Jon Olson – Senior Vice President, General Counsel, & Corporate Secretary, Blackbaud

This week on the Everybody Leads podcast, Tim Lupinacci welcomes Jon Olson, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, & Corporate Secretary at Blackbaud, a leading provider of software services for the social good sector. Jon oversees a diverse portfolio of legal matters, including litigation, intellectual property, and privacy, while managing a 40-person team and a $50M annual spend for Corporate Real Estate and Procurement. He is passionate about sustainability, employee engagement, and business technology innovation and has received many accolades. Jon is a member of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Hollings Cancer Center Citizens Advisory Council and serves on the board of the Charleston Symphony and Charleston Jazz.Jon discusses a hallmark of his leadership style, which involves empowering motivated individuals and letting them take the initiative on projects. He also shares insights on building a successful legal team at Blackbaud, the importance of communication, trusting your intuition, making decisions by balancing matters of the head and the heart, and building a learning organization by creating roles in which individuals can grow.Other Topics Discussed Include:Jon’s Leadership Journey The Importance of Empowerment and Creating a Shared Vision as a LeaderThe Mission of BlackbaudLearning and Pivoting from Setbacks Adjusting to the Remote Work DynamicsBuilding a Learning OrganizationWhat Inspires Jon to Be the Best Version of HimselfAdvice for Young Leaders and Beneficial Resources Leaders in Jon’s Life Who Made an Impact Without a Big TitleAdditional Resources: Charity:This episode is in support of Jon Olson's designated charity, the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. We have made a donation to the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center as a thank you to Jon for joining Everybody Leads. To learn more about the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, please visit https://hollingscancercenter.musc.edu/. Books:Leaders Eat Last by Simon SinekGrant by Ron ChernowBlackbaud: Website: https://www.blackbaud.com/Contact Jon Olson:Website: https://www.blackbaud.com/company/executive-leadership/jon-olsonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwolson/ Thank you for listening, and please join us again to hear from more exceptional leaders.Click for more: https://everybodyleads.orghttps://www.bakerdonelson.comProducer: Jason PlankIntern: Claudia Bonney Amamoo