In this episode, we unpack how reactive leadership quietly destroys innovation, slows momentum, and keeps teams stuck in survival mode. If every challenge feels like a fire drill, creativity suffers, trust erodes, and real progress becomes harder to sustain. This conversation explores why the best leaders don’t just respond quickly, they respond strategically, creating the space, stability, and vision innovation actually needs to thrive. -- Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast Subscribe to Apple Podcasts 📞 Schedule Your Call Here 🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers 👉🏽 Apply to Be in the Growth Alliance 👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King

On this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle sits down with Amy Aussieker, Executive Director of Envision Charlotte, sustainability strategist, partnership builder, and one of the bold voices helping Charlotte rethink what’s possible. Amy has spent years turning big ideas into practical action — leading fundraising, building cross-sector partnerships, launching innovative zero-waste and circular economy initiatives, and helping transform Charlotte into a living lab for sustainability. Through Envision Charlotte and the Innovation Barn, she is showing what it looks like to move beyond conversations and create systems that actually work for people, cities, and the planet. In this conversation, Amy shares how she has raised millions for climate-focused initiatives, what it takes to bring public and private partners together around a shared vision, why innovation often requires iteration and discomfort, and how sustainability connects to leadership, equity, education, and community impact. This episode is for leaders, changemakers, and builders who want to create solutions that are not just inspiring in theory, but measurable in practice. -- Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast Subscribe to Apple Podcasts 📞 Schedule Your Call Here 🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers 👉🏽 Apply to Be in the Growth Alliance  👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King

On this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle sits down with Patricia Bravo, leadership development consultant, speaker, author, and founder of Bravo For You, to explore the real power of empathetic leadership in today’s workplace. Patricia shares why empathy is often misunderstood, how leaders can balance care with accountability, and why understanding people is essential to building trust, strengthening culture, and improving performance. They also discuss the hidden dynamics that shape teams, why so-called soft skills matter more than ever, and what leadership must look like in an increasingly AI-driven world. -- Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast Subscribe to Apple Podcasts 📞 Schedule Your Call Here 🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers 👉🏽 Apply to Be in the Growth Alliance  👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King

Join hosts Kyle King and Daniel Freeman in this insightful episode of "Contagious Culture" as they dive into the essential steps for building and nurturing a robust network of donors for your nonprofit organization. You'll learn strategies for identifying potential donors, creating meaningful connections, and maintaining engagement. The hosts share best practices for effective communication, conveying your nonprofit's story and impact to inspire generosity.  They also discuss how to cultivate a donor-centric culture that prioritizes relationships and leverage technology to enhance outreach efforts. Whether you're a seasoned nonprofit leader or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you expand your donor network and amplify your impact. Tune in and discover how to turn your passion into a movement that inspires lasting support! -- Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast Subscribe to Apple Podcasts 📞 Schedule Your Call Here 🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers 👉🏽 Apply to Be in the Growth Alliance  👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King

Catalina Parker, Co-Founder & CEO of Relatable Nonprofit, joins the Contagious Culture Podcast to talk about a gap so many mission-driven professionals face: nonprofit jobs teach you how to do the work, but not how to run a business. After leaving a senior foundation role in 2021, Catalina and her business partner Julia learned firsthand that consulting requires more than expertise. It requires clear positioning, practical pricing, steady client acquisition, and healthy boundaries. Once they built the right foundation, they scaled their consulting firm to $300,000 in annual revenue and created a business that felt structured, sustainable, and aligned with real life. In this conversation, Catalina shares the mindset shift from nonprofit employee to business owner, why referrals feel good but can’t be your whole plan, the most common pricing and boundary mistakes consultants make, how nonprofit consultants can build a predictable pipeline, and what “support that actually supports you” looks like in coaching and mentorship. If you’re a nonprofit professional thinking about consulting or already consulting and tired of inconsistency, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and real talk. -- Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast Subscribe to Apple Podcasts 📞 Schedule Your Call Here 🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers 👉🏽 Apply to Be in the Growth Alliance  👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King

Most fundraising doesn’t fail because the mission isn’t strong, it fails because leaders don’t know how to navigate the conversation. In this Power Session, Kyle and Dan break down how to lead donor conversations with clarity and confidence, how to handle hesitation without getting awkward, and how to move from relationship-building to a real close. We cover simple language you can use, what to listen for, how to make the ask feel natural, and the follow-up rhythm that increases yeses. If closing gifts feels intimidating, this episode will shift the way you lead. -- Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast Subscribe to Apple Podcasts 📞 Schedule Your Call Here 🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers 👉🏽 Apply to Be in the Growth Alliance  👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King

Events can be a fundraising powerhouse or an expensive stress fest. In this Power Session, Kyle and Dan break down what it looks like to run events done well and how to scale them without losing the human-centered experience. We share key insights from a recent Charlotte Rescue Mission event that raised the bar in storytelling, execution, and attendee experience. You’ll learn what makes an event unforgettable, how to design moments that move people to action, and what to put in place so your team can execute with excellence year after year. -- Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast Subscribe to Apple Podcasts 📞 Schedule Your Call Here 🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers 👉🏽 Apply to Be in the Growth Alliance  👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King

Fundraising isn’t about convincing people to give, it’s about building trust that lasts. In this episode, Kyle and Dan sit down with Mark Dobosz, a philanthropy leader with 40+ years of experience across major gifts, donor strategy, and long-term relationship building. Mark shares what separates transactional fundraising from transformational partnership, how to deepen donor engagement beyond the first gift, and the habits that keep supporters connected year after year. If you’re tired of short-term wins and want sustainable revenue, this episode is for you. -- Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast Subscribe to Apple Podcasts 📞 Schedule Your Call Here 🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers 👉🏽 Apply to Be in the Growth Alliance  👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King

This one is a necessary reality check. Kyle and Dan share a hot take that might save you years of frustration: don’t start a nonprofit, at least not until you understand what you’re signing up for. We unpack the conversations we keep having with executive directors and founders who feel underwater because they didn’t know what they didn’t know. We talk infrastructure, leadership readiness, fundraising expectations, and the hidden weight of running an organization. If you have started one already, don’t panic, this episode will help you get clear on what to fix next so you can move forward with confidence. -- Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast Subscribe to Apple Podcasts 📞 Schedule Your Call Here 🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers 👉🏽 Apply to Be in the Growth Alliance  👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King

DEI doesn’t fail because people don’t care, it fails when it becomes performative, vague, or disconnected from real systems and outcomes. In this episode, Kyle and Dan sit down with Cierra Belher Johnson to go beyond the buzzwords and talk about what DEI looks like when it’s actually working. We explore practical approaches to equity-centered leadership, how to avoid “checkbox” culture, and what it takes to build inclusive environments that are measurable, sustainable, and human. -- Learn More About the Contagious Culture Conference Subscribe & Leave a Review to The Contagious Culture Podcast Subscribe to Apple Podcasts 📞 Schedule Your Call Here 🖥️ Join the #1 Community for Leaders and Change Makers 👉🏽 Apply to Be in the Growth Alliance  👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King