In this second part of this interview, Sharmila talks about working in philanthropy, her career pathway, and overcoming career roadblocks.

What is something you wish you had known before taking the job?

How to say no without feeling badly!  And that there’s never enough time and resources to do everything we want to, so how do you maintain the day-to-day while creating space to move a bigger agenda forward.

Part 1: On obtaining leadership skills as an emerging leader in philanthropy

What are some resources that address obtaining task-based, tangible skills and leadership skills?

Nowadays there are many formal educational programs and opportunities in addition to the informal colleague workshops and sessions that are also an incredible resource.  Certificate programs, graduate courses of study and one-off training programs provide education on the “hard skills” and soft skills that are called for in leading our nonprofit and philanthropic organizations. See this list for local and national leadership development and fellowship programs that build content learning and personal-professional skill development into the curriculum.

Can foundations really push forward and solve problems? Can’t we have more impact as non-profit program professionals? 

It is my belief the change begins at the fringes.  Smaller and/or family foundations are more able to try new things.  The bigger foundations are really stuck in deep entrenched processes where test pilots are not as easy.  Those people working in the smaller organizations could spend some significant time comparing notes and seeing how to streamline the field.

EPIP Chicago is excited to introduce this new interview series featuring emerging leaders in philanthropy in Chicago. In our first interview, we meet Hannah Clark, Manager of Grants and Program Administration at the Grand Victoria Foundation.

Jenny's Raggedy Thoughts on EPIP Conference New Orleans

By: Jennifer Shanks

New Orleans was the perfect location for EPIP to convene. As one of the opening panelists poetically described, New Orleans is a city that is dealing with the disaster of inequality that hit the shores of Louisiana over 100 years ago. Katrina's devastation has provided a reminder of systemic inequities - and the opportunity to create new paths for creative problem solving, civic engagement and community building - and collectively figure out solutions to new challenges including the preservation of the city's vibrant communities and combating gentrification. Center stage is movement building around the issue of institutionalized and systemic racism.

What It Means to be Part of a Network a.k.a I Found My People

By: Hafizah Omar

EPIP National Board Member, Christine Reeves, told us the four times she has felt that she was at the right place, doing the right thing, with the right people. One such time was as part of EPIP. 

EPIP Chicago Spring Update 

EPIP Chicago had a great first year in 2014, and we are really excited for 2015! As a growing chapter, we are always looking for ways to engage our members and provide programs that will strengthen emerging leaders in the social change sector in Chicago.

Read on to find out what we have been up to, and what’s coming up next. 

By: Matthew Ubrig, EPIP Chicago Chapter Co-Leader

It was not very long after I was hired at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors that I was able to experience Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy for the first time. With barely six months of philanthropy and nonprofit experience under my belt, I was encouraged by my new colleagues to attend the 2012 EPIP Annual Conference in Los Angeles, CA as a way to get acclimated to the philanthropic space and get a handle on just exactly what we were doing and what we were all about. I—being quite wet behind the ears—said “yes!” without even really knowing what I was agreeing to. Conference for emerging philanthropists? Sure, sounds good. Los Angeles? Uh, yeah no need to tell me twice!