What a Director of Strategic Partnerships at United Way wishes they had known before entering the Non-profit industry
Oxana, a Director of Strategic Partnerships, emphasizes the critical role of relationship-building in a career like theirs, stating that "the work moves at the speed of trust." This realization, learned through experience building a new team within a long-standing organization, highlights the importance of prioritizing "human caring, empathetic" connections over transactional interactions to foster effective collaboration and long-term success.
Networking, Relationship Building, Teamwork, Leadership, Strategic Partnerships
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. The importance of relationship-building in this field cannot be overstated. Invest time in building genuine connections with coworkers, partners, and funders; it's crucial for success and transcends individual roles or organizations.
2. In larger organizations, navigating existing systems and inertia can be challenging. Intentionally invest time in building informal connections across the organization to foster trust and collaboration, as work moves at the speed of trust.
3. Starting a career, it's easy to focus solely on tasks and productivity. However, prioritizing meaningful connections and maintaining relationships after leaving roles is essential for long-term success and collaboration across different organizations and positions.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
For my current role, and I think this carries throughout my career, the most important lesson has been relationships. It's about investing and showing up in a human, caring, and empathetic way to connect with coworkers, partners, and funders.
It's easy to get lost in logistics, to be rushed, or transactional. However, your relationships, especially in this field, are what you will carry from role to role.
Currently, I am building a new team within a hundred-year-old organization that has established systems and a lot of inertia. In the first six months, I've been intentional about getting to know team members across the organization and building informal connections.
I recognize that work moves at the speed of trust, and without it, you cannot truly come together and build meaningful partnerships. When I started, I was more focused on just getting things done.
Now, I try to take the time to form those more meaningful connections and stay in touch with people after I've left roles. The work transcends any single organization or individual.