Leigh Hurst

I just facilitated a learning exchange session on leadership development and succession planning at the National Center for Community Based Child Welfare w/Wipfli. Key takeaway 👇👇👇👇👇👇👇: Don’t microwave leaders — slow cook them. Leadership can’t be rushed. It’s not learned in a workshop — it’s built through stretch, feedback, and time. 70% of leadership growth happens on the job. That’s why we’re intentional about creating environments where people can learn, fail, and grow. When leaders get better, everything gets better. #LeadershipDevelopment #CultureOfGrowth #Leadership Tony Smith THOMPSON Child & Family Focus

26

2 Comments

Grants available for BUILDING TRUST The Alliance for Social Trust, an initiative of the Aspen Institute in partnership with Allstate, is proud to launch the Trust in Practice Awards, investing in collaborations that seek to strengthen trust in communities across the United States. The Trust in Practice Awards will distribute up to $5 million total in grants. Each award will fund a collaboration anchored by a lead organization, joined by at least two additional partners. Each selected collaboration will receive $100,000, $500,000 or $1,000,000 to fund its proposed initiative. Initiatives must clearly focus on building trust through activities such as civic engagement, intergenerational volunteering, community service, storytelling, dialogue across difference, or other collaborative efforts that strengthen connection and understanding within and across communities. Deadline coming right up. Details here: https://lnkd.in/eMpJ-uKy

574

64 Comments

It took me 2 years to realize: True donor engagement isn't about soliciting; it's about serving. To bring out the best in your donors, you must give your best: Want the best giving outcomes? ↳ Give them the best impact opportunities and involvement. Want meaningful relationships? ↳ Provide meaningful stewardship. Want better donor retention? ↳ Give them better recognition and reporting. Want your donors to grow? ↳ Provide them with learning about your mission and mentorship opportunities. Want more major gifts and new commitments? ↳ Celebrate their philanthropy with gratitude and storytelling. A fundraiser is not the one who closes the biggest gifts. A fundraiser is the one who treats every donor as transformational.

159

16 Comments

The ICF Portfolio Path is an alternative credentialing route for coaches whose learning and practice haven’t followed a single, formally accredited program. Because mastery rarely comes from one institution alone. It emerges through reflection. Through years of practice. And refining how you listen, respond, and trust yourself in the work. The Portfolio Path asks for ownership. Ownership of how you curate your learning. Ownership of how you refine your coaching presence. Ownership of submitting recordings that genuinely reflect MCC-level mastery. In my experience, this is where mentorship matters most. The Portfolio Path isn’t for everyone. It’s for coaches who’ve grown organically, who value depth over formality, and who want their credential to reflect how they actually practise, it can be a deeply aligned route. The Portfolio Path is less about proving something and more about inhabiting the craft more fully. If you’re exploring the MCC Portfolio Path, our next MCC Mentor Coaching Cohort begins in February 2026. DM me “MCC” and I’ll send you the details.

20

🚀 Dive into strategic learning with Willie Pietersen as he shares insights from his journey from law to the C-suite, to academia at Columbia. Why did he choose "learning" over "management"? Find out in our latest episode! Also -- get ready to learn about "The Curse of Power." Watch the clip then catch the full episode here! It's jammed packed with golden nuggets of wisdom. https://lnkd.in/eFzEHGKf #Leadership #Strategy #power #leadershipbooks #leadershiplessons #interview #podcast #lifelonglearning #managementtips

107

32 Comments

🧠 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐮𝐞𝐥? At ICF Atlantic’s ELEVATE 2025 conference, I shared how sustainable change doesn’t start with goals, but begins with vision and emotion. Most change efforts stall not because clients lack discipline, but because we start in the wrong emotional state. When clients connect to their Ideal Self, they enter what researcher Richard Boyatzis calls the 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 (𝐏𝐄𝐀), the brain state that fuels hope, creativity, and motivation. It’s clean fuel: renewable, sustaining, and energizing. But when we rush into goals and accountability too soon, we activate the 𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 (𝐍𝐄𝐀), the brain’s stress-response mode. It’s dirty fuel: it burns hot, but quickly drains energy and focus. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬: ✅ Begin sessions in the 𝐏𝐄𝐀 with vision, values, or purpose. ✅ Then, once the “clean fuel” is flowing, move into planning and goals. When we work with the brain’s natural rhythms, change doesn’t just happen faster; it lasts longer. #NeuroscienceForCoaches #AppliedNeuroscience #CoachingWithScience #MeaningfulLeadership #MindBodyConnection #SelfLeadership #ICFAtlantic

22

10 Comments

This week's DEI After 5 episode is a replay of my conversation with Dr. Nika White, CDE®, IOM. Together, we explore the concept of intentional inclusion and discuss actionable strategies leaders can implement to foster an inclusive environment. Dr. White shares her journey into this field, emphasizing how her background in marketing communications led her to discover her passion for promoting diversity and belonging. Tune in for valuable insights and resources that can help you become a more intentional leader in your organization. You can find the full episode on Substack or where you listen to your favorite podcasts.

10

2 Comments

Are you (or someone you know) facing an ICF PCC credential performance evaluation? My team and I have been assessing ICF performance evaluations since 2012, guiding leaders and coaches toward ACC, PCC, and MCC certification. So we've seen all the biggest mistakes, and worked to find simple ways to help. One of the biggest hurdles is the big leap from ACC to PCC. After more than a decade of listening to recorded coaching sessions, I’ve seen 4 simple shifts that make a real difference in passing PCC and set you up for MCC. If you or someone you know is preparing for PCC evaluations, these quick tips can help deepen your coaching sessions, which is exactly what ICF markers look for. When I worked toward my MCC, I remember how tough it was. Many coaches today feel the same overwhelm. It’s not you, the path really is challenging but also a worthy pursuit. That’s why I’m here: to make the process clearer and more supportive, so you can grow into the kind of coach you want to be. 👏

39

7 Comments