Bold & Balanced with Alison Gray

In this episode of Lead and Live Well, Erin Cox and Scott Knox sit down with Alison Gray, a nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, consultant, and founder of the newly launched Ali Gray Gallery in Provincetown. Ali reflects on a career spanning fundraising, executive leadership, consulting, and organizational growth, sharing how her passion for measurable impact and community engagement has guided every chapter of her journey.

The conversation spans Ali launching her own consulting firm, her version of entrepreneurship, and personal reinvention. Through it all, Ali offers candid insights into balancing ambition and purpose. She discusses the challenges of leadership, the risks that led to some of her most rewarding opportunities, and how she is bringing together art, philanthropy, and community in her newest venture. This conversation is an inspiring exploration of leadership and the courage to follow new passions while staying true to your values.

Hosted by Erin Cox and M. Scott Knox
Edited and Produced by Stephanie Cohen

Transcript

Speaker: Welcome to the Lead and Live Well podcast. My name is Erin Cox, and I'm thrilled to be here with my co host Scott Knox on the Lead and Live Well podcast. We sit down with leaders in the social impact world to learn about their leadership journeys. 

We talk about their strengths and passions, the transitions they have made in their career, and And how they have crafted their own paths to leadership.

Our goal is to highlight a diverse array of leaders and journeys, so that our listeners learn from relatable and compelling examples of what it means to lead and live well.

Erin: hi, everyone. Welcome to another episode of the Lead and Live Well podcast.

This is Erin Cox, and I'm joined as always by my amazing co-host, Scott Knox. Hey, Scott.

Scott: Hey Erin

Erin: So excited to have you all here today. And just as a reminder, on the Lead and Live Well podcast we highlight the career journeys of leaders in the social impact sector. We explore a variety of pathways to leadership so that you, our listeners, can carve your own path forward, perhaps borrowing from the advice, experiences, and perspectives shared by our guests.

We hope that all of you, our listeners, leave this conversation feeling more connected, enlightened, and inspired to lead and live well. And I know that's gonna be true today, because we are thrilled to be joined by Allison Gray, owner of the Ali Gray Gallery in Provincetown.

Scott, tell us a little bit more about Ali.

Scott: Absolutely. Ali is a seasoned nonprofit executive consultant and entrepreneur with more than 25 years experience leading mission-driven organizations through periods of growth, transition, and strategic change.

Ali's work spans healthcare, human services, education, and the arts with deep expertise in organizational strategy, fundraising, governance, and revenue development. Earlier in Ali's career, Ali held senior leadership roles, including President of Pear Associates, a nonprofits consulting firm she launched in 2018 to support organizations nationwide.

Under Ali's leadership, Pear Associates partnered with more than 100 nonprofit clients, including Root on the North Shore, where I was executive director and got to meet Ali for the first time.

In twenty twenty-four, Pear Associates was acquired by Health Resources in Action. Ali has also served as the Vice President of Business Development and Community Engagement at Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts, Vice President at Friedman Healthcare, Executive Director at Breakthrough Greater Boston, and Executive Director of Healthy Malden Incorporated.

Across these roles, Ali has led multidisciplinary teams, partnered closely with boards, secured public and private funding, and strengthened organizational infrastructure in supporting long-term sustainability. Ali is also a part-time resident of Provincetown and is deeply committed to the Outer Cape community.

This month, in fact this week, she will open the Ali Gray Gallery, a contemporary art gallery featuring both emerging and established artists and contributing to the town's vibrant cultural landscape. Welcome, Ali.

Ali: Thank you so much.

Erin: Ali, it is such a pleasure to meet you. Thank you so much for being here today. We obviously have a lot to talk about given your background.

Ali: I'm so excited to be here

Erin: So from what I could tell from your bio and the little I know, you've done everything from executive leadership, community engagement, fundraising, board development, consulting, strategic planning. I mean, your, your experience just runs across so many different verticals in our space. Is that right?

Ali: Yeah. And I don't know if it's helpful to kind of, take a real step back because I feel like it's important to kind of know where this came from for me. 

Erin: Yeah. That

would be so helpful. And if you wouldn't mind, one of the questions we like to ask our guests to reflect on as you kind of talk us through your journey is we find that some transitions are a matter of chance and some are a matter of choice and, and maybe some live in the middle. But as you, you talk us through the different roles you've had and the transitions you've made, if you, if you could just add in a little bit of that context around choice versus chance, that would be so helpful

Ali: I grew up with a social work mother who really instilled this do-gooder, give back kind of perspective. And my father, was an entrepreneur. And so I think I also saw the benefit of kind of creating something together.

So I think, I think there, those threads definitely created choice. But I do think my interest in nonprofit was really it, it was like a no-brainer. I never considered doing something different. So when I graduated from college, my first job was at the American Heart Association. And I don't think I ever worked at a for-profit in my life until either I was doing it as a consultant or when I went to Friedman Healthcare.

It was always sort of in that social sector, nonprofit. And whether it would be choice or chance, I think there is something very real about me, which is I'm a very results-oriented person, and a lot of jobs that are in the nonprofit sector, especiAli like human service, healthcare, they're really hard to measure that you're having an impact.

But for me, fundraising and growth are, like, two really tangible ways to measure that you're having an impact. And so I definitely think that even though I was drawn to the do-gooder part, the things about those roles were always something I could quantify in terms of the impact I was having.

Erin: Yeah. That makes so much sense. I think one of the things I learned in the first job I had out of college was that I was much more about the metrics uh, similar to you. You know, my favorite job part about being a Jumpstart site manager was recruitment because I had my goal and I just kept adding people to the program to get there.

So I absolutely can appreciate that. And it, and it makes sense that that would cross, that, that focus on measurable results would cut across fundraising, growth um, consulting, et cetera. 

Ali: Yeah, for sure.

 so I went to graduate school for education but I, I never really wanted to teach. I really saw it more as adult education or training. And so my first job out of grad school, I worked at a domestic violence agency, and I was doing training on teen dating violence and domestic violence for the community, and I loved that community connection.

Again um, you you know, sort of being out there and making those tangible connections with people. And I became the first executive director of a domestic violence agency that was connected to the one I worked at. So, unfortunately, a family lost somebody to domestic violence, and they created a fund in her name.

 And it was very much focused on teen dating violence prevention through theater, and so I was the first executive director of that. And again, even though obviously a very social cause you know, where there's a true passion-driven type of work, and it was very, emotionAli draining, the part that I felt like I stayed connected to was the fact of, like, how many times were we booking this educational theater to be able to teach?

How many students were getting the message? Again, it goes back to that quantifying the impact. Um, And that kind of led to my next executive director job at Healthy Malden, which was again a really easy way to measure how many community members were connected. So, and that's where I learned really the art of fundraising and how...

I mean, I hate to use the word a high, but I will say there was nothing a greater high at the end of the day than winning a grant. Writing a grant, winning a grant, and it would be, such an amazing feeling to know that the story I told in a grant proposal generated hundreds of thousands of dollars that were then gonna have an impact on the community or the cause.

Erin: we're both nodding our heads, and I know Scott's on the other side of having to say some yeses and nos now. But Just really it sounds like a lot of your work is grounded in the why. At the end of the day, you can do a wide function of things on behalf of an organization but the real drive for you comes from, okay, what does this unlock?

Why is it important? I can contribute in a myriad of ways and, and knowing and really being grounded in the impact it's gonna unlock feels like a powerful theme for you.

Ali: For sure. Um, I know part of your podcast and the work that you do is sort of that balancing, so I don't wanna jump ahead, but sort of the balancing of people have personal lives, and how does this important work fit into it, and how do you balance it? So, after I had been successful in the nonprofit sector doing fundraising, I was pregnant, married, my ex-husband at the time was in grad school, and I was the sole breadwinner, and I also knew that I was gonna have, a child coming into the picture, and I needed a lot of flexibility.

And that was the first time that I did freelance fundraising and grant writing, so th- we're talking you know, like early 2000s 'cause my daughter was born in 2003. you know, and I just took a risk. I said "Okay, I know enough people in nonprofit through my community work. I feel confident that I can do this," and I just took a risk.

And I was able to be the sole breadwinner for two years while he was in grad school, supported our family, wrote grants around the clock if I needed to. It was great when she was a baby because if she was up at 3:00 in the morning, you can still write a grant at 3:00 in the morning. You can do research at 3:00 in the morning, and I'm not lying ' I have witnesses that I never took a maternity leave 'cause I had clients, so, like, they would find someone else. So I remember she was six weeks old, and there was a community meeting to talk about a federal grant, and my mom came with me had my daughter in one room. I popped out to nurse her, came back in, and made it happen. You know, it was just what I did, and I never questioned it, but it felt so good.

And that was sort of where that entrepreneurial part came because you know, to know that you could generate income and come up with an idea and make it work So, I think that was sorta like the first taste of that entrepreneurial power and how good that felt, especiAli as a woman.

I won't lie. I just think you know, to know that I was the chief breadwinner in our family that felt really good. Um, I went back to work because that marriage did not work out, and I needed a steady income, and I needed benefits. And that's when I went to the ED role at Breakthrough and then went to Freedman Healthcare, and that was

I call it my walk on the dark side because it was a for-profit consulting firm that I did not own, and it was the first time I ever made a lot of money. I made more money working there than I've made in my career because- You know, it was for-profit, it was commission-based and I did it for seven years, and it was really a very empowering thing, and I learned a lot, and a lot of those things I then brought with me when I launched Pear Associates but it was so much more powerful, partly 'cause it was mine, but partly, I would say even more importantly, is because it was the nonprofit clients that were benefiting from the services.

Scott: you're, you're queuing us up, and you, you mentioned a little bit about the balancing act. And, and, you know, it's a great segue to a question that we'd love knowing, 'cause you, you've already referenced as being, you know, a parent, being a business owner, you know, obviously nonprofit executive, spouse.

 How and why has your approach to blending work and life evolved over various phases of your career, Ali? And what is your current approach?

And if there are tips, we're all ears.

Ali: So, I think as I mentioned early on I created a situation that would allow me to mother in the way I wanted to mother in terms of having availability, making enough money and then also being independent financially when I was now supporting two kids on my own.

So I think some of it was, like, financially driven and flexibility driven. And so, I will, I will go back to something else, but I do think when I launched Pear I had 15 consultants as employees when I was the largest, and I felt like many of the people that worked for me were all balancing that work and life, and I think I definitely put my money where my mouth is as far as As long as they got the work done, I didn't care when they did it. I didn't care when, how, because I just feel like I wanted everyone to be able to nurture themselves and be there for the family, however they defined family, whether it was spouse, parent, child, dog, cat.

You know, that they still felt like they had what they needed to both for themselves and to give back. I think also for me um, you know, as somebody who never took a maternity leave and really loved working, I do feel like it taught my children, who are now in their early 20s, that I think they're really proud of me.

And when Pear Associates was acquired and I was sort of going through my passion year last year where I was sort of like, didn't really, like, have my own thing yet and was working for other people, and I think they were like, "Mom, how are you gonna do that? You're so used to running your own thing and making your own decisions."

And it feels really good that I taught them that like, sense of independent, uh, independence and um, following your passion, and I think I've seen both my kids do that. 

I think it's harder. Like, I, I am now married to somebody who's also has a big career, and I think we really get each other because we both reallyze, like, how important work is.

 it definitely has defined me. It definitely has, given me, such a good sense of self, and I think being with somebody who also sees that is, like, really important to me. 

Scott: Yeah. I, I mean, absolutely. I mean, A- Ali, I feel like in talking with you, I can't help but think ... I'm gonna glaze you, as the kids say. I can't help but think of Jane Fonda. And the reason I say that is because I think of Jane Fonda has spoken really publicly about kind of the different acts in her life as actor, as activist, you know, fitness guru.

And I think of, in getting to hear more about your trajectory, on top of balancing being a parent, being a spouse, being a trustee for nonprofits, you know, you've had these distinct chapters as, you know, nonprofit executive, and we haven't even talked about gallery owner yet. And so I know we're gonna get to that, but um, just had to share it.

You know, I think of just the, the, the powerhouse and bold people that are around us, and those of us who are in our everyday lives, like you, and imagine what that meant for you in setting the tone for both your team at Pear, but then also for, you know, your two kids is, is pretty amazing

Ali: Yeah, thank you for that feedback. I mean, I, I definitely I, I overcommit because if I don't, I would be so bored. sometimes when I hear about other people and like, they just do like, a job, I'm just like, "Okay, but then what?" 

Erin: So Ali, I'd be curious to hear your, your reflections on any rough spots or, or road bumps you've hit and, and along the way and, and what you've taken away from them.

because I do think the, the rough spots or the road bumps that we hit along the way present real opportunities for vulnerability and, and frankly, for, for learning um, for ourselves, and then when we have the, the strength to share those with others, it can be really instructive and helpful.

Ali: Sure. I think one of the, the rough spots, road bumps that, like, stands out, I think just paramount for me was when I worked at Planned Parenthood. So, when I, I had applied for the job, which was vice president of business development. So, Planned Parenthood as a healthcare provider at the time that I took the job in Massachusetts, had five health centers, and the role was really leading marketing and promotion of the healthcare services that they offered in these five locations.

You know, whether it was grassroots outreach or whether it was, like, true marketing and advertising to, you know, talk about the different healthcare services. And I applied for this job, and, and as, acquired this job during the time that Hillary was running for president against Trump. And I think many of us in Massachusetts assumed that Hillary was gonna be the next president, and therefore that job to me just felt like that's what I was getting into.

What happened, of course, was not that, and Trump was elected, and Planned Parenthood became an incredible lightning rod of um, politics. The only health service that anyone talked about that they provided was abortion care. And as much as I support Planned Parenthood and continue to support Planned Parenthood, my job as I took it was not the job that I had.

was... Like, it was just a really hard place to work. Um, You know, even had Trump not been elected I think it would've been a harder place to work than I reallyzed. I just think abortion to me is healthcare just like any other healthcare, but abortion is so personal that when I told people I worked at Planned Parenthood, I felt like it opened people up to either give an opinion, overshare, or just share their personal story.

And then when Trump was elected, it became a whole thing of are we gonna lose our ability to provide these healthcare services, or is healthcare is not even what we're talking about. We're talking about politics. We're talking about advocacy. And it just, it was really stressful. It was, like, a really stressful time, and I didn't really know what I was gonna do next.

I hadn't been there that long, and I ended up leaving without a job. And I left to start Pear Associates, and that was, like, a risk. But it was a risk similar to when I started doing freelance grant writing when my kids were really little. It was a risk I was willing to take because I was in a situation where I could take that risk, and it panned out.

Um, But I... That was, like, a really hard place to be, for sure. And when I started Pear, you know, I sort of was like, "Oh, well, I know how to write grants, and I know how to do strategic plans, and I know the nonprofit world, so I'll just do it." And I got to a point where I had to either grow or say no. And so I kept growing, and then like, I hired my first employee, and then I got office space.

And then COVID happened, so we got rid of the office space. And um, I just kept growing and growing. And to go back to what we talked about earlier with quantifiable there was nothing better to quantify my success than saying, "I had 10 clients. I have 25 clients. We're in two states. We're in 14 states. Our revenue is X. Our profit is this."

It was an amazing growth metric. But I would say that after growing so fast and like, my job became doing things that I lost the joy. Like, I felt like I was spending my time with how do I give benefits to employees who deserve it but were small?

How do we deal with legal compliance of being an employer and a provider in X number of states where we all have to file things? Like the things I was spending my time doing were not the things that I felt like I had ... I mean, I could figure it out, I could hire the consultants or the experts, but the joy was gone.

And yet my biggest fear was, I was an employer and like, I didn't wanna just close shop because then people would lose jobs and my clients would no longer get the support that they needed. Like many of our clients, they weren't one and done, they were like ongoing clients that hired us year after year. And so, that was like a really difficult time of like how do I, sunset this organization in a way that I do it right by everybody?

And so I was really lucky that Health Resources in Action was not only a client of ours, but the president, was like a 20-year colleague and friend who I was able to like approach about this and we spent like a good year negotiating what this would look like.

And

I really am proud of where it landed because I do think another for-profit consulting company might have been interested in buying Pear, but I wasn't interested in that because my employees would not have been happy, and quite honestly, I don't know that my clients would have. I feel like there was a lot of culture alignment with HRIA and they were able to bring my employees on with um, the same or better employment.

And all of my clients were able to transition over with the same services, and so that felt really good to me. But it was my exit strategy, and so I did stay on for six months to kinda help with the transition and also help HRIA with some consulting, some business development consulting. But my goal was to take a step back.

And quite honestly, when I did it, even though I knew I was ready to move away from Pear, I still had no idea what I was gonna do. It was not like- Yeah ... oh, and I wanna run a gallery. That was not on my radar at that time at all. Um, I really had no idea. Like, it was-

Erin: Yeah. Can we dig into that moment a little bit? Because it just... You know, I w- I was so curious to learn how you landed in art, given all of the thing. I'm like, "Okay, okay, okay, okay," and then art gallery. Whoa, where did this come from? This is an exciting turn. And it if you wouldn't mind, as I'm breaking every coaching rule in the book, but I...

at least I own it helping us understand how you landed in art and, and, and, and work us through the moments that you had in that transition. The other question, and I'm totally stacking, this is awful is, you know, what needed to be true about you to make all of these different types of careers work?

So much of this podcast, people are looking for ideas and, and, and insights into how you make the... how to make career transitions and grow your, your pathways, and you have... You've done a lot of the big changes, like the big transitions that we talk about. Working in corporate, working... I love that you called it the dark side.

We didn't get into that. We could. Working in non-profits, being an ED, moving away from being an ED, being an entrepreneur now at least twice. Um, So it's all baked in there. So talk us through the transition to art as well as, you know, what's true about you that makes all these transitions possible?

Ali: So, before I get into the art gallery, I will say that 2025 was sort of my year of following my passions. So, I love baking, and I actually went to pastry school last year, and I'm like, "Okay," "I'm gonna do something I've always wanted to do 'cause I have time now." And I thought "Oh, I could make a business," you know?

And I thought "Oh, I could either..." I didn't really wanna open a retail business, but I did get my residential, they call it a cottage license, so you can actually bake and sell out of your home. So I did that with the City of Boston. So I baked, and I'll tell you I loved it, but I didn't love having to do it for work.

It was fun to make a pretty cake or make cookies that taste great, but not when someone's paying you for it or expecting it. And you also lose money the second you do it. Like, I know there's bakeries that figure out how to do it. I, it, I, it was not a moneymaker. And I also love animals, and I got a job at MSPCA-ANGEL, and it was, like, a mid, middle manager job.

And at the time, I'm like, "Oh, I'm gonna be someplace that I'm really passionate about. It's not gonna be my problem. It's not gonna be my responsibility." Even though I had like, 30 people that worked for me on my team I wasn't the boss, and that was also really hard. Like, it was good and it was hard.

Like, It wasn't my problem, but it wasn't my problem. So I loved being at ANGEL. I loved being around animals and, like, doing really good things, and it was really sad some days, but I saw cute puppies and kitties, and I loved my team. And so there was a lot of really great things, but it wasn't a long-term thing.

 so I mean, what I will say is I'm lucky. I'm lucky that I'm in a situation where I was able to save money from Pear, and I had some of the resources to take that risk. And I do appreciate that, 'cause not everyone is in a situation where my kids were old enough I had the financial ability to do it, so I appreciate that not everyone's able to do that.

I also think that I had a partner who was like, "Figure it out." "I want you to be happy and I'll support you being happy," because I think she knew how stressfully I was not happy for a bit, and that's really hard to be in a partnership with someone who's like, going to work every day and it's sucking the life out of them, even if they're doing good things, you know? So I think those two things were true.

So Julie my wife, is in commercial real estate. She has a very big job. She's still working. She's not anywhere near close to retirement. But she is an artist, and she would retire if she could, and all she would do is art and play tennis all day.

I'm not interested in retiring. Like, I love working, I love being around people, and so, like, I don't have those passions right now outside of what I shared with you. But we always said, "Wouldn't it be fun when we retire to like, buy an art gallery, and I'll run it, and you'll make art?" And it was always like, "Ha ha ha, that will be fun."

And I think it was sort of this combination of okay, I'm not gonna bake, and I'm not gonna like, work at Angel, and you're not ready to retire, and I don't know what I'm doing right now. And then we found out like, a very tangible opportunity presented itself. Stuart Clifford owned a gallery. He was selling the space and the gallery.

I didn't know him. I walked right in there. I introduced myself to him. I said, "I heard a rumor you're selling your gallery. I don't know whether you have anybody in mind, but can we talk?" And it was very much like the Allison entrepreneur business that took over. So I am not an artist. I am not a creative person.

I don't know anything about acrylic or oil paint, and if you ask me about a canvas or a panel, I am not gonna be able to answer those questions yet. But I do know how to sell. I know how to run a business. I know how to negotiate a lease. And I love being around people and having conversations. and, and artist agreements and like, building relationships and creating spaces for community.

And so all of those things are very much true and part of running a gallery, and those are the things that I'm leveraging. So going back to your earlier question I definitely feel like I can run a gallery, but I'm not an artist. But there is a reality, I will not lie, of like, is this gonna nurture the do-gooder part of me at the end of the day?

And I think I'm going to nurture it two ways. One is I'm not just gonna make it an art gallery. It's gonna be an art gallery that's a community space where it's a space for fundraising. That's why I already have two events. One for the Equality Fund, and one for MSPCA Angel, where they're gonna be fundraisers, but they're gonna be at the gallery so you can see pretty art, and amazing art, and inspiring art, but it's also a chance to bring community and do good.

And I'm also keeping consulting. So I did this huge consulting job for the Department of Public Health. Very proud of it and I wanted to share it because they contracted with me to, It was a budget line item of if the feds cut funding for abortion providers, gender-affirming care they wanted someone to write a legislative report with recommendations about how the state should handle it.

So I facilitated those meetings and wrote the draft of that report. And I'm still doing some work right now with Department of Public Health on a gun violence prevention project. So I think I'll probably keep those projects in my wheelhouse so I know I'm doing that, but I also feel like the gallery is gonna be a space.

I'm not saying the galleries there don't do that, but I think for me, that has to be part of it

Scott: Wait, can I just confirm, Ali, your day has 24 hours like mine, right? Because

Ali: it does, but I barely sleep just so you know. Z-quil stopped working, so yeah.

Scott: That, that work with the Department of Public Health, congratulations on that and in doing that for, for many communities. And, and thank you for being so intentional with the gallery that you're opening and the space that you're creating for not only artists and people who love artwork and people who are passionate about the Outer Cape, but then people like the LGBTQ community who are connected to the Equality Fund or folks really passionate about animal welfare can see themselves in your gallery

Ali: Yeah, for sure. I mean, I, I, I feel like that has to be front and center for sure. And, you know, I mean, and I don't know how that's gonna play out because we open this- we open soon, so, like, how will that work? So, you know, talk to me in, you know, at the end of the season. It's a short season, you know? Like they say, if you wanna retire with a million dollars in the bank running an art gallery, you should start with three million. So I have no idea how this is gonna be financially if I, I...

But I, I'm gonna break even. I'm committed to breaking even. But I, you know, I'm not doing this for the money. But we'll see how that goes.

Erin: Well, it, it strikes me, Ali, that you, you take on these roles that, you know, seem like, you know, relatively common roles, but you do them your way. And so I'm sure that you will find a way to make it more than break even, and even contribute back to the communities that, that Scott mentioned. So that's, that's awesome.

I also appreciate that you've already said you're coming back to the podcast. I'm not sure you caught that, but you said, "Talk to me at the end of this season." 

Ali: Yes.

Erin: Yes. So good. Part two, because there's a lot more to dig into here. I think your, your losing the joy in your job as an entrepreneur, I think that's, that's something that a lot of people can relate to.

I know I can as well. The balance between working on and working in the business, whether you're an entrepreneur or you're, you know, a social impact leader, it can, it can be challenging to find. So put, put a pin in that. We'll come back to it at the end of the season, plus learning about all the successes of your, your opening.

But, but until then where can people learn more about you and your gallery and your work?

Ali: Sure. So, um, the gallery's website is aligraygallery.com. Pretty simple. It's A-L-I and Gray with an A, not an E. And so, if you go to the website, there's all kinds of stuff about the gallery and the artists and the different exhibitions and the different events that we're having. But you can also you know, like my email is on there so you can access me and get in touch and like I said, I'm very open to figuring out how to, like, really bring community into this space.

Scott: Ali, as we're wrapping up, I just wanna say thank you again. You know, I've, I've had the pleasure of being a, a client of yours, becoming a friend of you and, and Julie's, and now I can't wait to be um, a, a, a collaborator and hopefully a customer at the gallery. And I've learned so much over the last hour and, and as Erin said, we can't wait to have you back at the end of the season.

We- we'll give you, we'll give you a couple weeks to catch your breath, but maybe sometime in the fall.

Ali: Yep. Well, I'm so glad that you asked me to do it. I mean, it's been fun. It's always like, it's hard to talk about yourself, but it's it's been nice to like, hear myself, to kinda like, see this reflection, and it, and it does make sense, you know? 'Cause I do think the gallery, to your point like, it's a little outside the box, but but I am very excited about this next adventure, for sure

Erin: I'm excited to see how this idea blossoms,

Ali: Thank 

you Awesome. Thank you so much for your time, Ali. We really appreciate it

Scott: All right, have a great week. Good luck.

Ali: All right, thank you. Bye-bye

Scott: that was an incredible conversation. I mean, I truly could not help but think about Jane Fonda. And if folks haven't read her 

Erin: don't we always? 

Scott: I know we

Erin: that problem. She's always on our minds.

Scott: read her autobiography, it is really, you know, it is fascinating and, and she writes it in terms of these very distinct chapters.

And while Ali's much younger than Jane Fonda, has had these, like, really distinct and impressive and impactful chapters. And you know, appreciate that there's a through line through all of these different roles and and phases that she's been in. So that, that was a great conversation

Erin: And I think she's, you know, I th- I think hearing someone reflect like that on, on changes that feel big but sh- they didn't sound big to her, they sounded like they made sense, and they were calculated risks. I think sometimes when you're trying to carve your own path, it can, it can feel a little overwhelming to go in a...

feel like you're going, taking a big leap in a new direction that feels unclear or unchartered for you. And, and she's done it so many times. So, I hope she comes back on the pod. I hope she writes a book. And I think what we just did was invite Jane Fonda to join us on the pod at some point. So note to Jane, come on by any time.

Make ourselves available.

Scott: We will clear the deck.

Erin: well, before we hang up, Scott, I know this will come out after, but I just have to embarrass you a little bit and congratulate you, 'cause tomorrow night on our timeline, you are going to be honored as a social impact leader at the Social Capital Inc. Idealist Celebration, along with our good friend Elsa Gomes Bonlow.

And I just wanted to say how excited I am that somebody who is so humble, who's so hardworking, who's so dedicated to impact, and has made... I think the stories on this podcast alone have shown just how much of an impact you've made on so many people in the sector. I'm really glad the spotlight's gonna be on you tomorrow.

Congratulations.

Scott: thank you so much, my friend. I I'm, I'm absorbing and taking that all in 'cause it's, it's difficult to be uh, in, in those moments, but thank you

Erin: Well, you're gonna get some good practice tomorrow based off the guest list I've seen. It's gonna be quite a gathering. Well, always fun to be with you, Scott. This podcast is my, my way of making sure we we spend regular time together, so, so totally self-serving, and I'm grateful for it.

Scott: Hear Me too. all right, Thank you so much, Erin. I'll I'll see you tomorrow night!