Melissa T.

I think staying deeply connected to the community has been key to my success. At the same time, I intentionally step into spaces where decisions are made. A lot of my work is really rooted in responding to the families I work with and seeing how I can use my position to shape policies or advocate for systems change. I'm a real promoter of advocacy and getting the families I work with to step into those spaces and use their voices. These are the stories that decision-makers need to hear at a systems level. We do a lot of work with advocacy groups that go in front of legislation to say, 'Hey, these are the stories of our community, we really need you to pass this bill or support this program or create a tax that funds these programs.' What's led to my success is really having the community voices lead how I run my program.

The best piece of advice I've received is to always stay anchored in my purpose. When somebody's why is clear, it becomes a compass to how you lead and make decisions. This has helped me lead with more intention and navigate challenges, because I always go back to my why. Building stronger communities is always going to be my purpose, and seeing people thrive.

Through my own journey, I really started at a ground level, and I encourage young women to always recognize the power of their voice. Especially those who've lived or had frontline experience - I think their perspective is so essential in shaping more equitable systems. Don't be afraid to step into spaces where decisions are being made.

The biggest challenge in the nonprofit world right now is that our revenues are always declining, and trying to stay sustainable and keep programs open that support families and communities has been a major challenge in the last couple of years. We're seeing funding cuts, and I'm seeing a lot of community partners shut their doors after decades because the landscape is changing. But what I'm really excited about is seeing more collective impact with our community partners. Organizations, especially in the nonprofit world, are coming together to make a stronger push for things at a systems level, saying 'Hey, this is what the community needs, these programs are really important.' I'm also really excited about the collective impact work around supporting children with autism - that's something I'm seeing a rise in over the last couple years, and we're implementing programs and processes and pooling together resources.

Authenticity is definitely important to me - I think it allows me to lead with purpose. Accountability is also really important because it ensures that I follow through and remain committed to the impact I'm trying to make, both personally and professionally. Empathy is crucial too. With the world changing all the time and so many decisions being made that affect lives, empathy really keeps me grounded in the experiences of the families I work with, the teams I manage, and even with my own children. Life is hard, and I always try to remember there's a human side of things in business. Mentorship is also very central to my leadership - I always love supporting the growth of those around me.