Lessons from Leaders

This podcast is dedicated to sharing leadership stories from the international nonprofit and other global sectors. We highlight the amazing leaders working to make a difference and learn from their stories. Each guest is hand selected by the host, Lynne Gilliland has worked with individuals, teams and organizations throughout Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. Previously, she was a senior manager with a larger US-based NGO, as well as Country Director for their Honduras program and Team Leader for West, Central and Southern Africa.She holds a graduate degree in International Agricultural Development from the University of California at Davis and is certified in tools such as MBTI, Emotional Intelligence, Strengths Deployment, Retreats that Work and various other 360 feedback assessments. Lynne was a Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica and is fluent in Spanish.

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Lessons from Leaders

Lessons from Leaders: Featured Guest Mishelle Rudzinski, Co-Founder and Executive Director of SPOON

July 11, 2022 • Lynne Gilliland / Mishelle Rudzinski

This week I sat down with Mishelle Rudzinski, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of SPOON.

Mishelle's story of leadership and co-founding an organization is one like many leaders: She saw a need and decided to fill it. Her leadership story began at a deeply personal level with the adoption of her daughter. A journey which included an incorrect diagnosis, and severe malnourishment.

It was her own daughter's experience with malnutrition that led to the research of children everywhere who have been living outside of families in what is termed as residential care.

"We couldn't find any solid answers, and we couldn't find any organizations that were addressing this. We thought we would go volunteer somewhere but we couldn't find an organization. This led to us reaching out to the right people, networking with them, and saying together: 'Let's solve the problem.' That led to the beginning of SPOON."

Mishelle's questioning and her curiosity around finding a need and taking it step by step, without getting stopped by the 'how', is just the beginning of her inspirational journey in leadership.

I am excited to share this episode with you and look forward to your takeaways.

Thank you Mishelle for sharing your story and your organization not just with us, but with the world.

https://youtu.be/cjuxqeJjtyY