What Type Of Person Thrives In The Nonprofit Industry, According To A Director Of Strategic Partnerships At United Way Of Greater Los Angeles
Oxana, a Director of Strategic Partnerships, highlights the importance of being "partnership-oriented," possessing "strong communication skills," and maintaining "a constant growth mindset" for success in the nonprofit sector. The ability to synthesize information, collaborate effectively, and embrace "the nimbleness and constant learning" are crucial for navigating the complexities of this work, where "there are no clear-cut answers."
Partnership-Oriented, Communication Skills, Creative and Curious, Collaborative, Growth Mindset
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
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. Partnership-oriented individuals thrive in this industry.
2. Strong communication and creative problem-solving skills are essential.
3. A growth mindset and a willingness to learn and collaborate are highly valued assets for success in this field.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
That's a great question. I would say being partnership-oriented, having strong communication skills, and also being creative and curious are important.
We're not making widgets, so there are no clear-cut answers to the work we do. There are so many different variables and stakeholders.
You need to be curious about the work to learn more about the issue areas you hope to affect. Continue to be on the lookout for learning from others in the field, whether that's here in LA, across the country, or in other parts of the world.
Then you can synthesize those solutions and articulate them to others, getting them on the same page about why your approach makes sense. Realize that you can't do it alone and really enjoy the collaborative aspect of the work.
I always tell my team that we're not just strategic partners externally, but internally as well. We're the collective glue aligning resources to direct them to our work.
So, I think enjoying the nimbleness and the constant growth mindset learning would serve students considering this space.