Can a Do-Gooder Keep It Real? Yes She Can!

As someone who loves all things nonprofits, I read a lot of nonprofit news. I come across many profile pieces on nonprofit leaders. Despite the intent to provide the reader an opportunity to get to know the leader, most pieces fall short. That is why I was so impressed and pleasantly surprised when one of my Google Alerts delivered a wonderful article profiling Ms. Kathleen Spears, president and CEO of Cancer Support Community Central Indiana. 

In the piece, you get a true sense of who Ms. Spears is, not only as a nonprofit leader but as a woman. I loved the fact that she didn't sugar coat her experience by suggesting that running a community center where a crisis can strike at anytime of the day or night is an easy job or one that always leaves her smiling. 

Her comment about nights feeling so sad and so drained that she pours a glass of wine and sits at home and cries brought back similar nights I've had over my nonprofit career. Doing good isn't easy. If it were, any and everybody would be doing it. She goes on to speak candidly about the fact that some people take issue with the salaries nonprofit executives earn, and she's even transparent about her fears regarding not being available for love. 

As women, we can sometimes allow concerns about what others might think to prevent us from being our authentic selves -- especially when we'll be featured in an article that hundreds, thousands or even millions of people may read. I'm so appreciative of and so impressed with Ms. Spears for being authentic in the piece. In doing so, she makes it possible for more of us to be our true selves.

Photo: Kelly Wilkinson / The Star