Episode 91: The impact of women in leadership

A Modern Nonprofit Podcast

In this episode of the Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson interviews Alyssia Palacios-Woods, the executive director at Capital IDEA. These two strong leaders discuss all things leadership, and if you are in any way shape or form directing a nonprofit, you don't want to miss it. Here just some of the major take-aways: Women In Leadership Collectively, all of Alyssia’s experiences led her to become the leader she is today. But, how exactly? She shares that in her past that nearly all of her managers, superiors, and even owners have been women. The women that Alyssia has experienced in leadership have definitely shaped how she has become the leader she is today. There are many styles of leadership, but we hear that being led by women has helped her see a different way and a different approach. For example, when leading her own teams, Alyssia thinks about family friendly workforce policies. What seems to be an almost backwards consideration, it sometimes doesn’t make sense to have a job if paying for childcare comes with that. It may be more affordable for families to have a one income household and watch children during the day than it is to have a two income household and pay for childcare. Because of these considerations, Alyssia likes to put policies in place that are family friendly, offer flexibility, and support people at all stages of their lives. Another key characteristic that Alyssia has learned from women in leadership positions is leading with empathy. During the pandemic and the mental stress that came with it, Alyssia learned that many people were going through unimaginable things. So, she likes to lead with the mindset that checks in with others. The mindset that asks how they are doing and if everything is okay. Bringing this mindset and culture to the workplace can help and support employees, especially if what is going on is not obvious to the eye. It truly builds a culture of intentionality and care into the workplace. And in Alyssia’s case, all because of the women in leadership that she’s experienced. To learn more about Alyssia and the organization she leads, connect with her on LinkedIn. You can also learn more about Capital IDEA, the programs they support, partners they work with, and how to get started at capitalidea.org. Please be sure to engage with the interview. Whether you enjoy listening to it, reading about it, or watching us on YouTube, make sure you review, share, and engage with A Modern Nonprofit Podcast. You can find Tosha and the Charity CFO team on Youtube or our website, thecharitycfo.com!