Celebrating B Corp Month As we step into March, we join a global community in celebrating B Corp Month, a time dedicated to honoring businesses committed to using their influence as a force for good. This year, the celebration feels even more significant for Vista Global as we recently completed our fifth B Corp recertification achieving our highest score of 146.9. What is B Corp Month? B Corp Month is an annual event where Certified B Corporations collectively raise awareness about building a more inclusive and sustainable economy. It’s a global effort to showcase how businesses can balance purpose and profit, ensuring their operations benefit all stakeholders, including employees, communities, and the environment. This celebration highlights the belief that companies can be a catalyst for positive change in the world. Since our founding, Vista Global has partnered with individuals and organizations to create the world we want to live in. In 2012, we took a significant step by becoming a Certified B Corporation, solidifying our commitment to social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. This certification is more than a credential; it reflects our ongoing dedication to upholding the highest standards in our work and interactions. Being a part of the B Corp community aligns with our core values and enhances our ability to drive impactful change. It provides a framework that guides us in evaluating our practices and ensures we consistently strive for improvement. Our B Corp status reinforces our pledge to operate with integrity, prioritize the well-being of our stakeholders, and contribute positively to our community. As we celebrate B Corp Month, we reflect on our journey and the collective impact of the B Corp community. Beyond our work, we are honored to serve on the Leadership Circle of WeTheChange, a network of women leaders of certified B Corps and other purpose-driven businesses. This incredible community emphasizes the role women play in using business as a force for good, advocating for social justice, environmental sustainability, and collective well-being. As part of our commitment to this work, we’re looking forward to the upcoming WeTheChange Retreat in April 2025, a powerful gathering of leaders focused on connection, collaboration, and deep impact. If you’re a woman purpose-driven business leader seeking to engage with a community of like-minded change-makers, we encourage you to join us. We invite you to celebrate B Corp Month by partnering with companies committed to a more equitable and sustainable future.
New Bridgespan Blog: Three Key Roles Funders Can Play in a CEO Transition Grantmakers can accelerate their impact in the social sector by supporting leadership transition. My colleagues at Olive Grove and I wrote an article recently featured on Bridgespan’s blog titled “Three Key Roles Funders Can Play in a CEO Transition.” There is a strong case to be made for funders to support their grantees during executive … Continue reading “New Bridgespan Blog: Three Key Roles Funders Can Play in a CEO Transition” Grantmakers can accelerate their impact in the social sector by supporting leadership transition. My colleagues at Olive Grove and I wrote an article recently featured on Bridgespan’s blog titled “Three Key Roles Funders Can Play in a CEO Transition.” There is a strong case to be made for funders to support their grantees during executive transitions. By helping them develop strong leadership pipelines through internal talent development, create realistic thoughtful succession plans, and evaluate the financial health of organizations to sustain a transition, funders can position the organizations they support to not only survive a transition, but thrive during and after it. Read the blog and find out what grantmakers can do to help organizations undergoing leadership transition.
Improve Leadership with Diversity and Cultural Intelligence A recent blog in the Standford Social Innovation Review by Molly Brennan explores new research by Koya Leadership Partners and Education Pioneers, that finds diverse teams of varying racial and ethnic makeup produce better results. A conclusion that many of us who specialize in leadership development have already witnessed anecdotally. In the social sector, the … Continue reading “Improve Leadership with Diversity and Cultural Intelligence” A recent blog in the Standford Social Innovation Review by Molly Brennan explores new research by Koya Leadership Partners and Education Pioneers, that finds diverse teams of varying racial and ethnic makeup produce better results. A conclusion that many of us who specialize in leadership development have already witnessed anecdotally. In the social sector, the importance of a nonprofit’s leadership team reflecting their constituency is more critical than ever. As Brennan points out, to succeed, nonprofits need to move past diversity statements stated in an organization’s list of values. Nonprofits must start cultivating leadership teams that backup such statements. Brennan continues in Five Ways to Build Diverse Inclusive Leadership Teams to outline concrete tactics that can greatly benefit organizations in both the private and social sectors. Where is Home? Cultural Intelligence begins with knowledge. It’s critical for you to know yourself, know others, and find a way to lead together. Vista Global offers workshops on Cultural Intelligence for you to: 1. Examine the trends that are driving the need for greater cultural intelligence 2. Define culture, cultural intelligence and map personal cultural identity 3. Recognize the cultural lenses through which you operate By exploring the national ethnic and demographic trends impacting the social sector, as a workshop participant you’ll learn the foundational elements of cultural intelligence required to build a thriving organization. Through building skills in self management, empathy and listening, you can build bridges to mutual understanding. Gain greater awareness of how to adjust behavior to interact with various cultures. Contact Mary to schedule your organization’s workshop today.
Winning Teams Have Great Coaching Growing up a Bulls fan during the Michael Jordan-Phil Jackson era, I really understood the impact great coaching had on success. Often leaders think of career coaching as a solo journey. But the most wildly successful teams learn to win with the help and guidance of a great coach. Start with Your Team’s Strengths So … Continue reading “Winning Teams Have Great Coaching” Growing up a Bulls fan during the Michael Jordan-Phil Jackson era, I really understood the impact great coaching had on success. Often leaders think of career coaching as a solo journey. But the most wildly successful teams learn to win with the help and guidance of a great coach. Start with Your Team’s Strengths So what makes a winning team? Discover and leverage your team’s greatest assets with coaching based on Gallup’s StrengthsFinders tool. Vista Global offers a unique coaching package for 4-member teams. Imagine what you and your team could accomplish if you build on each team member’s strengths. Excel with Emotional Intelligence What’s the single greatest predictor of success? Emotional Intelligence or EQ. Assess and expand your team’s EQ to overcome roadblocks and boost performance. Vista Global’s coaching package to grow teams with high EQ is based on the proven TalentSmart assessment tool and includes over 7 hours of customized sessions. Team Takeaways With coaching designed for teams, you and your colleagues will gain valuable insights for setting goals and come away with a concrete plan of action. Your team will benefit from renewed focus on achieving success. Read more about Vista Global’s coaching process and contact Mary to get started today!
When a Nonprofit Is Your Friend for Life Being dedicated to social impact can be a life-long pursuit and passion. Do you have a personal story of when a nonprofit became your friend for life? My friend for life, AMIGOS, taught me that if you open yourself to discovering other cultures and the way people live in other places, you will build bridges … Continue reading “When a Nonprofit Is Your Friend for Life” Being dedicated to social impact can be a life-long pursuit and passion. Do you have a personal story of when a nonprofit became your friend for life? My friend for life, AMIGOS, taught me that if you open yourself to discovering other cultures and the way people live in other places, you will build bridges that make the world a better place for all to thrive. How did we meet? The power of word of mouth In the Spring of 1987, on the campus of UC Berkeley, I found myself sitting in the Study Abroad office going through piles of pamphlets and flyers of “Summer Abroad” experiences. As a 21 year old self-supporting college student, I wanted to do something adventurous and meaningful over summer break while improving my Spanish skills. None of the flyers or pamphlets were compelling. Uninspired… I asked friends what they have done during the summer, particularly a friend who was studying Spanish. He urged me to check out Amigos de las Americas and I was thrilled to find their program was a perfect fit. The program entailed spending 6-8 weeks in a rural community in 1 of 8 different Latin American countries. How did we become friends? Sometimes it takes a village Before the internet (when dinosaurs roamed the earth), college students had to make a phone call and request an information packet be snailmailed in order to apply. After receiving my application, I was shocked to learn the program cost $2500! Keep in mind, at that time, $2500 was the same amount as tuition for a semester of college. At first, I didn’t see how I could apply for the program and pay for the next year’s tuition because I would also lose that income from not working all summer. AMIGOS was there to help, by providing a fundraising letter template. I sent an appeal letter to family members and family friends, a total of 25 appeals and waited. Generously, donations began to arrive as $100 came in, $50 came in, $25 came in… I waited to deposit the checks, so I could return the donations in the event I didn’t meet the fundraising goal. With just a few days before the application payment was due, I was still short $500. Then, one more check arrived, exactly $500 from my Great Aunt Harriet. Aunt Harriet, then retired, had served as the Dean of Randolph Macon College in Virginia for decades. The note included with her check said, “the best investment in education is seeing the world.” Explaining the new flush latrine system. Loja, Ecuador, 1987. Installing new flush latrines. Loja, Ecuador, 1987. Baking bread. Loja, Ecuador, 1987. AMIGOS students and community members. Loja, Ecuador, 1987. The next generation of AMIGOS Elected as Board Chair, 2011. I spent 8 weeks in Ecuador that summer which inspired me to pursue a graduate degree in Latin American Studies and embark on a career of working to make a difference in my local community and communities globally. How did we stay friends? Giving back comes full circle Twenty-five years after that summer in Ecuador, I was Chair of the Board of Directors of AMIGOS. I wanted to continue my commitment to creating opportunities for other students to change themselves…and help change the world. What’s Your Story? Do you have a nonprofit friend for life? I want to hear from you! Share your story in the comments below or contact me. Part of my mission at Vista Global Coaching & Consulting is to help leaders make a difference in the world. Share your story so we can inspire others to do the same!
New Resources on Nonprofit Success Factors As a contributing author, I’m excited to share new publications from Public Interest Management Group that address the question “What contributes to nonprofit success?” This action research project examines 32 success factors in five categories: Strategy, Culture, Operations, People and Business Model. The Success Factor Analysis is a fresh data-driven approach to nonprofit management. Read … Continue reading “New Resources on Nonprofit Success Factors” As a contributing author, I’m excited to share new publications from Public Interest Management Group that address the question “What contributes to nonprofit success?” This action research project examines 32 success factors in five categories: Strategy, Culture, Operations, People and Business Model. The Success Factor Analysis is a fresh data-driven approach to nonprofit management. Read an overview of new publication Success Factors for Nonprofit Organizations: A New Approach to the Development of Thriving Mission-Driven Enterprises to learn more. Read the new blog by Public Interest Management Group founder, Scott Schaffer, for an introduction to the Organizational Success Index and more!
Ten Years of Boldly Pursuing their Dreams I have been working in the nonprofit and social sector as a practitioner, board member and a consultant for almost 25 years. I love having the opportunity to learn about the spark that launched organizations and the vision that a founder had for the change he or she wanted to see in the world. In … Continue reading “Ten Years of Boldly Pursuing their Dreams” I have been working in the nonprofit and social sector as a practitioner, board member and a consultant for almost 25 years. I love having the opportunity to learn about the spark that launched organizations and the vision that a founder had for the change he or she wanted to see in the world. In 2012, in partnership with Forward Community Investments, Vista Global Consulting facilitated the Girls on the Run (GOTR) Dane County strategic planning process. We shared that experience at the National Summit. As a 9-year old girl who did bold things, like play little league baseball, I am very drawn to their vision: We envision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams. The culmination of the GOTR program is a 5K run. For 2 years, I heard about the wonderful experience the run was for the girls, the coaches, and the volunteers. This year I participated as a volunteer in the Dane County 10th anniversary event. GOTR founder, Molly Barker came to Madison for the event and spoke about her vision for the organization almost 19 years ago. Photo of Girls on the Run Founder, Molly Barker, with 10th Anniversary Race participant running with her father. I was able to experience this wonderful organization living its dreams! If you need support in boldly pursuing your dreams, whether that is strategic planning or coaching, let’s chat, contact me today!
