E36: Creating an Inclusive Work Environment in Your Nonprofit with Carmita Semaan, founder and CEO of the Surge Institute

Lead with Heart | Philanthropy, Nonprofit Leadership, Nonprofit Management & Fundraising

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Welcome back to the Lead with Heart podcast. Today, I have Carmita Semaan, founder and CEO of the Surge Institute, on the podcast. The Surge Institute focuses on educating and developing leaders of color – who can then create transformative change for young people, their families, and our broader communities.
We talk about empowering leaders of color, creating a safe space for people to share their stories, uncovering inclusivity gaps in your organization, and more.
In this episode:

• [01:21] Carmita’s path to nonprofit leadership and why she founded the Surge Institute
• [06:03] Empowering leaders of color
• [11:46] Core leadership skills that involve both the head and the heart
• [15:23] Empowering leaders to drive change by listening to their communities
• [20:40] Creating a safe space for people to share their stories
• [28:16] Creating inclusive environments for diverse teams
• [33:45] Uncovering inclusivity gaps in your organization

RESOURCES
Episode 17: Empowering Nonprofits through Data Equity and Communication Strategies with Meenakshi Das
CONNECT WITH CARMITA
Carmita is a builder, creator, seer, and problem solver. Her expertise lies in supporting and elevating the genius of emerging and seasoned leaders - particularly women and people of color - and shining a light on the brilliance and ingenuity that is too often overlooked and untapped in solving systemic issues. She has spent nearly 20 years in executive leadership in nonprofit and socially-responsible organizations following engineering, global strategy, and marketin

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CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Certified Stress Management Coach, and Certified EmC train the trainer. She is the Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business. She has worked in both small and large nonprofit teams in the human services, homelessness, and youth sectors; and she specializes in the EmC process, nonprofit leadership, board development, and fundraising. Haley is a passionate, impact-driven, experienced nonprofit professional whose mission is to empower, elevate and engage nonprofit leaders to build healthy, thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
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