Jennifer Sirangelo on The Power of Listening - Chief Influencer - Episode # 036
Jennifer Sirangelo is the President & CEO of Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, which mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. She is the recipient of the Gold Stevie® Female Executive of the Year Award for women in business and was named to Fast Company’s annual list of the 100 Most Creative People in Business. She is a member of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women and the Forbes Nonprofit Council. Additionally, Jennifer serves as a Council Chair for the America 250 Foundation and is a Farm Foundation Round Table Fellow. Jennifer joins host Anthony Shop to discuss the power of personalized stakeholder engagement, cultivating a listening culture, and adapting strategies for cultural and civic engagement.
Takeaways:
- Personalize experiences for your stakeholders, from board members to employees. Understand their preferences, respond according to their unique needs, and involve them in the activities that suit them best. This will enable better engagement and align their efforts with your organization's mission.
- Promote a culture of listening within your organization. Allow space and time for staff members to voice their thoughts, ideas, and concerns openly. This can foster a more inclusive, appreciated, and engaged team.
- Embrace opportunities to learn from external trends, technologies, and demographic changes. It is critical to understand the specific needs of Millennials and Gen Z and how they shape the future of culture and civic engagement.
- Personal touches, such as handwritten notes, phone calls, and dedicated one-on-one time, can significantly impact personal and professional relationships. These small personal touches often carry more weight, even in an increasingly digital world.
- As a leader, develop and trust your instincts. Don't dismiss your gut feelings, especially when they warn you about potential issues or guide you in making decisions.
Links:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-sirangelo-62a8723
- Points of Light (Website): https://www.pointsoflight.org
Creators and Guests
Host
Anthony Shop
Anthony Shop believes in the power of people-centered branding and marketing to create a bright future. He chairs the National Digital Roundtable, the premier convener of digital innovators, leaders and policy shapers. Anthony also is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Social Driver, a digital services firm that helps companies and non-profits establish winning strategies with social media, websites, creative, and advertising. An enthusiastic presenter and teacher, he has led executive-level training for Amazon, PepsiCo, NASA, The British Embassy and the Bipartisan Policy Center. He has been recognized as an “OUTstanding LGBT Role Model” by The Financial Times, “40 Under 40” by The Washington Business Journal, and Business Leader of the Year by the DC Chamber of Commerce. A former newspaper reporter, Anthony was the first new media professional elected to the National Press Club’s Board of Governors. He currently serves on the boards of Leadership Greater Washington and LearnServe International. He earned his MBA from The George Washington University School of Business, where he teaches as an adjunct lecturer.
Guest
Jennifer Sirangelo
Jennifer Sirangelo is the President & CEO of Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, which mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. She is the recipient of the Gold Stevie® Female Executive of the Year Award for women in business and was named to Fast Company’s annual list of the 100 Most Creative People in Business. She is a member of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women and the Forbes Nonprofit Council. Additionally, Jennifer serves as a Council Chair for the America 250 Foundation and is a Farm Foundation Round Table Fellow.
Producer
Robert Krueger
Robert is an Executive Director for The Communications Board, an organization with the mission of providing high-quality professional development for every communicator in every location. He is also the Global Lead for Partnership Communications at Gensler, the world’s largest architecture and design firm. Prior to his current role, he performed executive and CEO communications for Gensler, and was the senior director of public relations and social media at the Urban Land Institute. He obtained an MA in Communications and an MA in History from George Mason University. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In addition, Robert has taught communications at universities including George Mason University, West Virginia University, and the University of Florida. Robert currently serves as Immediate-Past President for the Public Relations Society of America’s National Capital Chapter (PRSA-NCC) -- the nonprofit’s largest chapter.