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Here at SIF, we recognize the importance of investing in your professional development. Whether you are in your first full time job or a seasoned nonprofit executive, continuously engaging in professional development is essential to ensure longevity in your career. For this reason, SIF provides professional development opportunities for individuals a part of its Alumni & Nonprofit Network Program, which offers leadership development, skill-building, and network-building to 250 organizations across Eastern Massachusetts. By offering industry relevant workshops, learning cohorts, and in-kind services, SIF supports members of the Nonprofit Network with the knowledge, tools, and connections needed to thrive in the nonprofit sector.
A professional development opportunity that has increasingly become popular amongst our Nonprofit Network is our executive coaching program, in collaboration with William James College. Available to members of our network as an in-kind service, SIF partners with William James College to provide coaches to work with nonprofit leaders who are looking to increase their management and leadership skills. Over the span of four months, individuals receiving executive coaching are supplied with 1:1 individualized support through their coach and receive qualitative feedback that they can use to build actionable plans to support leadership growth. To date, this current cycle of executive coaching for our Alumni and Nonprofit Network has seen the most interest with 26 members enrolled and matched with coaches.
While most would assume the benefit of executive coaching lies primarily in being a recipient, our collaborators at William James College have different perspectives altogether on the relationship. Susan Ennis, the instructor who oversees the Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching Practicum, describes the partnership between William James and SIF:
...a phenomenal pairing of our missions and results. It enables our GCEC students to experience real-world executive coaching with a highly diverse, motivated and committed set of leaders. The student coaches also get a clear view of the challenges that nonprofit organizations face, especially social justice groups. The leaders get a once-in-career opportunity to focus on developing themselves as leaders while getting incisive feedback and learning support.
Susan Ennis, MEd, Adjunt Faculty, Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching
Likewise, the coaches involved in this in-kind service highlight how their passion to enter this field stems from a desire to provide enriching professional development opportunities. Shriram Venkataraman, an executive coach working with our network currently, details how his personal decision to support leaders in their professional development is due to the apparent lack of access professionals have to these types of opportunities.
During my 28+ years of corporate experience, I consistently saw coaching and career development as a gap, specifically for many mid-level managers trying to climb the ladder. So, now, in the latter part of my career, I [am] committed to getting formally trained to close this gap and help folks fulfill their dreams and aspirations.
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Shriram Venkataraman, student, Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching
And if hearing about the positive impact of executive coaching from our William James partner isn’t enough, the data suggests our Nonprofit Network community benefits widely from this in-kind service. Since 2022:
- 96% of executive coaching recipients agree they are better positioned to lead or support their organization’s development than prior to coaching.
- 100% of recipients agreed they would probably draw from learnings from their coaching experience a year from now.
- 100% of recipients would recommend executive coaching to a friend or colleague.
From the recipients of this in-kind service to our partner at William James College, we at SIF have seen the long term benefits of this symbiotic relationship on both sides. Whether through executive coaching or another growth opportunity, I think we can all agree that every professional should consider how to continuously invest in their career trajectory. As Amber Beland, assistant professor and executive coach at William James, says:
Creating the opportunity for professional development is a gift to yourself, your organization, and those you serve. I … encourage people to find ways to say yes, to try new goals, and to build in reflective time as they begin to work on growth and development.
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Amber Beland, student, Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching
So, if you are a part of our Nonprofit Network, take this as a sign to contribute to your professional future by signing up for an upcoming workshop or event today.