Podcasts about trepwise

About Isaac MacDonald:In his eight-year tenure at Trepwise, Isaac has consulted with over a hundred organizations and initiatives, including the New Orleans Youth Master Plan, the Jazz & Heritage Festival & Foundation, and the Orleans Public Defender's Office. He received his B.A. in Urban Studies at Brown University, where he started the Urban Journal, an annual publication focused on building and sustaining the urban environments of the future. Before relocating to New Orleans, he worked at several environmental nonprofits in Washington, D.C. Isaac is a 2015 Venture for America Fellow and a 2021 New Leaders Council Fellow, and serves as Treasurer for the local chapter of the Sunrise Movement. In this episode, Dean Newlund and Isaac MacDonald discuss:Nonprofit organizational challenges in changing political landscapesReimagining leadership structures in social impact organizationsGovernment funding and nonprofit sustainabilityCommunity-driven transformation and place-based solutionsAdapting organizational models to complex environments Key Takeaways:To build long-term resilience, nonprofits should reduce their reliance on unpredictable government funding by developing diverse revenue sources, including earned income and creative funding models.By moving away from rigid hierarchies, organizations that embrace shared leadership structures can foster a more collaborative culture, promote innovation, and respond more effectively to change.Community-led efforts, rooted in local knowledge and shared values, offer a strong alternative to top-down approaches—allowing solutions to emerge from those closest to the challenges.Navigating today's dynamic political and social environments requires nonprofits to stay nimble. Embracing flexible, adaptive models can enhance responsiveness and support collective problem-solving. "One of the things that we're seeing right now is that nonprofits are experiencing multiple layers of uncertainty.” — Isaac MacDonald Connect with Isaac MacDonald:  Website: https://trepwise.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-macdonald-28229067 & https://www.linkedin.com/company/trepwiseX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/trepwiseFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/trepwise See Dean's TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I Connect with Dean:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkwWebsite: https://www.mfileadership.com/The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlundFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.comPhone: 1-800-926-7370 Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel AlvarezAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

311: Leading with Systems: The Secret to Mission-Driven, High-Performing Nonprofits (Kevin Wilkins)SUMMARYSpecial thanks to TowneBank for bringing these conversations to life, and for their commitment to strengthening nonprofit organizations. Learn more about how they can help at TowneBank.com/NonprofitBanking.Are you so focused on keeping your nonprofit running that you don't have time to step back and fix the systems holding you back? In episode 311 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, organizational expert Kevin Wilkins shares how to break free from these constraints and build a thriving, mission-driven culture. Expert insights reveal why culture is the strongest predictor of success, how to foster collaboration despite competition for funding, and why strategic planning should be adaptable rather than rigid. Discover practical steps to strengthen organizational effectiveness, align people with processes, and implement a plan that doesn't just sit on a shelf. Explore how stakeholder engagement, accountability structures, and performance management drive long-term impact. Whether leading a small nonprofit or managing complex systems, this discussion provides actionable strategies to maximize resources and create lasting change.ABOUT KEVINKevin N. Wilkins is the Founder and CEO of Trepwise, a strategy consulting firm dedicated to unlocking the potential of purpose-driven organizations by aligning people, process, and vision. With over 35 years of experience across corporate, nonprofit, and private ventures, Kevin has led Trepwise to support over 700 organizations. Since moving to New Orleans, he has worked with for-profit, nonprofit, and public entities, shaping his vision for thriving communities driven by impactful ideas. A Dartmouth graduate with an MBA from Harvard Business School, Kevin has held executive roles at Procter & Gamble, Fidelity, and State Street Research. He serves on multiple boards and has received many honors, including Louisianian of the Year (2021) and Best Place to Work recognitions for Trepwise. Most recently, Trepwise was named Outstanding Business of the Year (2024) by Best of America Small Business Awards.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESReady for your next leadership opportunity? Visit our partners at Armstrong McGuireBuilding a StoryBrand by Donald MillerHave you gotten Patton's book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector – Now available on AudibleDon't miss our weekly Thursday Leadership Lens for the latest on nonprofit leadership

Kevin Wilkins, the visionary founder and CEO of Trepwise, has carved a remarkable career by focusing on community-centric, purpose-driven leadership. With over 35 years in strategy and management across various sectors, Wilkins has shifted from the corporate landscape to a mission-driven path, ultimately founding Trepwise in 2013. His company is committed to enhancing the effectiveness of nonprofits and purpose-led organizations. Wilkins' career began in the corporate world, where he held prominent roles, including at Procter & Gamble and within the financial services sector. However, as he ascended the corporate ladder, he realized he was on a path that, while lucrative, felt unintentional. His eventual move to New Orleans marked a turning point as he sought to apply his skills to benefit communities and nonprofits. Inspired by his wife's career in fundraising and motivated by a strong desire to give back, Wilkins embraced the nonprofit sector, seeking to harness his for-profit background to bring business discipline into the purpose-driven space.Founded in 2013, Trepwise helps nonprofits and other community-centered organizations maximize their potential by focusing on people, processes, and vision. Wilkins emphasizes the importance of clear values, mission alignment, and effective goal-setting as keys to a thriving organization. Trepwise is dedicated to helping its clients develop these frameworks, ensuring they are equipped to make impactful contributions to their communities. You'll learn about Kevin's passion for doing meaningful work, the challenges of doing purpose-driven work, and how helping people heal from trauma is part of the mission.LEARN MORE:> > Trepwise Strategic Consulting (https://trepwise.com)> > Follow Kevin on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/knwilkins)NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:> > Listen to the bonus episode to learn what memorable advice Kevin had never forgotten (https://thens.ls/3Yybyha)Mentioned in this episode:NSLS members!

This episode features Wendy Sellers and Kevin Wilkins who is the Founder & CEO at Trepwise to discuss Aligning People and Vision. First, they dive into explaining what a purpose-driven strategy looks like in practice and how it differs from traditional business strategies? Why? Because "hope" is not a strategy. Then they chat about how purpose-driven strategies can and should influence the structuring and optimization of business processes?  And finally, they discuss how a clear vision shapes the long-term success of purpose-driven strategies, and what role leadership play in sustaining this vision over time. Connect with Kevin Wilkins, Founder & CEO at Trepwise, on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/knwilkins/  

Kevin N. Wilkins is the Founder and CEO of Trepwise, a growth consulting firm with a mission to unlock the potential of purpose-driven organizations by aligning people, process, and vision. In this episode, Kevin discusses the significance of building a people-centric culture and the impact it has on the success of an organization. He discusses the challenges of maintaining culture as an organization grows and provides advice on evaluating and adjusting strategic plans. Key Points: Purpose-driven organizations are those that aim to make a meaningful impact and address societal issues. Aligning people, process, and vision is crucial for the success of purpose-driven organizations. Building a people-centric culture, where values, mission, and vision are clear, leads to a more successful organization. Resources/Links:  LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/knwilkins/      https://www.linkedin.com/company/trepwise/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/trepwise TWITTER: https://x.com/trepwise

Big Chief Dow Edwards, of the Timbuktu Warriors Mardi Gras Indians and the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF), Don Marshall, Executive Director of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival & Foundation and Kevin Wlikins, CEO and founder of Trepwise, a New Orleans based strategy consulting firm join to discuss:The NOTCF's role in pooling a percentage of state and local taxes from hotel occupancy into a fund that is used to sponsor cultural events and provide support to artists and musicians; funding music programs in local schools; and literacy training that opens up pathways into businesses for local artists to get lending and mortgages for their businessesWith the proceeds from the annual Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Jazz and Heritage Foundation's music school, as well as its partnership with schools to teach local students and future musicians; its historic Archive; and, in the last two years, its Music Relief Fund, which has provided more than $2 million dollars supporting musicians, music industry gig workers, Black Masking Indians and other indigenous cultural practitionersAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Kevin N. Wilkins is the Founder and Managing Director of Trepwise, a growth consulting firm with a mission to power organizations to maximize their potential.Kevin moved to New Orleans in 2010 and served as Entrepreneur-in-Residence and COO for The Idea Village from 2011 – 2013.His experience working closely with entrepreneurs in the New Orleans area led him to launch Trepwise in 2013. With more than 30 years of experience in corporate and private ventures, Kevin has built a strong team of consultants at Trepwise who collectively have worked with over 500 organizations within private and public sectors, nonprofits, and foundations.Kevin has also served on several nonprofit boards, currently for YPO Louisiana, Tulane Hillel, Institute of Mental Hygiene, City Year New Orleans, Touro Synagogue, Collegiate Academies, Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, The Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education, and formerly for Louisiana Children's Museum, Pelican Bomb, Propeller: A Force for Social Innovation.Kevin is a graduate of Dartmouth College and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, as well as holding executive leadership positions with Procter & Gamble, Fidelity Investments, and State Street Research & Management. In addition, Kevin is a lead mentor for the national Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program and a mentor to startups in the Spark10 accelerator program based in India.

Kevin N. Wilkins is the Founder and Managing Director of Trepwise, a growth consulting firm with a mission to power organizations to maximize their potential. Kevin moved to New Orleans in 2010 and served as Entrepreneur-in-Residence and COO for The Idea Village from 2011 – 2013. His experience working closely with entrepreneurs in the New Orleans area led him to launch Trepwise in 2013. With more than 30 years of experience in corporate and private ventures, Kevin has built a strong team of consultants at Trepwise who collectively have worked with over 500 organizations within private and public sectors, nonprofits, and foundations. Kevin has also served on several nonprofit boards, currently for YPO Louisiana, Tulane Hillel, Institute of Mental Hygiene, City Year New Orleans, Touro Synagogue, Collegiate Academies, Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, The Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education, and formerly for Louisiana Children's Museum, Pelican Bomb, Propeller: A Force for Social Innovation. Kevin is a graduate of Dartmouth College and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, as well as holding executive leadership positions with Procter & Gamble, Fidelity Investments, and State Street Research & Management. In addition, Kevin is a lead mentor for the national Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program and a mentor to startups in the Spark10 accelerator program based in India.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/success-made-to-last-legends--4302039/support.

Hear about the importance of alleviating fear in your organization so that innovation can take place and then be baked into the fabric of the organization. Learn how to frame ideas, and what you can do to help evolve these ideas in ways that will allow them to scale and attain maximum impact. Explore how success can actually be a detriment if it leads to company stasis.

In New Orleans, we're proud of our local businesses and we try and support them as much as we can. If you own a local business, you have to compete for customers against every online business in the world, and against nationwide businesses who have a brick and mortar presence here. And it's not enough just to compete on price. You're also competing on marketing, visibility, perception, name recognition, and all sorts of other variables that go into consumer decision-making. Big companies have big budgets to fund in-house departments or hire big-name agencies to take care of this kind of positioning. Local companies here in New Orleans have their own, smaller, but nimble and effective resources. Like Trepwise. NOLA Trepwise calls itself an “impact consulting firm.” The company's 12 employees work with established businesses and early-stage entrepreneurs to give local businesses the kind of competitive edge they need to survive and grow. Blake J. Stanfill Sr is the Director of Growth at Trepwise. Style When we talk about small local businesses, we often think of what are called “mom and pop” stores. If there ever was actually a time that most retail outlets were run by a mother-and-father team, those days are largely behind us, but in New Orleans we do have a history of small, specialist retailers whose products and personal service set them apart from large retailers. One of the problems that a small retailer has though, is presenting themselves in a way that showcases their sophistication, without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on high-end photographers and ad campaigns. Taylor Morgan has solved this problem, with a product called The Scout Guide.  The Scout Guide is a guide book with almost no text, that tells the stories of specialist retailers in beautiful, stylish photographs. The Scout Guide is in its 9th year and is now in more than 60 cities across the country. All of us agree that supporting our local small businesses is a great thing to do. For most of us, that amounts to going shopping once in a while. For Blake Stanfill and Taylor Morgan, supporting our small business community is what they do every day. Because small business makes up the bulk of our economy, their daily efforts ultimately ripple out and affect the whole city. See photos from this show by Jill Lafleur at our website. This edition of Out to Lunch was recorded live over lunch at Commander's Palace. There's more lunchtime conversation about back office local business support here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a fine line between Jesus and The Man. Jesus wants you to do things His way and he holds out the specter of sending you to Hell forever if you don't comply. On the other hand, management and their proxies, consultants, have you buy in to a better way of life for everyone right now: tell us what you want and we'll tell it back to you, how we want. If you're following any of this, you could be a gospel singer, or a business consultant. Or an Israeli-born Wyoming bred, New Orleans-steeped architect. Or you could just listen to them and be entertained. Arrianne Keelen is a star gospel singer. But she's much more. If you are already familiar with Arianne's star career in gospel, get ready for her to break out beyond the confines of the church. If you don't already know Arrianne's music, welcome to A Star is Born (without the Hollywood spin). Arrianne sings an original song and a hymn on this Happy Hour, backed up by Reggie Nic. Lauren Siegel is a business consultant's business consultant. Engaging, charming, frank, self-effacing, honest, and fun, Lauren recently got promoted at Trepwise to a position that's similar to Minister of Propaganda except it's called Director of Brand and Culture. Lauren could probably talk you into anything, as long as you wanted to be talked into it. It's not certain how far this would extend beyond the workplace, but between Lauren and our other Happy Hour guest, Simcha, they could conceivably change the world. Simcha Ward is technically an architect, but listening to him talk you get the sense he's designing more than living spaces. Listen to Simcha in this conversation and you can picture him as a rabbinical scholar, or a politician or a charismatic boss. He's a little of each. Remember his name, you'll be seeing it on a book at some point - this kid is going places. Photos at Wayfare by Jill Lafleur.

The Small Business Association defines a small business as having fewer than 500 employees. By that definition, over 99 of all businesses in the US are small businesses. Even so, the businesses in the remaining 1 that they re competing against have a hugely outsized influence when it comes to marketing and other resources. How does a small business compete with the likes of Amazon and WalMart In New Orleans you could be a part of a specialized marketing enterprise called The Scout Guide. Taylor Morgan is owner and editor of The Scout Guide New Orleans. Blake J. Stanfill is Director of Growth at a company called TrepWise. TrepWise is a business consultancy that arms small businesses, non profits, and public sector organizations with the same tools that big business uses. All of us agree that supporting our local small businesses is a great thing to do. For most of us, that amounts to going shopping once in a while. For Blake and Taylor, supporting our small business community is what they do every day. Because small business makes up the bulk of our economy, their daily efforts ultimately ripple out and affect the whole city. Photos over lunch at Commander s Palace by Jill Lafleur. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever thought of hiring an executive coach? Are you curious to find out more about what an executive coach does and how they can help you? Kevin Wilkins is the founder of Trepwise, a New Orleans based growth consulting firm that offers executive coaching to businesses, nonprofits, and individuals across all sectors of life. Kevin teaches us how to choose a coach, what questions to ask, and when is the best time to think about hiring an executive coach. Learn all about how you can improve yourself with coaching on this episode of Worth It. Here’s What You’ll Learn [2:22] Why did he start Trepwise? [6:50] When is the right time to get a coach? [12:04] Its an act of strength to ask for help [14:12] What is the first step in coaching? [17:17] How do you choose a coach? [21:29] The first step is self-awareness [24:09] How long does the coaching relationship last? [26:07] What is the time commitment of coaching? [31:24] New Orleans is an incubator for entrepreneurs [40:33] Success comes from the journey Why should you consider hiring an executive coach? You may think that the different aspects of your life have nothing to do with one another, but every part of your life connects. All of your skills crossover and intersect in different aspects of life. An executive coach can help you maximize your life potential, they understand how to connect all the areas of a person’s life. Some people hire coaches to help them with accountability and to push them to be their best selves. Others are seeking a third party to talk to that can help them work through the issues that they experience at work and in other parts of their lives. Find out what an executive coach could do to help you make the most of your life on this episode of Worth It. When is the right time to hire a coach? People invest in their homes, real estate, the stock market, and their retirement fund without batting an eye, but they neglect to invest in themselves. Hiring an executive coach is not just about bettering your professional skills, an executive coach helps you to become your best you in all of the roles that you take in life. You may not think that you have the money to spend on an executive coach. But if coaching helps you be your best self, why aren’t you investing in you? When is it the right time for you to get an executive coach?--When you are ready to become your best self! How do you choose an executive coach? Choosing an executive coach is not the same as choosing your best friend. However, it is important to find someone you can trust. You need to find someone with the experience and background that you think can help you become your best self. It’s important to understand what coaching style will work best for you. Do you need someone who is tough or should they be aggressive? Maybe you need a coach who is more compassionate and ready to listen. Finding someone that is a legitimate coach can seem daunting with all the choices in the coaching world. Kevin has some great advice on how to find someone that can help you achieve your goals--spoiler alert: it’s not by looking in the phone book! What are Kevin and Trepwise doing to reinvent New Orleans? Kevin and his company, Trepwise are doing their best to help rebuild the city of New Orleans. He loves the entrepreneurial spirit that the city is brimming with. There are so many innovative nonprofit and for-profit companies in the city, even the public sector like education is taking on an innovative mindset. Kevin is doing his best to encourage entrepreneurial thinking to help reinvigorate the city. Although New Orleans is a mid-sized city he feels that there is a small community feel and he and his company do their best to foster connections and build relationships between different organizations. Resources & People Mentioned Trepwise Kevin Wilkins on Twitter Trepwise on Facebook Connect With Danielle and Dustin Ask your questions! On Facebook On Twitter Connect with Dustin on Twitter: @DRGranger

Among the many things you could find remarkable about Arwen Podesta and there are plenty perhaps the singularly most impressive is the fact there is a part of your body named after her. There is a part of everybody s body name after her. It s in your DNA. Arwen was a part of the Human Genome Project the folks who mapped the human genome and as a result there is a human gene named after her, called AR 1. It is an interluken atagonist interceptor, which at one point might have turned out to be the key to curing cancer. On top of that minor detail, Arwen is also a psychiatrist who started out life as the daughter of a father who was and is a massage therapist. Arwen went into the family business, mutated from massage to medicine to clinical superstar, to leading authority on addiction and author of the book, Hooked. Genevieve Douglass s grandfather was an Admiral in the Navy. Yes, an Admiral. Somehow he ended up in New Orleans, Genevieve s dad went to Tulane law and has a standalone practice in Kenner where he s, 30 years later, still looking for a slogan to compete with Putting the Womac on em and One Call That s All. Genevieve who, by the way is a Sagittarius is equally entrepreneurial. She is the marketing mastermind at entrepreneurial consultant firm Trepwise, and the creative force behind a great business idea, called Kindred, which was a mother child wellness and fun spot. Now it s a place to get your hair blown out, and that s another entrepreneurial story. Dustan Louque s life story has the greatest opening line of any singer songwriter, ever. "I grew up in a town where there was no music." In a small town in St James Parish called Grand Point Pop 500 Dustan was the first person ever to play music. Ever. In the mid 90 s, the sounds of Alternative rock, played by the likes of Depeche Mode, filtered into Dustan s bedroom courtesy of New Orleans radio station The Zephyr, and inspired Dustan to play music. Ultimately he moved to New York, got signed by Atlantic records, then turned his back on fame and the music industry and lived anonymously in the Bywater for 7 years, before re finding himself and choosing to play music in small venues across the country. On this show Dustan plays a song inspired by the day Lou Reed died, 10 27 13 the one magical day we were all hipsters listening The Velvet Underground. Photos at Wayfare by Jill Lafleur.

Riot Mueller is a comedian, among other things. They include non Jewish lesbian, lapsed Catholic, ardent believer in God, member of First Grace Methodist Church, host of The Moth, and 50 of the comedy duo Pitts and Riot. You d think that would would be a fairly full description of a person. And it might be for most people. But that litany of qualities doesn t even scratch the surface of what its like to hang out with Riot for an hour. Riot was recently at work when Malia Obama dropped by. Which is a weird coincidence because Blake Stanfill s cousin took Malia to her school prom. Blake is also a lapsed Catholic as well as an ex Sunday school teacher, sometime freestyling, fifth generation New Orleanian, father of 3, and business exec at consultancy, Trepwise. Jessica Franklin was a part of Happy Hour, in spirit. She never showed up, but that didn t curtail conversation about her. This Happy Hour is yet more proof, if you needed it, that even total strangers in New Orleans are never stuck for conversation even without knowing how many Beatitudes there are, or what Jesus was doing in the desert for 40 days. Photos at Wayfare by Alison Moon. Oh, yes, Kavoski. Well, that s a name we don t use.

Darcy Malone had the good fortune to get a text from her dad, Dave, from The Radiators, at the same time as she was in the middle of a heated email exchange with a friend. The text from her dad was a guitar riff and Darcy wrote lyrics over the riff, describing her email friend messing with the truth, like she was "Whippin it like meringue." Today, Rory Callais from Darcy s band, Darcy Malone and The Tangle, plays the part of Darcy s dad and the song is the kick off to the band s latest EP, Pure as Gold. Btw, if you re looking for a role model for yourself or your daughter, Darcy is the nicest person in the world to have gotten expelled from Sacred Heart. Mavis Early also went to Sacred Heart, but not the same one. Apparently, defying even divine anatomy, there used to be two sacred hearts. The one Mavis went to was on Canal Street and boy were things different back then. Mavis describes a sort of self selected caste system where you chose, at age 13, whether you were going to be rich or poor, white collar or blue collar. Mavis chose the right track and went on to become Executive Director of the Greater New Orleans Hotel and Lodging Association. Honestly, making up hotel beds has never sounded so attractive. "Mavis is persuasive" might be Darcy Malone s next song. Kevin Wilkins could have had a great career as a concert pianist if he hadn t thrown it all away on a lousy MBA from Harvard. Today Kevin is the founder and managing director of Trepwise, a company that helps other companies get successful. Occasionally he still sneaks out of his man cave to tickle the ivories. Asher Griffith joins the conversation Today Asher is just another college grad with a giant loan to pay back, tomorrow he s going to be the manager of the Hilton Hotel. If you listen till the end of this conversation you ll get to be "whippin it like Zeringue." Won t ruin it for you but it s a pretty funny moment. Photos at Wayfare by Jill Lafleur.

Over the past few years you ve probably been hearing the word "entrepreneur" a lot around New Orleans. As business incubators like The Idea Village grow, and we hear success stories about all kinds of wildly imaginative local startups, you might wonder how someone gets to be an entrepreneur. Maybe you have a great idea for a business. Have you ever wondered how you get to be one of the hip crowd hanging out at coffee shops talking about your business plan Do you even know what a business plan looks like Peter Richiutti s guests on this edition of Out to Lunch are both dedicated to taking you from your bright idea to global domination. And they re both right here in New Orleans. Scott Whittaker is a member of the board of the NO LA Angel Network a bunch of folks who invest in great local ideas. Kevin Wilkins is founder and Managing Director of Trepwise a kind of training wheels company or silent partner for your business. This edition of Out to Lunch is a free class at Entrepreneurial University. If you re an entrepreneur or would like to know how to become one, this show is a worthwhile 30 minute investment. Photos at Commander s Palace by Alison Moon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.