Kai Robertson discusses industry trends, interview tips, and general career advice in the non-profit world. 

Kai Robertson has over 20 years of experience in the food industry and has spent the last eight specifically focused on promoting more sustainable business practices. This has included helping companies understand their environmental footprint, strengthening relationships with stakeholders, and speaking frequently to industry and executive audiences about why sustainability matters to the food industry. Most recently, Kai was Director, Business & Industry, Food and Agriculture Sector at World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Prior to joining WWF in 2006, Kai was at Conservation International’s Center for Environmental Leadership in Business as Director of Food & Agriculture where she directed the day-to-day management of CI’s relationship with Wal-Mart and was heavily involved in shaping Wal-Mart’s environmental sustainability strategy. Before CI, Kai directed private sector initiatives at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), an organization dealing with pesticides and food safety, farm policy and other key issues related to public health and the environment. She also spent eight years at the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), the leading supermarket trade association in the U.S. Kai began her career in investment banking and has an undergraduate degree from Cornell University and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kai-robertson/0/339/2b0

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Rachel Doyle addresses the challenges associated with starting a non-profit as a career option.

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Rachel, founder of the nonprofit GlamourGals, shares some basic issues to watch out for when starting a nonprofit. Per Rachel, fundraising is always an issue because of the resources needed to create an organization. Secondly, recruiting and retaining good people is a challenge. Rachel finds that offering flexible work schedules, not ruling by fear, and other non-monetary benefits are essential in getting the most out of people, especially volunteers. She urges creativity in your management and leadership style. Thirdly, excellent communication is essential and difficult in a world where people work virtually. Rachel also stresses differentiating yourself by being creative and unique in your ideas. For example, GamourGals has “Hot Pink Parties” which are knitting and crocheting parties with the elderly and teenagers. In the current economy, expensive dinners aren’t plausible so this is an affordable and relevant event that meets her non-profit’s mission. Rachel continues by discussing how to approach corporations, either as an interviewer or as a nonprofit looking for a partnership. Professionalism is imperative and having done your homework is essential; you must be well read, relevant, and well prepared. Also, it is important to evaluate to make sure that the company is in line with the nonprofit goals (or with what you want to do as a profession if you are interviewing). In addition, you need to find the right person to connect with. Rachel also expands on how it is important to bring a business sense to nonprofits because that structure is important. Finally, Rachel stresses the importance of writing a thank you note. It is very meaningful and very rare these days, and will really make an impact on the person.

As a passionate, motivated teen looking to honor her own grandmother, Rachel Doyle started the first GlamourGals chapter when she was only 17 years old. Today, Rachel has the same enthusiasm and drive for the cause behind GlamourGals that she demonstrated in high school and her ability to continually streamline, evaluate and redefine aspects of the GlamourGals allows the program to grow along with its volunteers. When Rachel was still in high school, she was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Since then, she has steadily gained national recognition in many media publications such as Montel Williams, The Christina Show, The New York Times, CBS’s The Early Show, Glamour Magazine, Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Newsday. Rachel has also won many awards for her work for GlamourGals. She was named the first ever “Cosmogirl of the Year” by Cosmogirl Magazine. She accepted the National Group Volunteer of the Year Award from the American Health Care Association. Rachel was featured in the American Eagle Outfitters Spring 2005 national ad campaign, and in 2006 she was named one of four Fun Fearless Females by Cosmopolitan Magazine, beating out thousands for the title. The GlamourGals program was also featured in two textbooks: a McGraw Hill 7th Grade Health Textbook and the 2007 Prentice Hall College Management textbook.

http://www.glamourgals.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=156&Itemid=106

http://www.glamourgals.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=51

http://twitter.com/GlamourGals

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Russ Finkelstein discusses what it is like to work for a nonprofit organization.  He talks about having passion for what you want to do, and how to show an organization that you are the right candidate for the job.

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In the current economy, the nonprofit sector has been taking on many societal issues, and it is a great and challenging time to be involved with nonprofit enterprises. Young professionals interested in working in the nonprofit arena need to learn how to adequately prepare for an interview. Preparation is the most important issue, because often candidates feel there is a lesser standard in nonprofit organizations, which is not true. Prospective employees should ask smart, specific questions that demonstrate they have invested time and energy into this particular job. Not only should candidates show that they are qualified and have necessary skills and experiences, it is also important that they show passion for the particular issue and the specific approach that the organization uses to address it. Although nonprofits may pay less than for-profit companies, an employee can still make a very good living. Prospective employees need to prioritize and make choices about their expectations and motivation.