How do you lead a nonprofit with clarity, morale, and flexibility when the world around you is rapidly changing?
In this episode of Secrets of Social Impact Communicators, Nate Birt sits down with Beverly Coberly, CEO of Extension Foundation, for a powerful and wide-ranging conversation on what it means to lead through complexity without losing your values, your vision, or your team’s energy.
Bev brings deep insight from her decades-long career in the U.S. Cooperative Extension System. She shares insights about nonprofit leadership from her days growing up on a Missouri dairy farm to leading a national nonprofit that partners with land-grant universities, federal agencies, and local communities. You’ll hear about her personal mission, her take on what makes collaboration effective, and her call for the next iteration of nonprofit leadership models.
Whether you're leading a local nonprofit, overseeing a national initiative, or operating from somewhere in between, this episode will give you renewed energy and practical tools for staying resilient, no matter how winding the path to your horizon might be.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why having a point on the horizon matters more than having a perfect strategic plan
- What Extension Foundation is doing to embrace change and lead with flexibility
- How to balance visibility, impact, and humility in community-based work
- Why data isn’t enough and what’s needed to tell your story effectively
- Bev’s take on artificial intelligence (AI), the value of critical thinking skills, and the future of cultivating trust with evidence-based insights
- How nature, pets, and faith can keep you grounded in the ups and downs of mission-driven work
One of our favorite quotes from Bev:
“The path to the horizon isn’t straight... But if you stay focused on where you’re going, you’ll find the flexibility to get there, even if the road bends.”
Resources & Links:
- Learn more about Extension Foundation
- Take the Nonprofit Resilience Quiz
- Sign up for the Secrets of Social Impact Communicators newsletter
Thanks to Lee Williams for editing and producing this episode!
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