Teja Padma (2010 Fellow) pursuing her passion for international development

By Teja Padma (2010 Fellow)

Nearly a year and a half ago, I left Mercer Consulting to join the Business Planning & Strategy team as a ProInspire Fellow at FHI 360, (formerly known as Family Health International). I learned more in the one year that I spent at FHI 360 than in the nearly three years that I spent at Mercer. Having the unique opportunity to work on a strategy team and interact closely with senior leadership and multiple departments taught me a tremendous amount about being successful in an organization, not just a nonprofit. I learned that soft skills, such as being able to adapt to change and learning how to be collaborative, are critical in any organization that brings together individuals with multiple agendas who need to work together towards a common goal. Some of the projects that I worked on during my fellowship year included spearheading an unprecedented landscape analysis across 15 global health and development areas by leading a 4-person research team. I also had the opportunity to interview Directors from different parts of the organization to design a partnership management toolkit and equip our staff members with the guidance and tools to effectively engage public and private partners. I was especially excited to work with a couple of our country offices in Africa by guiding them through their strategic business plans during my fellowship year.

The ProInspire Fellows program was instrumental in contributing to my personal and professional growth during my fellowship as I developed friendships with other Fellows who understood both the rewarding and challenging aspects of my role at FHI 360. Being able to reflect with others on the challenges I faced helped me maintain my morale and enthusiasm at work, especially when I had a difficult period transitioning from the private to the nonprofit sector. I also found it inspiring to meet peers who shared my passion for making an impact in the social sector. I always looked forward to ProInspire trainings and coaching calls as these aspects of the program allowed me to learn from nonprofit leaders and kept me in check in terms of my professional and personal goals.

After completing my fellowship, I’ve been fortunate to continue working with FHI 360 and have stayed active with the Fellows community. I loved meeting the current class of Fellows, two of which have joined the Business Planning & Strategy team at FHI 360! Since I became a ProInspire Fellow, I have built a strong network of international development professionals, received admission to business school, and now I’m excited to pursue short-term opportunities abroad working for a local nonprofit or startup before going to business school in the Fall.

Introducing 2011 ProInspire Fellow: Meaghan Casey

Name: Meaghan Casey
Hometown: Bristol, CT
Organization: FHI 360
Previous Employer: Dynamics Research Corporation

What inspired you to make the switch into the nonprofit sector?
I decided to switch into the nonprofit sector because I would like my career path to continuously challenge me to develop as an evolving, thoughtful and reflective person who is kind to others and myself. It was not a perfect decision; one lucky day, I stumbled upon a quote that illustrates the complex mix of reservations, sentiment, and inspiration I felt in making the switch: "If you come here to help me, you're wasting your time. If you come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together." -Lilla Watson, Australian Aborigine.

What is your current position, and a typical day like?
I am a Business Planning and Strategy Analyst at FHI 360, a global development non-profit.

Today, my morning began with a phone call to one of our sixty country offices, this one in Zambia, to discuss an important foundation client. The conversation was one of more than twenty interviews that will collectively inform FHI 360’s strategy to grow funding that focuses on low-cost, innovative solutions to global development problems.

In the afternoon, I switched gears to another task entirely; as the Country Strategic Planning Project Manager, I am charged with developing and maintaining the work plan for a strategic initiative that supports country-owned, country-driven business planning efforts. Today, I incorporated updates from key stakeholders to track our progress to-date in transitioning strategic planning duties to the country office.

Where did you work prior to making the switch?
I began my career as a Senior Consultant at Dynamics Research Corporation, where I worked to strengthen the financial systems at the Transportation Security Administration and led a business process re-engineering effort for agricultural imports at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

What is your professional background and areas of expertise?
My professional background is in management consulting, and my areas of expertise include training development and delivery, strategic planning, business-process re-engineering, and project management.

What are you involved in outside of work?
I definitely derive energy from finding and pursuing projects about which I am passionate.

Last year, a social enterprise, Journeys for Change, asked me to develop a business plan to determine the feasibility of a 7-day site-visit in India to educate and encourage impact investments in social enterprises.

I serve on the leadership team for DC+Acumen in order to raise funds and awareness for Acumen Fund as well as to promote social enterprise dialogue in the greater DC area.

When I find a free Tuesday evening, which seems hard these days(!), I really enjoy volunteering at Women for Women International, a nonprofit that empowers women in nine conflict and post-conflict countries worldwide.

I also enjoy creating functional (and sometimes funky) pottery, gardening in the Ledroit Park community garden, and commuting around the city by bike – it’s freeing to avoid waiting for a metro or bus!

Tell us about your past leadership experiences and how they are helping you in your current role.
One leadership experience that is very close to my heart is my time as co-Captain of the Women’s Varsity Ski Team at Brown University. My team taught me the value of a positive group environment and the importance of leveraging individual strengths.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see play the lead role?
Diane Keaton!

If your friends and enemies had to describe you in three words, what would they be?
Positive, curious, passionate.

What is your favorite book?
I thought that following books were beautiful to read: Immortality by Milan Kundera, Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson, All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy, and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.

Where else have you lived?
So far, I have lived in Bristol, CT; West Dover, VT; Providence, RI; Prague, Czech Republic; and Washington, DC.

ProInspire is accepting applications for our 2012 Fellowship!

I am thrilled to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2012 ProInspire Fellowship! This year we will have two classes of Fellows in Washington D.C. - Spring Fellows starting in April and Fall Fellows starting in August.

We are looking for outstanding young business professionals who want to have a life changing experience - spending one year using their skills working for a leading nonprofit. We need your help to find the most talented young business professionals with passion for social impact in the country!

You can help by doing these three things:
1. Forward this email to friends, colleagues, alumni networks, professional groups, and more. We need to spread the word to find the absolute best!
2. Update your status on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter: Interested in transitioning to the nonprofit sector? Apply to be a @ProInspire Fellow! (Due 2/8) http://bit.ly/A46zRC
3. Recommend a nonprofit that may be interested in hiring a ProInspire Fellow. Our Fellows bring a passion for social impact and skills in analysis, finance, marketing, project management, and strategy.
Sincerely,

Monisha Kapila
Founder and CEO

ProInspire is building the next generation of nonprofit leaders by expanding the talent pipeline, developing professionals, and increasing diversity in the sector. We are passionate about accelerating social impact and being catalysts of outstanding performance.

Our flagship program, the ProInspire Fellowship, recruits top business professionals with 2-5 years of business experience who want to use their skills for social impact and to invest in a growing community of ProInspire fellows. Fellows spend one year working in an analytical or strategic role at a nonprofit organization. After the Fellowship, Fellows engage with our community of alumni to continue investing in the sector.

This highly competitive program offers targeted positions with leading nonprofits, monthly trainings with a cohort of peers, a coach, and a network to support career growth. Previous ProInspire Fellows come from across the U.S. with experience at Bain, Credit Suisse, General Mills, J.P. Morgan, Microsoft, Parthenon Capital, and other leading companies. Fellows work with top nonprofits based in the Washington D.C. area.

Learn More
- Check out our video: http://www.proinspire.org/#video
- Join us for an information call: http://proinspire2012infocalls.eventbrite.com/
- “Like” us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ProInspire) and follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/proinspire) to get updates
- Read what others are saying about us: http://www.proinspire.org/about-us/news-media/

Program Overview
The Fellowship program runs for 12 months, with start dates in April 2012 and August 2012. Hiring partners include organizations focused on community development, education, international development, health, microfinance, social investing, and youth development. Roles for 2011 ProInspire Fellows included:
ACCION International: Impact Investing Analyst
Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy: Marketing Manager
City First Enterprises: Program Manager

Fellows participate in a 2-day Orientation, a mandatory Fellows retreat, monthly workshops, coaching, and leadership development projects. Fellows also receive career/graduate school support. After the program, Fellows stay in the social sector, find other career opportunities, or attend graduate school. Annual compensation of $42,000 and health benefits are provided by the hiring organization.

Selection Criteria
ProInspire conducts a rigorous selection process based on the selection criteria and needs of hiring organizations. Successful candidates will have:
- A minimum of two years of business experience by August 2012
- Passion for using their business skills to have a positive impact on society
- Humility and eagerness to learn
- Demonstrated initiative, self-direction and a “can-do” attitude
- Adaptability in ambiguous situations and demonstrated ability to learn quickly
- Strong analytical, problem solving, and project management skills
- Willingness to live in Washington D.C. for the program

To Apply
Candidates applying for April 1st start dates or priority consideration for the August start dates should submit their resume and cover letter through our website by Wednesday, February 8th, 2012. Apply online at http://www.proinspire.org/fellows/apply/.

ProInspire Profiled by Shoestring Venture

Monisha Kapila and ProInspire were recently profiled by Shoestring Venture, a resource for entrepreneurs seeking to build effective startups. Read on to learn more about Monisha's experience getting ProInspire started:

On February 26, 2009 I launched ProInspire, with the mission of building the next generation of nonprofit leaders by expanding the talent pipeline, developing professionals, and increasing diversity. The idea for ProInspire stemmed from my own experiences and a call to action to address leadership challenges in the nonprofit sector.

Where It Began

My passion to launch ProInspire stemmed from my own experiences and challenges facing the nonprofit sector. I started my career as a consultant with Arthur Andersen. I always wanted to do work focused on social impact, but thought I would get some business skills first and then move into the nonprofit sector.

When I was ready to make the switch after two years of consulting, I found it was really challenging to find opportunities because 1) nonprofits weren’t looking for people with my background and 2) I did not have a network in the sector. Eventually I was able to find an opportunity with CARE India – writing the business plan for a sustainable program to support micro-entrepreneurs. It was a fantastic experience – CARE needed someone who had experience writing business plans (which I did from my consulting days), and I had the opportunity to learn about working for a nonprofit.

After CARE, I returned to the US and joined the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, a nonprofit using business approaches to inner city economic development. Then I went to Harvard Business School to get my MBA, spent time learning about social enterprise, and worked on projects with the Clinton Foundation and Citigroup’s Microfinance Group. After graduation, I was selected as a HBS Leadership Fellow with ACCION International, a leader in microfinance. As a Fellow, I helped ACCION launch their micro-insurance program and partnerships with corporations, including Visa International.

Read more...

Introducing 2011 ProInspire Fellow: Brint Markle

Name: Brint Markle
Hometown: Philadelphia
Organization: Small Enterprise Assistance Funds
Previous Employer: Bain & Company

What inspired you to make the switch into the nonprofit sector?
I decided to switch to the nonprofit sector this year for two main reasons: 1) I wanted to take on greater leadership responsibility through a new experience 2) I have always had a strong passion for impact investing influenced by prior experiences working for a microfinance institution in Chile and a social venture fund in Nicaragua. After three great years at Bain & Company, I wanted to see how I could apply the skills I had built in the private sector to a hybrid for-profit/non-profit environment.

What is your current position, and a typical day like?
I am a Business Development Project Manager at Small Enterprise Assistance Funds. Each day is definitely unique. My key projects include launching a $100M global frontier market fund, SEAF’s largest fund in its ~20 year history, and leading our 5 year strategic plan effort.

Where did you work prior to making the switch?
Bain & Company in the Atlanta, Zurich, Spain, and Munich offices.

What is your professional background and areas of expertise?
My professional background covers strategy consulting, entrepreneurship, and impact investing. As a strategy consultant at Bain & Company, I built expertise across private equity, healthcare, IT, telecom, consumer products, and pro-bono consulting. Prior to consulting I held two impact investing internships in Latin America. As an entrepreneur, I founded Rival Magazine, the first joint publication between Duke-UNC. The publication focuses on deepening connections and collaboration between both institutions.

What are you involved in outside of work?
Outside of work I serve as Chairman of the Advisory Board of Rival Magazine. I am also active in the Duke Alumni community. Having just moved to DC, I am looking for ways to get involved in the local Latino community as I used to volunteer for the Latin American Association in Atlanta and loved that experience. I am also an avid backcountry skier and love mountain sports. During the winter you can find me chasing powder wherever I can find it – this year will be my first trip to Alaska with some of my best friends from the US/Switzerland!

Tell us about your past leadership experiences and how they are helping you in your current role.
At Bain, I co-founded our first global development initiative focused on supporting social entrepreneurs in emerging markets. The experience taught me the importance of combining grassroots momentum with top-down, decisive leadership – I also learned how to make a persuasive business case for expanding social impact efforts of major corporations.

At Duke, my two primary leadership experiences were serving as Co-Captain of the Duke Water Polo team and founding Rival Magazine. Both of these experiences taught me about leading with passion, working collaboratively with many different types of people, and creating a sense of family and commitment in an organization.

Who do you look to as a leader in your respective field, and why?
Two names jump to mind: Rich Sheridan of SEAF and Ben Powell of Agora Partnerships. I think both are true innovators in the field. Specifically, Rich is helping SEAF broaden its investor base to attract socially minded commercial capital. As the sector grows to some ~$500B in the next decade (according to JP Morgan), it will be increasingly critical to build relationships with large scale financial institutions that want to do good and Rich knows how to do this.

Ben is committed to unleashing the power of entrepreneurs in the developing world as a force for good. He has created a holistic impact investing model at Agora Partnerships that combines human potential and financial capital to produce positive social and economic impact in Central America. Agora is a real innovator and I especially like how they have engaged foreign and domestic business school students to support their mission – I think it is a great way to attract talent into the impact investing sector.

What blogs or websites do you read on a daily basis?
Hmm…my blog/website repertoire is a bit thin but here are a few for starters: Social Edge, Next Billion, TED, CNN, WSJ. I’m mostly old fashioned though (I prefer books/magazines). On the magazine side, I read the Economist, Mental Floss, Entrepreneur, and Powder Magazine. Last two books I read were Social Business by Muhammad Yunus and the Ledge by Jim Davidson.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy has reported that 82% of nonprofit CEOs are white. What does this mean to you and other people of color who aspire to leadership roles in the future?
I think lack of diversity at the senior executive level of non-profits is certainly concerning. I’ve read about some of the issues regarding the disconnect between expressed value of diversity in the sector and action to attract it. I think non-profit leaders need to realize there is real urgency to improve hiring processes and professional development efforts that attract a diverse population or they will miss out on a lot of great talent.

Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, 20 years?
5 years – Still exploring the world!
10 years – Founding my own global social enterprise and starting a family
20 years – Hopefully by this point a serial social entrepreneur, teacher, mentor

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see play the lead role?
Aureleon Decroux – World Champion freeride skier.

If your friends and enemies had to describe you in three words, what would they be?
Optimistic/energetic, down to earth, and thankful

If you won $20 million dollars in the lottery and had to donate it to a social organization - which one would it be, and why?
Calvert Foundation, they are rethinking the way foundations create positive social change all over the world. Earning a financial return for investors while lifting families out of poverty is a pretty cool thing.

What are you some of the myths surrounding working in the nonprofit sector that have been debunked by your experience?
Myth 1: Business and social good can’t coexist. Every day, we see socially minded businesses doing great things for society and non-profits acting like social businesses.
Myth 2: Non-profits don’t like to make money. I’ve learned how important it is to create positive financial returns to ensure sustainability.
Myth 3: Non-profits just staff volunteers – The non-profits I have had the fortune of working with have all been extremely professional with fairly generous pay structures.

What is your dream career if money was not an option?
Professional backcountry/free ride skier.

Where do you hang out in the D (DC), M (Maryland) and V (Virginia)?
I just moved to the area two months ago so still finding the hot spots, but definitely spend most of my time around Logan Circle and downtown.

What book are you reading right now or what is your favorite book?
My favorite books are Miracle in the Andes and Life Entrepreneurs. Regarding the former, I love incredible stories of survival. When people are pushed to the brink, you see their true, unconquerable human spirit, which I find inspiring. Regarding the latter, Life Entrepreneurs was written by one of my closest mentors, Christopher Gergen. It is an incredible book that shows how people can use the principles of entrepreneurship to lead lives full of purpose and meaning. I’ve probably read it half a dozen times and learn something new with each read.

Where else have you lived?
US: Philadelphia, Atlanta, Durham
Abroad: Granada, Spain; Santiago, Chile; Zurich, Switzerland

WOW and Thank You!

When we decided to participate in Give to the Max, I had no idea what to expect. ProInspire has never done a fundraising campaign in our organization’s three year history. Well, the results far exceeded our expectations! We raised more than $15,000 from 200+ donors in 24 hours!! ProInspire ranked #12 out of 1285 participating organizations in the competition for Most Donors, getting us the $2,500 prize: http://give2max.razoo.com/p/2011topdonors.

It was an exhilarating day for the entire ProInspire team – our staff, Fellows (2009, 2010, 2011), Board of Directors, and community – to see the generosity of individuals from near and far who stepped up to support us. We have sincere gratitude for your donations, words of encouragement, and requests for support from your networks.

You made an investment in us, and we will use that investment to grow the next generation of nonprofit leaders. I am re-inspired to the mission of ProInspire. For that I say WOW and thank you!

Give to the Max - Invest in ProInspire to invest in a better world

I launched ProInspire in 2009 with a simple idea – help nonprofits get the talent they need so they can address society’s greatest problems. Since then, ProInspire has grown from an idea to a solution for nonprofits who need great talent to achieve their missions. We work with organizations that are addressing urgent issues to improve our world – from the Latin American Youth Center which provides critical youth development programs in Washington D.C., to the GAVI Alliance which brings life saving vaccines to children around the world.

The work we are doing is critical to the future of the nonprofit sector AND our world. But fundraising to develop talent and leaders is not easy. Let’s be honest – it feels much more tangible to donate to an organization that is directly helping children or providing vaccines. But we know that in order to get broad scale change, we need to develop the next generation of nonprofit leaders who will address society’s greatest problems.

Donate $10 TODAY to support ProInspire as part of Give to the Max, a 24-hour giving contest in which nonprofits with the most donations will receive additional cash awards from Razoo: http://www.razoo.com/story/Proinspire.

Invest in ProInspire to invest in a better world.