Adria Buchanan

I have a loving family and strong support system. From a young age, I grew up in a safe environment to be able to address the inequalities that I saw outside. I didn't have to worry about my own basic needs, so that gave me the foundation to then think about everybody else. I attribute that to my parents. Other than that, one of the things that has been important to my growth is to travel and to live in different places. I have moved across the country 4 times, visited dozens of countries and lived in both Bangalore and Costa Rica in my early adulthood. I think that anytime anyone has an opportunity to gain new information, to see how other people live, and to observe how different jurisdictions are managed, it gives you new insight, both good and bad, that informs how you approach things in your own life.

One of the best pieces of advice I've received is this: As you grow in your career and accomplishments - ignore the voices of self-doubt! Oftentimes we become nervous, and we actually shy away from shining more brightly. That has really helped me to keep on the beat of my own drum and to have the self-assuredness to trust myself no matter what happens.

It’s essential to be clear about who you are, what you value, and what you’re committed to advocating for. In the nonprofit space, competing priorities can easily lead to scope creep, especially when funding is tight and you’re constantly working to demonstrate value. Without a strong north star, it’s easy to drift. Staying grounded in who you serve and ensuring your work aligns with that purpose is critical. Equally important is being comfortable wearing many hats. Nonprofit leadership requires a wide range of skills: from people management and finance to program evaluation, advocacy, and research. Unlike corporate environments where roles are often specialized, nonprofit leaders are often responsible for much more due to limited resources. Go in with that understanding, stay open to learning, and give yourself grace. You won’t master everything right away but with time you can build the capacity to lead effectively.

Biggest Challenge - Current Administration.

Biggest Opportunity - Finding new and willing partners to double down on the critical work we're doing to bring equal opportunity to every corner of our communities.

I've always described myself as an urban warrior with small town values. That really carries over into my work and personal life. I'm a city girl - I like all the things that come with living in a city, the diversity, the access to amenities, style, etc. But I recognize that there are great challenges -- what some have called "wicked problems", that exist in urban centers as well. For me, it's constantly necessary to name those problems, and then to work to resolve them so everyone can enjoy the place they call home.