In our podcast this week with Susan Warshaw, Executive Director of Grades of Green, we discuss the importance of preparation for a smooth leadership transisiton, not rushing into making changes, making the most of a failure, keeping donor goals realistic, and important traits of nonprofit leaders. Susan is an experienced leader in the education non-profit sector. She previously held the position of Executive Director at the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation, where she raised millions of dollars annually. She recently raised funds for the El Camino College Foundation. Her career began in Washington, DC, consulting to EPA and state environmental agencies. Warshaw holds a master’s degree from the University of Southern California, and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. She is the Vice President of Philanthropy at the Neptunian Women’s Club in Manhattan Beach. Grades of Green began in 2008 at Grand View Elementary in California by four moms wanting a better world for their children. The founders created a non-profit so other schools would have free and easy access to the tools and information they have developed to empower and inspire students to care for the environment. The key points covered in this podcast discussion are: The Importance of Preparation for a Smooth Leadership Transition Take Time Before Rushing into Changes Leaders Learn to Turn Lemons into Lemonade A Realistic Assessment of Board Relationship Bandwidth Important Traits for Nonprofit Leaders: Persuader, Motivator and Consensus Builder Visit www.SocialGoodInstigators.com to find the podcast, transcript, and to sign up to receive notifications as new episodes are released (every two weeks). Episodes are also available via Stitcher, iTunes, GooglePlay, and iHeartRadio.