Michael Ellison is the CEO and Co-founder of CodePath, a nonprofit reprogramming higher education to create a diverse generation of engineers, CTOs, and founders. CodePath offers industry-vetted courses and career support for Black, Latino and Latina, indigenous and low-income students, empowering them in tech careers.
The successful CEO transition at ideas42 from Josh Wright to Bridgette Gray highlights the importance of thoughtful planning, mutual trust, and shared organizational values. Josh’s timely decision ensured a smooth handover, aided by meticulous succession planning and clear stakeholder communication. Bridgette, drawn by the organization’s holistic approach and strong track record, embraces her role with plans for revenue diversification and innovation. Their collaboration underscores the need for humility, genuine care, and ego-free leadership, offering valuable lessons for other nonprofits.
Nigel Sylvester and Tasia McLeod of the Nigel Sylvester Foundation focus on empowering underserved youth through bicycles and financial literacy. Nigel’s journey from discovering BMX in his grandmother’s driveway to becoming a global influencer through digital platforms illustrates his dedication and innovative spirit. The foundation, inspired by his mother’s example of community service, runs key programs like Switching Gears and Financial Literacy. Despite challenges like funding and finding instructors, their efforts continue to make significant impacts, with future plans to expand both domestically and internationally.
Adam Nash, co-founder of Daffy (Donor-Advised Fund for You), is transforming philanthropy by making charitable giving accessible to everyone through an innovative app. Daffy simplifies the donoradvised fund (DAF) process, enabling users to set aside money for charity, receive immediate tax deductions, and donate easily to any U.S. legal charity. Nash counters criticisms of DAFs by showcasing their potential to boost regular giving and emphasizes the importance of technology in linking nonprofits with donors. Drawing on his extensive tech industry experience, Nash aims to build a community that promotes generosity and enhances donor engagement.
Often overlooked and underappreciated are the intricacies of a successful CEO transition. Today, we’re joined by Josh Wright, the outgoing CEO of ideas42, and Bridgette Gray, the incoming CEO. With their combined insights, we’ll explore the challenges and strategies involved in ensuring a smooth leadership change in a nonprofit organization. Josh has led ideas42 through significant growth and impact, while Bridgette brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of experience to her new role. Together, they’ll share their experiences, plans, and advice on making a CEO transition, not just a change in leadership, but an opportunity for renewal and progress.