Erin Murphy has worked at Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways for seven years, supporting adult members with training and learning opportunities and helping them succeed as mentors to young girl scouts. She describes herself as a people pleaser and an empathizer and introvert “I’m not that outgoing, go out and connect person,” she said.
Open to opportunities to grow her professional skills, Erin applied to and was accepted into the Community Foundation’s first cohort of our Marsellus M.A.D.E. (Mission-driven, Achievement, Dedication, and Elevation) to Lead program, made possible by a $3.2 million bequest from John D. Marsellus. Erin was one of 10 mid-level and senior nonprofit managers in the six-month organizational leadership program. Facilitated by Our Glass Consulting, the group met in person again once a month virtually and engaged in one-on-one consulting for about two hours to unlock leadership potential, improve capacity, expand their peer support network, and provide space to explore and solve daily challenges.
By the end of the program, Erin was empowered to seek advice on how to lead meetings about Girl Scout programs and was testing her newly honed skills, armed both with increased confidence and the language to understand her leadership style. “They have done a great job highlighting differences and how to lean into your strengths and identify what you could grow and how to do that,” she said.
The first cohort completed its program in March and will celebrate with a graduation this month. The program jumpstarted with support from late donor, John D. Marsellus, a strong advocate for nonprofit professional development. John, an enthusiastic civic leader who died in June last year, was former president of his family business, Marsellus Casket Company. He was also a longtime volunteer and supporter of countless local and national nonprofits.
John’s connection to the Community Foundation dates to 1973, when his father, John F. Marsellus, established a donor-advised fund. John and his father shared an interest in nurturing nonprofit leaders. He worked with the Community Foundation to develop the John F. Marsellus Sabbatical program, the Marsellus Executive Development Program, LeadUP CNY (later renamed The Marsellus Next Generation Leadership Development Program) and the Marsellus Forward initiative. Marsellus M.A.D.E. is the latest iteration of leadership programs inspired and supported by Marsellus.
“He was incredibly thoughtful and forward-thinking,” said Danielle Johnson, senior director of grants and programs. “He was very aligned with what staff were seeing and hearing from nonprofit professionals. If the need for one program was dwindling, he was able to see new needs emerging. He was very intentional about where those needs were and where a program might be most impactful.”
John’s concern for nonprofit capacity went beyond building leadership skills, though. “He was also concerned about the leaders taking care of themselves,” Danielle said. “He knew the real struggles of being in nonprofits and how isolating it can be in a leadership position. He understood the need to be around like-minded people so we can ultimately improve the community.”
Demetrius McNeil and Arlaina Harris of Our Glass Consulting led the first cohort through guest presentations, discussions and interactive exercises aimed at self-assessment and growth. “We wanted them to see themselves as the great leaders they could be but also understand that they are not going through this alone,” Demetrius said. “They found that common connection.”
He was thrilled to see Erin take initiative to lead meetings at work and to witness growing relationships between emerging and more seasoned managers. One serious, real-life scenario had the participants work together to brainstorm how to modify a program that lost funding. A less serious exercise with a relevant message involved building paper chains — with only one hand or without scissors. “It’s a grade school exercise,” Demetrius said. “It points out how we can accomplish things with limited resources. Hopefully they can take things back to their teams and create innovations for the folks they serve.”
James Tweedie has already done that. He’s relatively new to Central New York, having served as property management at the nonprofit housing development and management organization Christopher Community, Inc., for about 18 months. He previously spent about 20 years in property management in Delaware County. Marsellus M.A.D.E. to Lead helped him update his leadership skills and jumpstart a professional network in Central New York’s nonprofit community.
“I am dumbfounded by the amount of people and the number of resources in Syracuse engaged in making Syracuse better,” he said.
Thanks to new relationships with program participants, he’s connected Christopher Community with Energy Smart CNY and the CNY Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Alliance so their services can help clients at Christopher Community.
James describes his leadership style as director/thinker, expresser, harmonizer. “We talked about identifying the type of leader you are and how you work best with people based on their style,” he said. “That’s been really enlightening.”
He noted that he’s changed as a leader as his career has advanced. “I consider that growth,” he said. “As you gain more experience and fight more battles, you become a different leader. I think I’m more direct and innovative in my approach than in the past.”
James said it’s been helpful to update skills, learn new concepts and meet people. “Some great bonds and relationships were made in the group,” he said. “Those connections are going to be very fruitful for people.”
The application window for the second cohort of Marsellus MADE to Lead opens June 11 at cnycf.org/made.
