Biggest Challenges Faced by a Director Strategic Partnerships at United Way of Greater Los Angeles
Oxana's biggest challenges as Director, Strategic Partnerships at United Way of Greater Los Angeles are the "complexity of issues" such as homelessness and economic mobility, requiring constant awareness of policy and stakeholders, and the fact that many factors impacting project timelines are "beyond control." This necessitates proactive communication with partners to manage expectations amidst external forces affecting "commitments or deliverables."
Stakeholder Management, Strategic Partnerships, Nonprofit Management, Program Coordination, Complex Problem Solving
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Oxana Ermolova
Director, Strategic Partnerships
United Way of Greater Los Angeles
UC Santa Barbara
UCLA School of Management, Full-time MBA
Entertainment, Music & Arts, International Relations & Affairs
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Sales and Client Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Immigrant
Video Highlights
1. The complexity of the issues United Way tackles (housing, homelessness, economic mobility) requires navigating intricate policy landscapes and coordinating with diverse stakeholders.
2. External factors beyond the Director's control (delays, strikes) necessitate effective communication and adaptability in managing partner expectations and shifting deliverables.
3. The role involves supporting internal program teams and coordinating with external partners to address systemic challenges, highlighting the collaborative nature of the work.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your role?
There are two interrelated factors. One is the complexity of the issues we're hoping to address: housing and homelessness, economic mobility, social supports, and emergency assistance.
There's a great deal of policy and various stakeholders to stay informed about as we craft a strategy for advancing these impact initiatives.
Related to that, much of it is beyond my immediate control. I support our programs team and coordinate with partners. However, realities on the ground can lead to delays or be affected by external factors, like strikes or force majeure events.
It’s then my role to communicate these shifts to partners and explain why certain commitments or deliverables had to be adjusted. This is because we are working to shift very complex systems.