What Type Of Person Thrives In The Nonprofit Industry According To A Director Of Programs At Minds Matter Southern California
Shalin, a Director of Programs, identifies collaboration and a "solid grounding in community over the individual" as crucial for success in the nonprofit industry, emphasizing the importance of proactively seeking feedback and uplifting marginalized voices. Success is defined not by traditional hierarchies but by the positive community impact, requiring strong facilitation skills to navigate complex relationships and conflicts.
Collaboration, Community Focus, Relationship Building, Facilitation, Conflict Resolution
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Shalin Craig
Director of Programs
Minds Matter Southern California
University of California, Berkeley, 2015
N/A
Ethnic & Related Studies
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Education
Scholarship Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Collaboration is key to success in the nonprofit industry; actively seeking feedback and diverse voices is essential.
2. Prioritizing community impact over individual advancement is crucial for thriving in this field.
3. Strong facilitation skills are needed to navigate challenging conversations and build community relationships effectively.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
The first thing that comes to mind is collaboration. Across all my different experiences in various nonprofits and spaces, the people who are most successful are those proactively seeking feedback and looking to include underrepresented and marginalized voices.
It's really about having a solid grounding in community over the individual. The desire to uplift a community and impact others is key to thriving in social justice-focused nonprofits.
Success in this field doesn't necessarily mean climbing a traditional power hierarchy. It means seeing success in the impact you're making in the community you intend to serve. Valuing community and relationships takes you far, especially in people-focused industries.
Another important skill is facilitation. Difficult conversations often arise, and sometimes you have to heal relationships and navigate conflict. These facilitation skills, whether for meetings or community building, are central to nonprofit work and engaging the broader community.