trust, and team performance
Why nonprofits must rethink outdated views on overhead and investment in talent
What the “network nonprofit model” looks like in action and how collaboration stretches limited resources
How broadening mission definitions can unlock new funding streams and greater impact
Chris offers practical guidance for interim leaders seeking permanent roles, emerging executives building board relationships, and nonprofit organizations striving for financial resilience in uncertain times.
He also challenges the sector to embrace deeper collaboration, innovate beyond traditional funding silos, and prepare for a future where government resources may decline and nonprofits must adapt creatively.
If you care about sustainable growth, mission alignment, culture building, and long term impact, this episode delivers practical wisdom from a leader who has walked the path from financial steward to chief executive.
Subscribe to Lead for Good and join us as we continue exploring the leadership journeys shaping the future of the nonprofit sector.

In this powerful episode of Lead for Good, Chris Looney sits down with Claudia Keller, Chief Executive Officer of Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, for an honest and energizing conversation about nonprofit leadership, courageous decision making, and the strength of collaboration.
Claudia’s leadership journey is anything but traditional. She began in the for profit retail fashion world, rising through the ranks before making a bold transition into nonprofit executive leadership. What followed was a 20 year career marked by grit, growth, and a deep commitment to serving communities with dignity and impact.
In this episode, you will hear:
How transferable skills from the for profit sector can strengthen nonprofit leadership
The difficult early lessons of accountability and making tough personnel decisions
What it was like to join a major food bank just weeks before the COVID 19 pandemic
How crisis reshaped Second Harvest and accelerated the evolution of the “modern food bank”
Why collaboration is not optional in today’s nonprofit landscape
The story behind Orange County’s “Sisters in Good” and what authentic CEO peer support looks like
Practical wisdom for aspiring and current nonprofit leaders navigating frustration, growth, and change
Claudia shares candid insights about leadership under pressure, holding people accountable with compassion, and measuring progress even when the work moves at the speed of collaboration. Her perspective on board engagement, cross sector partnerships, and nonprofit resilience will resonate with leaders at every stage of their journey.
If you are a nonprofit executive, board member, emerging leader, or someone considering a career in the sector, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.
The problems nonprofits tackle are complex and enduring. As Claudia puts it, if they were easy, someone else would have solved them long ago. That is why strong, collaborative, thoughtful leadership matters more than ever.
Listen in and be inspired to lead with courage, collaboration, and conviction.

Welcome to the ”Lead for Good" podcast, designed for nonprofit leaders at every level. Join us as we connect with top nonprofit professionals, diving deep into the traits, strategies, and actions that drive successful leadership in the sector. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and insights needed to elevate your leadership skills and maximize your impact. In each episode, our host, Chris Looney, interviews an inspiring leader committed to making a difference. In this episode, Robert Santana, a CEO of one of the countries largest Boys and Girls Clubs associations, a social entrepreneur, board advisor, leadership consultant, and disrupter for good, shares about his leadership journey and helps the audience understand key issues around being future ready and being a futurist leader. Get ready for an enlightening conversation that will inspire you to lead for good! Don’t forget to like and share this video with fellow nonprofit leaders! #nonprofitleadership #leadershipdevelopment #nonprofitpodcast #inspiration #leadforgood

Welcome to the ”Lead for Good" podcast, designed for nonprofit leaders at every level. Join us as we connect with top nonprofit professionals, diving deep into the traits, strategies, and actions that drive successful leadership in the sector. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and insights needed to elevate your leadership skills and maximize your impact. In each episode, our host, Chris Looney, interviews an inspiring leader committed to making a difference. In this episode, Dr. Stefanie Johnson, best selling author of "INCLUSIFY" and the leader of the Colorado University Boulder Center for Leadership, shares about her leadership journey and helps the audience of leaders understand key issues around inclusion, stress, and unconscious bias. Get ready for an enlightening conversation that will inspire you to lead for good! Don’t forget to like and share this video with fellow nonprofit leaders! #nonprofitleadership #leadershipdevelopment #nonprofitpodcast #inspiration #leadforgood

Welcome to ”Lead for Good,” your go-to podcast designed for nonprofit leaders at every level! Join us as we connect with top nonprofit professionals, diving deep into the traits, strategies, and actions that drive successful leadership in the sector. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and insights needed to elevate your leadership skills and maximize your impact. In each episode, our host, Chris Looney, interviews an inspiring leader committed to making a difference. Get ready for an enlightening conversation that will inspire you to lead for good! Don’t forget to like and share this video with fellow nonprofit leaders! #NonprofitLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #NonprofitPodcast #Inspiration #LeadForGood