The other day, I went to lunch with a client to help him develop an organizing strategy and a message for his outreach to Chicago corporate executives and tech entrepreneurs. We lunched at a favorite spot of mine where, come-to-find-out, the waiter has been watching me.
"You guide people, don't you," he remarked, as I ordered my coffee. Out of the mouths of babes (in this case in looks, not age).
I got to thinking about the waiter's comment later. It was accurate. Here is how I do that guiding; I:
- Design, organize, and manage advocacy, fundraising, and communications programs.
- Develop and implement programs to advance women's health and economic security.
- Engage decisionmakers, and develop leadership networks among them, in order to benefit women and girls.
- Heighten the profile of projects benefiting the common good.
- Recruit leaders to causes benefiting women and girls.
My role is to create opportunities, build partnerships, solve problems, create messages, train staff, and build capacity. My counsel comes-into-play when you've got a big opportunity, and you want to make the most-of-it: When you want to win. This year, winning client projects included: - A major capital campaign to fund two, new, regional women's centers.
- The launch of a new Chicago high school, focused on science and technology, where the student body is 60% girls.
- A city-wide strategy for policies, advocacy, and organizational innovation to benefit single mothers.
- A program-partnership/merger strategy for a large regional service agency.
- Advising senior executives, expanding their leadership networks, and heightening their visibility and influence.
This community organizing yields results that make the world a better place. So, as you dream your dreams for a better world, I hope you will call on me to help you make those dreams come true. Sincerely,
P.S. And about Jay-Z and me; well, see this week's edition of Crain's Chicago Business, "Info Junkie."
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