266. LIVE! from Phoenix: Build Better Culture - Aila Malik, Lawanna Kimbro, Ted Vaughn, and Sara Cunningham

We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits

We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits
266. LIVE! from Phoenix: Build Better Culture - Aila Malik, Lawanna Kimbro, Ted Vaughn, and Sara Cunningham
May 06, 2022 Season 5
We Are For Good

Join Jon + Becky for this Friday's episode where they talk with a Varsity Team of experts on Building Better Culture. We talk through what modern nonprofit culture should encompass, how leaders can better shape vibrant cultures, why the term "culture fit" is damaging, and a host of other topics. Special thanks to Virtuous for convening us all and for our panel experts: Sara Cunningham (Free Mom Hugs), Lawanna Kimbro (Stardust Fund), Ted Vaughn (Historic Agency) & Aila Malik (Venture Leadership Consulting)👊

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

  • Tone setting and why culture is an incredibly important topic right now (3:45)
  • The phrase “cultural fit” and what the problem is with it (5:00)
  • How leaders can intentionally help shape culture today (9:00)
    • 1. Check yourself as a leader and do the work.
    • 2. Create transparency and clarity within your organizations.
    • 3. Make time to build connection with each other.
    • 4. Look at your rituals as an organization.
  • Navigating unhealthy cultures within our organizations (21:00)
  • Rethinking our definition of what conflict is (25:00)
  • Prioritizing mental health within our cultures (31:00)
  • The more senior you are in the organization you lead, the more culture shaping you do more than your specific skill competency ability (40:00)
  • Lawanna’s One Good Thing: Something being unprecedented doesn't mean it's impossible. (41:00)
  • Aila’s One Good Thing: Get very clear with yourself. Have your own personal vision on this world so that your work is simply in alignment to that. (42:00)
  • Ted’s One Good Thing: Culture is a tension to manage. It's not a problem to solve. (43:00)
  • Sara’s One Good Thing: Focus on the joy. (44:00)


For more information and episode details visit: www.weareforgood.com/episode/265

About Our Sponsor Virtuous
You know we believe Everyone Matters - and we’ve witnessed the greatest philanthropic movements happen when you SEE and activate donors at every level. Here’s the thing, Virtuous created a fundraising platform to help you do just that. It’s much more than a nonprofit CRM. Virtuous is committed to helping charities reimagine generosity through responsive fundraising. We love it because this approach builds trust and loyalty through personalized engagement.

Learn more about Virtuous at

Thank You to our Partners 🩵

Big gratitude to our ecosystem partners at DonorDock, Feathr, RKD Group, and Whiteboard. They’re not just partners—they’re walking alongside us to build something better + more inclusive.

Head to weareforgood.com/recs to explore our go-to tools and humans doing good work. We’ve curated a direct line for your VIP access to these groups just by saying you’re with We Are For Good. 

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