In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King sits down with nonprofit strategy and execution advisor Kelly Beeland to explore why so many strategic plans stall after they are approved. Kelly shares how boards and executive directors can create clarity, assess capacity, define roles, strengthen governance, and move from endless conversation to meaningful execution. The message is clear: strategy only creates impact when people understand the plan, know their responsibilities, and have the capacity to act. Episode History 00:00 — Introduction02:30 — Kelly’s journey into change management04:00 — Lessons from large-scale transformation06:00 — Governance and nonprofit board leadership09:00 — Seeing both systems and people10:30 — Where struggling boards should begin12:30 — Getting everyone on the same page14:30 — Creating a culture of execution17:00 — Capacity, alignment, and role clarity19:30 — Building the right board22:00 — The value of serving on an emerging board24:00 — Developing high-performing boards25:30 — Planning board development across the year28:00 — What is next for Kelly31:00 — Supporting burned-out executive directors Key Takeaways A strategic plan is only useful when it includes clear ownership, timing, and execution. Boards often struggle because members do not understand their role or expectations. Alignment and role clarity are different from capacity, but all three affect performance. Boards should plan for the full year instead of moving from one meeting agenda to the next. Committees need defined responsibilities, deadlines, and reporting structures. Executive directors must honestly assess what their organization can accomplish with its current resources. A strong relationship between the board chair and executive director is essential. -- 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

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King sits down with Frank Velásquez Jr. for a powerful conversation about authenticity, courage, joy, and reclaiming the stories that shape who we are. Frank shares how values-aligned leadership can help people become more confident, lead with greater intention, and create environments where others feel seen, supported, and empowered. The message is clear: meaningful leadership begins when you stop hiding, own your story, and give yourself permission to lead unapologetically. Episode History 00:00 — Introduction 01:15 — Meet Frank Velásquez Jr. 03:30 — Frank’s origin story and leadership journey 06:45 — Reclaiming your personal story 10:00 — Authenticity and values-aligned leadership 14:30 — Leading with courage 18:00 — Practicing joy unapologetically 22:00 — Creating spaces where people can show up fully 26:00 — The leadership program and its impact 30:00 — Why Frank is determined to restart the program 33:00 — Advice for leaders who are hiding parts of themselves 36:00 — How to connect with and support Frank 38:00 — Final reflections Key Takeaways Authentic leadership requires the courage to be fully seen. Your values should shape the way you lead. Joy is not separate from serious leadership. It can strengthen your impact. Your story can become a source of connection, purpose, and confidence. Transformational programs give people space to discover who they are and how they want to lead. Reclaiming your story allows you to lead without apology. -- 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

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King sits down with RJ Caswell, a Charlotte-based social impact leader with a heart for connecting people to purpose and helping organizations grow stronger. RJ shares his perspective on leadership, collaboration, nonprofit sustainability, and the importance of building real infrastructure behind mission-driven work. He also discusses the role of Mission Charlotte, the challenges many nonprofit leaders face, and why organizations need systems, relationships, strategy, and support to create lasting impact. Kyle and RJ explore the messy middle of social impact, the importance of cross-generational learning, and why collaboration requires leaders to set aside ego, logo, and competition for the sake of the mission. Episode History 00:00 — Introduction00:12 — Meet RJ Caswell01:10 — RJ’s mission beyond titles02:30 — What keeps RJ energized03:40 — Learning from the next generation05:15 — Innovation, earned revenue, and new nonprofit models06:25 — How Mission Charlotte supports nonprofit leaders08:15 — Sustainability, systems, and organizational development09:50 — Where nonprofits should begin10:55 — Collaboration versus competition13:20 — Putting mission above ego and logo14:00 — RJ’s 25-year leadership journey16:20 — Advice for young purpose-driven leaders17:30 — The power of mentorship18:00 — Mark Hoffman’s impact on RJ’s leadership21:15 — Personal clarity and understanding how you’re wired -- 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

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King sits down with Dr. Patrick Graham, CEO of We Build Concord, nonprofit and public leader, and architect of economic and social justice initiatives. Dr. Graham shares how his upbringing in Long Island, his Southern roots, hip-hop, church, and his mother’s role in a federal housing discrimination case shaped his passion for justice, housing, and community transformation. He explains why housing does not exist in a vacuum and why leaders must connect affordable housing to workforce development, economic mobility, public policy, and community trust. Kyle and Dr. Graham also discuss systems change, community land trusts, down payment assistance, regional housing solutions, public-private partnerships, and why leaders must have courage, adaptability, resilience, and respect to create lasting change. Key Topics: Dr. Graham’s roots in Long Island, Southern culture, and hip-hop How his mother’s housing discrimination work shaped his calling Why equity and systems change must move beyond theory How housing, workforce, policy, and economic development connect Why you cannot build your way out of the housing crisis alone Community land trusts and creative affordability models The role of grants, public funding, and private partnerships Why organizations must go into communities, not expect people to come to them The L.O.V.E.R. framework for community engagement Courage, adaptability, and resilience as leadership essentials Episode History 00:00 — Introduction00:15 — Meet Dr. Patrick Graham01:15 — Growing up on hip-hop and grits02:30 — Long Island, Southern roots, and the Great Migration03:30 — Community institutions and early leadership experiences04:30 — Dr. Graham’s mother and housing discrimination advocacy05:00 — Defining equity and systems change06:00 — Working outside traditional systems06:30 — Community land trusts and permanent affordability07:00 — Loaned equity and down payment assistance08:00 — Building a sustainable affordable housing business model09:00 — Using public dollars and partnerships to create savings10:00 — Advice for leaders building nontraditional impact models11:00 — Learning the craft while staying open to innovation12:00 — Can affordable housing challenges be solved?12:30 — Why housing does not live in a vacuum13:00 — Building people and building homes at the same time14:00 — Economic development must include housing15:00 — Going into communities with trust and respect16:00 — Exposure as the father of innovation17:00 — The L.O.V.E.R. framework18:00 — Why respect is the foundation of community love19:00 — Courage, adaptability, and resilience in leadership21:30 — Teaching young leaders patience, grit, and experience24:30 — Going through the fire before leading the charge Guest Bio Dr. Patrick Graham is the CEO of We Build Concord, a nonprofit and public leader, and a strategist working at the intersection of affordable housing, workforce development, economic mobility, equity, and systems change. His career has focused on building stronger communities through housing stability, policy innovation, wealth-building strategies, and cross-sector partnerships that create long-term opportunity for individuals and families. -- 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

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King sits down with Erin Peshoff, chief curator of Vivid Operational Advisors for a practical conversation on systems, operations, infrastructure, and what it really takes for nonprofits to grow well. Erin explains why organizations cannot scale if they are not optimized for growth. She shares how strong systems create predictability, reduce friction, support team clarity, and help people show up with more joy in their work. Kyle and Erin also discuss why most nonprofit “emergencies” are created by poor systems, the importance of documentation, handoffs, project management, password management, board alignment, and why leaders must be willing to edit operations instead of simply organizing clutter. Key Topics: Why systems create predictability and safety How joy can become an economic metric Why most nonprofit emergencies are self-created The difference between organizing operations and editing them Why documentation matters during staff turnover How poor handoffs create confusion and frustration Password management, CRM issues, and hidden system gaps Why leaders should not force old tools into new organizations How boards can create chaos when they do not speak with one voice Why organizations must slow down before they can scale Episode History 00:00 — Introduction00:20 — Meet Erin Peshoff01:15 — What is giving Erin energy right now02:00 — Hope, glimmers, and positive graffiti02:30 — Personal systems and morning routines03:00 — Why systems matter personally and professionally03:30 — Systems create predictability and safety04:00 — Joy as an economic metric04:30 — Are there real emergencies in nonprofit work?05:30 — How poor planning creates urgency06:00 — Defining what a system really is07:00 — CRM, reporting, and campaign tracking examples08:00 — Why systems should feel like habits08:45 — Editing operations instead of organizing them09:30 — Pulling everything out before rebuilding10:00 — Letting go of systems that no longer work11:00 — Common system gaps in nonprofits11:30 — Documentation and turnover12:00 — Handoffs between development and finance13:00 — Ownership, integrations, and broken workflows14:00 — Passwords, shared accounts, and system access15:00 — Why leaders should not force their favorite tools16:00 — Clear expectations and team preferences17:00 — Erin’s diagnostic process with organizations18:00 — Listening to staff before changing systems19:00 — Boards, alignment, and speaking with one voice Guest Bio Erin Peshoff is the chief curator of Vivid Operational Advisors, where she helps nonprofit leaders reduce friction, cut through clutter, and build operational infrastructure that actually supports growth. With experience across fundraising, customer experience, operations strategy, and AI-enabled workflows, Erin helps organizations strengthen systems, improve handoffs, document processes, and create healthier environments where people can do their best work. -- 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

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King sits down with Dr. Joel Pérez, PCC, award-winning author, executive coach, belonging consultant, Gallup Strengths coach, IDI Qualified Administrator, and author of Dear White Leader: How to Achieve Organizational Excellence Through Cultural Humility. Joel Pérez, PCC shares how leaders can create cultures of belonging by practicing cultural humility, leading with clarity, and learning to operate in ambiguity. He explains why leadership begins with self-awareness but must move beyond the individual into the organization, community, and systems leaders influence. Kyle and Dr. Joel Pérez, PCC also discuss work-life integration, cultural humility, psychological safety, identity as a leadership superpower, mental health, intent versus impact, leading across difference, and what it takes to become a belonging-centered leader in a turbulent world. Key Topics: Why leadership requires comfort with ambiguity The difference between work-life balance and work-life integration What cultural humility looks like in practice Why leaders must look in the mirror first Leading with clarity and self-awareness The four dimensions of a belonging-centered organization Psychological safety and healthy conflict Systems that work for everyone Accountable leadership and daily habits that build belonging How identity can become a leadership superpower Why mental health matters for exceptional leadership Intent versus impact in leadership Leading across difference with curiosity instead of judgment Episode History 00:00 — Introduction00:15 — Meet Dr. Joel Pérez, PCC01:00 — Dear White Leader and award recognition01:30 — Balancing multiple roles and work-life integration02:30 — Holding things loosely and living in the gray03:30 — Why better people lead better teams04:00 — How leaders can operate in ambiguity04:30 — Leading with clarity05:30 — Cultural humility and nonprofit leadership06:30 — Looking in the mirror as a leader and organization07:30 — Turning philosophy into practical frameworks08:00 — The belonging-centered organizational framework08:30 — Psychological safety09:00 — Systems that work for everyone09:30 — Accountable leadership10:00 — Daily habits that build belonging10:30 — Exceptional leadership in a turbulent world11:00 — Identity as a leadership superpower11:30 — Mental health and leadership12:00 — Nostalgia is not a strategy12:30 — Leading through turbulence14:00 — Dr. Perez’s first-generation college story15:00 — Growing up as the son of Mexican immigrants16:00 — Learning to lead across difference17:00 — Cultural humility coaching18:00 — Identity, code switching, and belonging19:30 — What belonging-centered leadership means21:30 — Intent versus impact22:30 — Apologies, accountability, and leadership repair23:30 — Why belonging is both moral and strategic Guest Bio Dr. Joel Pérez, PCC is an award-winning author, executive coach, belonging consultant, Gallup Strengths coach, IDI Qualified Administrator, and founder of a coaching and consulting practice focused on helping leaders and organizations create cultures of belonging. He is the author of Dear White Leader: How to Achieve Organizational Excellence Through Cultural Humility, which was recognized with the Silver Award for Best New Voice Nonfiction by the Independent Book Publishers Association. Through his work, Dr. Joel Pérez, PCC helps leaders practice cultural humility, lead across difference, build psychological safety, and create organizations where people can 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

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King sits down with Mark Maynard, keynote speaker, author, advisor, coach, and former managing partner at Union Square Hospitality Group. Mark shares how hospitality, clarity, purpose, and community shape unforgettable customer and team experiences. He explains why great service is not just about a product, meal, or transaction. It is about helping people feel like they belong to something bigger. Kyle and Mark also discuss why service teams need clarity, how purpose creates buy-in, why complaints are gifts, and how leaders can build organizations where every action connects back to the mission. Episode History 00:00 — Introduction00:26 — Meet Mark Maynard01:30 — Mark’s connection to hospitality and service03:00 — Why entertaining and hosting matter04:00 — Customers versus guests05:35 — Why your product is community07:30 — Building loyalty through belonging08:45 — Mark’s journey into hospitality10:00 — Why teams need clarity, not another pep talk12:25 — Purpose, buy-in, and shared direction15:25 — Where leaders should begin17:30 — Why complaints are gifts19:30 — Receiving feedback with humility21:30 — What extraordinary service teams do differently23:00 — Connecting people to purpose -- 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

In this solo episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle S. King challenges leaders to reflect on the setbacks they have survived, the character they are building, and the future they are intentionally creating. Drawing from the wisdom of Maya Angelou, personal leadership experiences, and stories about trust, courage, and perseverance, Kyle reminds listeners that experiencing defeat does not mean they have been defeated. He introduces a practical four-part framework for personal and professional growth: Learn constantly Build meaningful relationships Add measurable value Develop other people This episode is a call to stop measuring leadership only by titles, recognition, or achievement. Sustainable success is built through character, consistency, service, and the willingness to lift others while you climb. Episode Action Items Write down the phrase “I am still standing.” Define what you want to be known for by June 2027. Identify one skill you need to develop before your next opportunity. Schedule a conversation with your manager about your professional goals. Identify three relationships that could support your development. Solve one meaningful problem without waiting to be asked. Choose one colleague or emerging leader to mentor. Create a 30-day plan for learning, relationship-building, value creation, and developing others. Reflection Questions What challenge have you survived that once made you question whether you could continue? What does your response to pressure reveal about your character? Would people trust you to lead them through uncertainty? What do you want to be known for one year from now? What problem can you solve for your team today? Who are you intentionally helping grow? Are you climbing alone, or are you lifting others with 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 👉🏽Connect with Kyle S. King

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King sits down with Dara Ashley, founding executive director of the Dara Ashley Foundation, researcher, and nonprofit leader working to close the access and exposure gap for underrepresented college students. Dara shares how her own experiences, mentorship, and time at Howard University shaped her passion for helping students see what is possible. She explains why exposure matters, why students cannot pursue opportunities they have never seen, and how mentorship can change the trajectory of a young person’s life. Kyle and Dara also discuss the difference between access and ability, the power of one-on-one mentorship, data-driven program design, Leadership U, and what it means to build an organization that helps students gain the skills, networks, and confidence they need for life after college. Episode History 00:00 — Introduction00:40 — Meet Dara Ashley01:00 — Dara’s mission and infectious spirit01:30 — Closing the access and exposure gap02:30 — Helping students identify what they do not know03:15 — The power of exposure04:00 — Dara’s origin story and early mentorship experience05:00 — Where to start if you want to serve your community06:00 — Former mentees returning as mentors07:15 — Access versus ability08:45 — Why exposure also shows students what they do not want10:00 — Dara’s path into research11:00 — Why leaders must mentor and reach back12:00 — Staying connected to the audience you serve13:00 — What Dara saw missing in the system14:30 — What leaders get wrong about mentorship15:30 — The power of one-on-one mentorship16:00 — What success looks like for Dara17:00 — The ten-year vision for the Dara Ashley Foundation18:00 — Growing into 42 states and going deeper locally19:00 — Leadership U and student-centered program design20:00 — Using data to measure and build impact21:00 — Turning vision into systems and deliverables   -- 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

In this episode of the Contagious Culture Podcast, Kyle King sits down with Pedro Jose Rivera, a nonprofit fundraising strategist working at the intersection of law, philanthropy, wealth management, and nonprofit leadership. Pedro shares how Latino-led nonprofits can move from grant dependency to deeper financial independence by building diversified fundraising systems. He explains why organizations need to focus on individual giving, planned giving, corporate support, board engagement, and community-based fundraising instead of relying only on restricted grants. Kyle and Pedro also discuss the role of faith, family, generosity, board responsibility, peer-to-peer fundraising, and why asking for support is not begging. It is inviting people to invest in the mission. Episode History 00:00 — Introduction00:45 — Meet Pedro Jose Rivera01:30 — Pedro’s Puerto Rican roots, family, faith, and education03:40 — How generosity was modeled in Pedro’s childhood06:00 — What Pedro hopes to give through his work06:45 — Moving Latino-led nonprofits beyond grant dependency07:40 — Understanding individual giving, planned giving, grants, and events09:15 — Where new nonprofits should start fundraising10:15 — Why nonprofits must think like entrepreneurs11:30 — Why organizations become grant dependent13:30 — Creative funding strategies and peer-to-peer fundraising15:30 — What executive directors often overlook16:50 — The role of the board in fundraising18:45 — Why passion without systems is dangerous20:30 — The fundraising truth leaders need to hear -- 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