Jonny Woo is a 2020 graduate of the Young Leaders Council Belmont – Massey Cohort and currently serves as a Human Resources Business Partner for Change Healthcare here in Nashville. Jonny currently serves on the Board of Directors for Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center and is the President of the Associate Board for The Nashville Ronald McDonald House. Recently, YLC caught up with Jonny to see what he’s up to and to talk about how his educational journey at Belmont and training from YLC helped to shape his success as a nonprofit board leader.
How did the YLC program help you leverage your learning experience at Belmont to make you a more effective nonprofit leader?
One of the biggest takeaways from my time at Belmont was the power of effective & genuine networking. Networking is one of those terms that is constantly thrown around (which is good) but the key is to have a purpose behind that networking. YLC allowed me to practice that skill by providing plenty of outlets through the different instructors and opportunities to network with alumni. I specifically remember the topic of Fundraising being taught by Kim Carpenter Drake and all of the new strategies I learned about effective ways to align your networking and fundraising skills. This, for me, was a wonderful example of how YLC helps individuals build specific board leadership skills on top of the educational foundation I received at Belmont. Both experiences helped me to become a more effective nonprofit leader.
What did you enjoy most about your YLC experience?
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the participants within my specific Belmont – Massey Cohort. It was fun to be around such incredible leaders who not only had the shared experience of graduating from Belmont’s Jack C. Massey College of Business but also have a passion for serving the many nonprofits around Nashville. Additionally, I enjoyed the specific content that was taught by the instructors in each class, which focused on the specific guidelines on how nonprofit boards should operate. Two classes that stood out to me were “Nonprofit Financials” with Becky Harrell and “Legal Responsibilities of Board Members” with Trace Blankenship. I remember diving deep into some P&L statements and documents, which is an important thing for a nonprofit board member to understand.
What advice would you share with other young professionals who would like to become nonprofit board leaders? How can YLC help them make that step?
The best advice I can give is to lean into what you are passionate about and utilize your network. Long story short I had no idea that Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center (MWCHC), the nonprofit organization on which I served as a board intern and was eventually voted in as a full member of the board, existed prior to my YLC experience. I was able to leverage the mentor relationships that I have in the Nashville Healthcare industry to connect with MWCHC as a YLC intern and support a mission that aligned with my professional passion of improving healthcare for everyone. YLC provides invaluable networking opportunities and helps match participants with organizations where they can help build awareness and make a lasting impact.
Christopher Haigler is a graduate of the Young Leaders Council Nashville Class 77 Cohort and serves as Trust Officer at Southeastern Trust Company. As a recent graduate of the program, Christopher shared his experience with the program this semester and how the training he received has prepared him to make a lasting contribution as a nonprofit board leader.
As a Trust Officer with the Southeastern Trust Company, what do you enjoy most about your work?
As a Trust Officer, I manage and administer Trust accounts, Investment Management accounts and qualified retirement accounts for our clients in a multi-family office setting. I truly enjoy coming to work each day as each trust account, client and matter is unique and presents an entirely different challenge from the day before. I take great pride in knowing my career revolves around assisting our clients to foster and deliver their family’s legacy.
What inspired you to want to participate in the Young Leaders Council training program?
I was referred to YLC from a friend and after researching the mission of the organization, I knew participating in YLC would be the foundation I was seeking to contribute to the nonprofit community in Middle Tennessee. YLC provides an exceptional curriculum to mold an individual with passion for giving back into a confident contribution to the nonprofit community. I am looking forward to supporting YLC in different capacities in the future.
As a new YLC grad, what have you enjoyed most this semester? Did you have a favorite session or topic?
I absolutely enjoyed each presentation this semester. Each topic provided an experience tailored to a specific objective to better prepare me for nonprofit board experience. I am most appreciative of the presenters and facilitators of the sessions as real-world scenarios were discussed to shape our learning experiences to be relatable and provide the highest impact. My favorite session was, Planning for Sustainable Impact. Each session throughout the semester has prepared me to tackle individual matters, and I feel the Planning for Sustainable Impact material concentrated on leveraging techniques mentioned in previous sessions and transforming the ideas into measurable and effective contributions to the organization.
As you prepare to transition into your board internship, do you feel more prepared and empowered to be successful as a nonprofit board leader?
The YLC curriculum has done a terrific job preparing me to confidently contribute as a nonprofit board member. I am a true believer in the saying, “confidence is key”. The YLC training program detailed the key subjects to lay the foundation for nonprofit board participation and provided me the confidence needed to take the next step and contribute to the community. Each YLC graduate knows they have a storied network of resources to depend on as they begin their journey and that is invaluable.
What advice would you give to any young professional looking to engage more in the work of our Middle Tennessee nonprofit community?
In short, follow your passion. Determine what mission in the community is your passion and then become involved with the organization that you believe provides, or has the potential to provide, the most impact toward your selected mission. Be ready to listen, roll your sleeves up and contribute to the organization in whatever way is needed. Remember that the day you wake up and no longer have passion for your mission is the day you are no longer providing the drive and conviction the organization requires to thrive. There is nothing wrong with realizing this as everyone evolves, just ensure that you are still in the right place and don’t be hesitant to make a change when you feel the need.
Young Leaders Council has named Maria Amado as its 2021 Young Leader of the Year Award recipient for her commitment to making a difference in the nonprofit community.
The award is presented annually to one YLC alumnus who has used the skills developed through the program to positively impact the Middle Tennessee nonprofit community while staying engaged with YLC.
Amado serves as a partner at A&G Financial Management and as board president of the Community Resource Center. She is a graduate of Nashville Class 37.
YLC also recognized Joshua Livingston, relationship executive, Healthcare Services at J.P. Morgan, with the Legacy of Leadership Award, given to an outstanding alumnus for demonstrated excellence and commitment, leadership and excellence to Young Leader Council and the nonprofit community.
It also recognizes his commitment to the long-term success of the organization.
He is a graduate of YLC class 60 and the organization’s immediate past board chair. Livingston serves as board chair for the governing board of Make-A-Wish of Middle Tennessee and on the board and executive committee of Leadership Health Care.
Recently, Kim James, Executive Director of the Young Leaders Council, sat down for lunch with Diane Hayes, the beloved former YLC Executive Director for more than 25 years. Their conversation covered numerous topics, including Diane’s legacy at YLC, challenges faced as a nonprofit leader, opportunities to advance YLC’s mission for the future, the many perks of retirement life, and what’s next on Diane’s to do list.
Kim James: Diane! I am so excited to have this conversation and reflect with you! Thank you for joining me today. Having had the opportunity to work with you during my time in the program, I never realized all that it took to keep things running smoothly at YLC – now I’m aware! Leading an organization for 25 years is no small feat. What are you most proud of accomplishing in your time with YLC?
Diane Hayes: I’m so proud of how we worked hard to build the name recognition and respect for Young Leaders Council. When we first started, so many people didn’t know who we were or what we did. So as people started understanding more about our mission and the value of YLC’s training, that helped spur growth for the organization. The growth helped us reach more young professionals who benefited from training and moved on to serve as leaders on nonprofit boards. Ultimately all of this was great for the community.
Kim: After investing so many years in the growth and success of YLC, what’s your biggest hope for the future of this great organization?
Diane: My biggest hope is that the organization will continue to grow and that more companies will realize just how important community service and leadership is for their employees. And with that more young professionals will see how impactful it is for their personal lives to be involved as leaders within the nonprofit community.
Thankfully YLC managed to survive during the most difficult season of the pandemic, and I’m even more hopeful at how the organization will continue to impact the community as a whole as things continue to improve.
Kim: What was the most difficult part of serving as the Executive Director for YLC?
Diane: I think most nonprofit executives would agree that the never-ending need for funding to support your work is the toughest part. With so many organizations doing great work, the resources are limited and that often makes it difficult to fundraise.
Kim: I can certainly identify with that. How are you enjoying your retirement?
Diane: Well, I don’t have to worry about deadlines anymore! I have just been enjoying the lighter load and less responsibility. I really enjoy traveling and spending quality time with my granddaughter!
Kim: You’re living the dream, Diane! I’m happy for you and so very grateful that you continue to support YLC and me in this capacity. Thank you so much for sharing your time and wisdom with me today!
What a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with one of Nashville’s treasured nonprofit leaders! It was such a pleasure to catch up with Diane and hear her reflect on her time with YLC. I was also excited to learn that Diane is currently focusing on a new professional journey as a nonprofit consultant! To learn more about Diane’s company and the services offered, please email her directly.
On Thursday, July 15, 2021, Young Leaders Council hosted its annual Appreciation Luncheon, which honors nonprofit partners and donors that have helped support YLC’s mission over the years. The Luncheon was generously sponsored by AllianceBernstein (AB) and highlighted YLC’s partnerships with the hundreds of nonprofit partners that supported the placement of over 275 program participants in one-year board internships in 2020 and 2021.
Close to 50 individuals attended the Luncheon at Thistle Farms. YLC Board Chair Sarah Rochford Benfield and Kate Chinn, Head of Community and Civic Engagement for AB, shared thoughtful remarks during the event. YLC is grateful to everyone that was able to attend and support the event. Click here to view additional photos from the Appreciation Luncheon.
Interested in learning more about YLC’s board internship matching program? Please contact Rachel Reyes for more information.
Erica Rivero, Director of Inventory and Systems Management at Thistle Farms, is a member of the Young Leaders Council Nashville Class 76. In a recent discussion, Erica shares how participating in the YLC program, where she received training on how to be an impactful board member at a non-profit, enhances her capabilities as a professional in the non-profit sector.
Kate: Thank you for sitting down to share your experience with the YLC, Erica! How did you first learn about the Young Leaders Council?
Erica: Glad to be here! I first heard about the YLC because Thistle Farms, my employer, hosted a YLC intern. I am someone who is passionate about leadership and the non-profit sector, so the program sparked my interest.
Kate: We are glad that you got involved! What has been the most valuable part of the YLC program to you?
Erica: Many of my class members are new to learning about non-profits and the types of community-based organizations that we have here locally. I have worked in this space since my time as a student at Belmont so I came to the program with a different lens.
The best thing about the YLC program for us all is that the YLC instructors all have deep experience in non-profit management. They have all worked in the space for a long time. They understand the problems that non-profits face; for instance, the challenges associated with growth. We are learning from experts in the YLC program.
Through the YLC, I have gained a better understanding of how my own organization functions, which strengthens my leadership capacity as an employee. For instance, Noah Spiegel’s session on board member responsibilities included a discussion of the life cycles of non-profits. This session provided context that situated my understanding of the growth of the non-profit social enterprise where I work within the broader non-profit sector.
Kate: Thank you for sharing – and congratulations on recently completing the program! What are your hopes for what’s next, now that you’re a YLC alum?
Erica: On a practical level, I love that this program allowed me to learn about other non-profits in our community. The community response to the COVID-19 pandemic illustrated the importance of partnerships between non-profit to meet community needs. No one organization could do everything alone. I will take the knowledge and relationships gained through YLC to continue to connect with other non-profits for partnerships moving forward.
I love how Nashville welcomes immigrants, and I will serve as a board intern at Conexión Americas starting this fall. I am excited to play a larger role in connecting immigrants to resources right here in Nashville. I am passionate about leadership and social justice and I will find ways to continue contributing in this space.
