Genny Winter's Leadership Journey of Embracing Feedback and Promoting Inclusivity

In today's episode, Genny Winter, Board Chair of Easterseals, Inc., shares her insights on leadership and mentoring. The conversation begins with Kendra emphasizing the need to stay open to positive and negative workplace behaviors as avenues for growth. She passionately encourages taking personal responsibility for one’s learning, moving beyond the confines of employer-provided education. This sets the stage for a broader discussion on how nonprofits, like Easterseals, foster inclusive, judgment-free environments for individuals with disabilities.With her extensive energy sector and nonprofit leadership background, Genny Winter elaborates on the value of board diversity, particularly the inclusion of individuals with disabilities. She discusses how diverse experiences enrich nonprofit boards and why aligning potential members’ missions with the organization’s goals is crucial.Kendra and Genny also discuss the increasingly important topic of work-life balance. They explore how today’s employees prioritize this alongside job fulfillment, presenting unique challenges for nonprofit leaders who must manage resources while creating an appealing work environment. Key Moments06:54 Informal mentors provide diverse learning opportunities.09:08 Learning from past failures to improve leadership.13:06 Encouraging empathy and collaboration for better outcomes.16:48 Create a culture of constructive feedback and make tough decisions.20:41 Leadership is the same in profit/nonprofit settings.23:15 Transitioning to managing remote teams, juggling family.25:49 Leaders should be accessible and communicate effectively.29:29 Nonprofits face fierce competition for limited funds.33:53 Create a conducive environment to retain the best talent.38:19 Board's challenge: finding diverse, committed members.40:03 Board members want impactful, aligning experiences.44:52 Exploring impactful books for personal and leadership growth.49:11 Managing hybrid work environments, challenges, and advice.51:32 Remote work brings cost challenges, and self-advocacy is essential.Connect with Genny Winter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genny-winter-b956368 Website: https://www.easterseals.com/