Susan McPherson / McPherson Strategies / We Are For Good Podcast

Listen to this episode

Overview

Meet Susan. She is a serial connector, angel investor, and corporate responsibility expert who just happens to be the ultimate word weaver. We're talking through the new normal of corporate responsibility (it's no longer nice to have - it's essential!), and she's giving her best advice on networking. Spoiler: there's nothing better you can give someone than connecting them to others. This Girls Who Code and 19th* News adviser and investor took our breath away with her compassion and wisdom. Tune in for uber inspiration!

Today’s Guest

Susan McPherson, Serial Connector, Angel Investor, and Corporate Responsibility Expert, Founder, McPherson Strategies

“We are gifted with choices. It is about opening the door and taking risks. Most importantly, be inclusive and invite people to sit at your table. ”

— Susan McPherson, Founder, McPherson Strategies

Episode Highlights

Susan’s story and journey to where she is today (3:30)
Creating meaningful partnerships between nonprofits and corporations through shared values (9:25)
It’s not about what the for-profit can do for you, it’s what you can do for them (10:17)
The history of Microsoft and the beginning of Bill Gates’ philanthropy journey (11:20)
The opportunities are immeasurable, it is a matter of being strategic (12:15)
In today’s climate, companies are less inclined to write a check if there is not an opportunity for employee engagement (12:35)
Employees want to feel that there is more than the actual job that they are doing everyday (14:44)
The most philanthropic person on the spectrum is a woman at the lowest level of the socioeconomic scale (Women’s Philanthropy Institute)(16:10)
Susan’s article in Forbes: Corporate Responsibility: What To Expect In 2020 (16:50)
Susan’s new book: The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships (21:30)
It is important to give people options for how they can help (28:15)
How nonprofits can implement the Gather, Ask, Do method to create genuine partnerships (31:52)
Always take the meetings (35:00)
Susan’s work with The 19th* (37:00)
Susan’s One Good Thing: In the next hour, pick up the phone and call someone you love who you haven’t talk to. (40:04)

Powerful Quotes:

“Nothing is a prison sentence. You can always return.” -Susan

“Taking risks, as scary as they may be, have been the A-Ha moments in my life and what has lead me to do some bold and courageous things.” -Susan

“The smartest of the private sector understand the tremendous roll that nonprofits play.” -Susan

“It is not about what the for-profit can do for you, it’s what you can do for them.” -Susan

“There is so much more that a company can offer. Visibility, volunteer hours, products and services, and financial resources. I often say, date first, get volunteer hours from a corporation, and then tap into their financial resources.” -Susan

“In 1983, Bill Gates’s mother encouraged him to set aside $17,000 for matching funds. Fast forward 37 years, if you add up the amount that each employee gives, it is larger than the GDP of Israel.” -Susan

“In today’s climate, companies are less inclined to write a check if there is not an opportunity for employee engagement.”

“If getting the corporate gift was 1.0, aligning values and finding smart ways to partner is the 2.0 version.” -Jon

“You can’t just have your corporation tell their employees what they are going to do with a nonprofit. You have to flip the script completely and say, “Employees, what is important to you?” Funnel it through your corporate values.” -Becky

“Employees want to feel that there is more than the actual job that they are doing everyday.” -Susan

“All of us can be philanthropists. That can be a $5 check or a $50 check, but the dopamine of giving leads to so much more. You are creating a firework display of giving, and people want to be a part of it.” -Susan

“We have been leading up to this moment in time, this is now a must-have for companies. Companies can no longer say “maybe we will be philanthropic.””-Susan

“Just one entity can’t do it on their own. There will no longer be a separate entity of corporate responsibility. It will be baked into every department.” -Susan

“Everyone has a role to play in this.” -Becky

“There is no greater gift you can give to people than to connect them, and to do so in a way that things stick.” -Susan

“When you set the context to introduce people, and you provide a sense of value associated with it, the magic happens.” -Susan

“I learned if I wasn’t invited or didn’t have a seat at the table, I would make my own table and gather people together.” -Susan

“Nonprofits are facing challenges. There are 1.4 million nonprofits on average in the United States today fighting for the same dollars. You have to get very creative for how you are going to get a seat at the table.” -Susan

“There are so many creative ways you can connect with people. Put yourself out there and showcase others.” -Susan

“How are you going to show up, how are you going to start inviting people in, how are you going to get outside of your bubble and expand beyond that?” -Susan

“We are gifted with choices, it is about opening the door and taking risks. Most importantly, be inclusive and invite people to sit at your table.” -Susan

"Everyone has something to offer, every single person, no matter who you are.” -Susan

“I didn’t get to where I am by saying no. It is important to take the meetings because we never know what we don’t know.” -Susan

Susan’s Tips for creating meaningful partnerships

1. It is not about what the for-profit can do for you, it is what you can do for them.

The smartest of the private sector, understand the tremendous role that nonprofits play, and can tap into that. It is natural to look at the the for-profit as a big ball of money, when actually there is so much more they can offer. Visibility, volunteer hours, actual products and services. Date first, get volunteer hours from company employees, then it is easier to tap into the financial resources of the company.

2. The opportunities are immeasurable, it is about being strategic.

Be strategic about how you go in and tap into these resources. Do your research.

3. Do your homework.

Find out what is important to that company, and find out what problems you can solve for them. How as a nonprofit can you help get a company excited to do that? In today’s climate, companies are less inclined to write a check if there is not an opportunity for employee engagement.

Susan’s New Book: The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships

1. Gather

How do you get people to come together? Gathering can be as simple as sending a text to someone and saying hello. We all know about FOMO. You can actually see events happening that you are not included in. Focus on JOMO - the joy of meeting others. Everyone we meet is a connective point to something or someone else that we don’t know.

2. Ask

This is the heartbeat of the book. To get people’s attention, make the conversation about them. Become a good listener. Hone in on what is really important to that person, and what is challenging to them. Ask how you can help. How can you be supportive? What challenges can you help with? We all need help, especially in the world we are living in today.

3. Do

If you are going to make a connection for somebody, do it. Make it happen. Follow through. It is important to give people choices. To be successful with your “do,” there has to be options.