Hello friends! Last week, I titled my blog Calm Before the Storm because I was anticipating a storm of changes or running around this week. However, just like the Ohio weather, that did not happen. On Monday, our new executive director Kate Bauer began her work here at Leadership Columbus. I wasn’t really sure what would happen regarding my role here, but so far I have continued on with my projects. Side note for all the readers, there’s only 5 of us including myself here at Leadership Columbus so there could’ve been anything on the agenda this week. I’m in more of an all-hands on deck role here, which I’m thankful for because it keeps me working on various tasks.

This week, I spent a large amount of my time working with photos and videos we have in our Onedrive. I came to realize that there were hundreds of pictures taking up storage that had nothing to do with Leadership Columbus; so I’m happy to have freed up some storage there. One of my projects this summer is to gather pictures for our 50th Anniversary Celebration to have hung around the venue. These pictures are supposed to represent Leadership Columbus and the work that we’ve done throughout the years. I am enjoying this project because it gives me to opportunity to see so many happy and fulfilled faces over the years. It also proves to me that this organization is truly having an impact on the community it serves. However, this project also poses a slight challenge to me because I have only been here 4 weeks. That being said, I am doing my best to find photos that I think represent the beauty of Leadership Columbus. Luckily, I can put as many pictures as I see fit into a folder, then go back through and narrow it down with people who have definitely been here longer than me. Honestly though, it does warm my heart to see all the pictures throughout the 50 years and to see the smiling faces of a community I care so deeply about.

This week was chalk full of events that I was grateful to attend. First, on Kate’s first day, we just so happened to have an alumni happy hour that we merged into a first day welcome event after work. I was able to meet and talk with more great people who came to celebrate with us. I was also grateful to sit in on our Executive Edge Program day at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. The topics for that day were all about psychological safety and the importance of power-with vs power-over. I had learned general knowledge about the need for psychological safety along with different types of power while taking classes at Ohio State’s Fisher College of Business. However, I was able to get a more in depth explanation of the two topics which paired very nicely into our talks Wednesday morning at the Columbus Foundation.

I also met for coffee with one of our board members, Ralph Smithers, Jr. It was very beneficial to hear from someone who represents this organization well, but in a different way than my coworkers. It was very interesting to hear his story and why he wanted to get involved with Leadership Columbus. I’m trying to make it a personal goal to meet with as many people affiliated with Leadership Columbus during my time here. There are boatloads of people in the community who have completed our programs or have worked with us in some way. For me, my problem was always that I was never good reaching out to strangers and trying to expand my network. My time here at Leadership Columbus has opened me up and gotten me out of my comfort zone a little bit by going to all these events and meeting all these great people. I’m able to learn all about the nonprofit world, and at the same time expand my network which is an important piece of being a young businessman.

Until next week,

Austin