While many mission-focused leaders are leaving the field and those who have stayed are truly running on empty, I went looking for leaders who have figured something out—people who are doing something differently.

The good news is: I found them! This series, How Smart Nonprofit Leaders Create Lasting Impact, shares the insights of amazing people who continue to navigate the ups and downs of nonprofit leadership to create lasting impact.

This series is one of the many ways we help clients of Development Without Limits connect and learn from peers so they can deepen their leadership, improve their programming and reach more clients.

I had an energizing conversation with Wendi Copeland, a partnership builder in nonprofit leadership, based at Goodwill Industries International. Wendi keeps it real and has a way to continuously find the upside. Like many of the leaders we work with, Wendi’s personal mission statement guides her. And she’s also willing to step outside her comfort zone to keep stakeholders connected.

What do you believe has been the biggest factor in your success as a leader who creates lasting impact?

Developing a personal mission statement has been key for me. Mine is helping individuals and organizations become who they are created to be. It helps me focus on who I am and why I am here, and guides my work whether I'm volunteering or working at Goodwill Industries International.

How do you incorporate your personal mission into your leadership with teams and networks?

It means showing up in every room and realizing that the person across the table is my why. I help people optimize their assets and mitigate liabilities, and I lean into their dreams, hopes, aspirations, fears, and assets.

What are you most proud of in your leadership during the pandemic?

I'm proud that over 70% of local Goodwill Mission operations were able to stay open during the pandemic because we were able to switch to virtual. This was possible due to a partnership with Google that we established in 2017. We had to rapidly switch to become who the community needed us to be, and we had to build skills in our team and assess broadband connectivity in the community.

Could you talk about your personal journey with innovation and technology?

Change is hard, and technology was tentative for me at first. However, I had to step it up and learn how to use systems to help others become who they needed to be. It has been an amazing journey with technology, and we've had to expand our capabilities and competencies to deepen our partnerships and achieve equity.

Wendi Copeland invests her people and business systems skills in engage strategic partners to sustainably respond to community needs so everyone has the opportunity to thrive. As Goodwill Industries International’s Chief Partnership Officer, she collaborates with professionals who leverage relationships and resources to advance Goodwill’s life changing mission and social enterprises while fueling systems change. Over her 30+ year workforce development career, Copeland has led rapid growth of business and mission lines in three non-profits. She serves on numerous national advisory and work groups that focus on equitable credentialing, career advancement and economic mobility. She has a B.S. in Sociology and M.S. in Counseling Psychology. https://www.goodwill.org/