Latest / We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits / 187. Humility-Based Leadership Unlocking a Global Impact - Lola Adedokun

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187. Humility-Based Leadership Unlocking a Global Impact - Lola Adedokun · We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits

• 0:01
  Jonathan McCoy: Hey, I'm John.
• 0:02
  Unknown: And I'm Becky.
• 0:03
  Jonathan McCoy: And this is the we are for good podcast.
• 0:06
  Becky Endicott: Nonprofits are faced with more challenges to accomplish their missions and the growing pressure to do more work, raise more and be more for the causes that improve our world.
• 0:15
  Jonathan McCoy: We're here to learn with you from some of the best in the industry, bringing the most innovative ideas, inspirational stories, all to create an impact uprising.
• 0:23
  Becky Endicott: So welcome to the good community. We're nonprofit professionals, philanthropist, world changers and rabid fans who are striving to bring a little more goodness into the world.
• 0:34
  Jonathan McCoy: So let's get started. Hey, Becky. Hey, John.
• 0:38
  Jonathan McCoy: Don't you always love when we can go to New York?
• 0:40
  Becky Endicott: I do. And I was just sitting there listening to the intro going. We're talking about world changers. And I'm like, we have a world changer that is on the podcast today.
• 0:49
  Becky Endicott: And wow, are we lucky to sit in her orbit?
• 0:51
  Jonathan McCoy: Yeah. And it speaks to like the ripple of connections and friends that we've made since we launched the podcast. But we were introduced to our guests today, who is a powerhouse. We're talking to Lola added token. And she's the director, Program Director for child well being and the director of the African Health Initiative at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. And if you're like me, everyone's heard of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. So I can't wait to dive in and hear your story. But we met Lola because she is a friend of Dulari. Gandhi, who if you remember, zoom back and find her episode, truly changed everything that we know and think about how to partner with grant making. And I think being a kindred spirit in this space, Lola, is a powerhouse of ideas of experiences of knowledge and passion, about closing and equitable gaps here in the US, and really through her work in Africa, as well. And so the conversation today is going to be raw, it's gonna be so fun.
• 1:48
  Jonathan McCoy: And I just can't wait to dive in and hear a little bit of your story. Lola, it is an honor to have you on the podcast. Thanks so much for being here.
• 1:57
  Lola Adedokun: It's my privilege, my honor, just to be able to be in your network and speak to your audience.
• 2:03
  Jonathan McCoy: Well, you know, we were talking just before we started that you have spent the last 14 years of your career with the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, but would you kind of take us on a journey through what brought you to this place and talk a little bit also about your work now today, and maybe how all that's informed what you're doing of this here?
• 2:21
  Lola Adedokun: Sure. So um, you know, I'll start with my one of my key identities is being a Nigerian, and for those Nigerians in the audience, they know that there are three career paths for you, engineering, medicine, or being a lawyer. I was. So I decided neither of those paths were for me. But I did want to find a way to do good and make an impact and landed and really exploring a career in public health. And with that, it's a broad way of thinking that I've actually been able to do a number of things in my career, a little bit of research, a little bit of work in the policy space. And then serendipitously, through networks, and through friends who really supported my vision, thought of myself as a Dorsey Charitable Foundation. And philanthropy was definitely new to me, you know, you hear the ads of the different foundations, funding things on NPR and all of that, but it's a very material industry. But I found that if you have a clear vision and voice, your ability to have impact is enormous. And I had the privilege of really growing up, I'd say, doors to started as a program associate, for the African Health Initiative, because I did want to give back to my home, one of my homes, and then you know, the learning path with my mentors, with my colleagues, and it's really grown and flourished the foundation to now lead both our US facing cattle being program and our African Health Initiative.
• 3:59
  Becky Endicott: I'm just really fascinated by this incredible legacy of growth that you've created in this particular space. Our little company has such a heart for Africa, we have so many African friends that we've made over the last year, and it is such an amazing repository of creativity, and innovation. And we're noticing that the partners who can rise up and leverage that and find ways to create those businesses in Africa. They're creating these thriving communities and economies. And I'm just really curious and selfish from your perspective, how you've been able to see the growth of that as it intersects with child well being and health.
• 4:45
  Lola Adedokun: So that's the right observation that forever there has been talents and ability and creativity on the continent. But the the myth of Africa has gotten in the way of others really understanding that, and recognizing the possibility. So part of the work, part of my learning has been really leaning with humility, knowing, and assuming there is strength, and brilliance, and just finding ways to create pathways for those brilliant people to do their work to do their work in a way that is safe, that honors their vision and culture has been really my guiding, Guiding Light. You know, I think now on some of the leaders I met across the way who have gone from leading in villages and smaller communities, to leading national health systems, projects and programs, and in ways that are, you know, ahead of the curve than than the US. And, you know, in this COVID climate, the biggest reminder has been that we are a global community, we are not our borders, those borders are false. And we have to look beyond our borders, to seek the best and brightest. And many of the best and brightest are in one of the largest continents in the world. And we forget that. So I have been privileged to be able to see that because of my work. And so to begin to bridge those connections, one human to another human, rather than one problem to another problem, which is often how we tackle issues. So I'm just really, really honored to be able to build those bridges, and let people thrive.
• 6:35
  Jonathan McCoy: Okay, I'm already like writing you down, because is leading with humility, and coming into these spaces. And even just saying, the walls don't should not exist. You know, we started our season, talking to the founder of DevEx. And he shared just this incredible idea that, you know, the pandemic showed us that we're only as healthy as our lowest health system, you know, as our most weakest link of the health system. And I think that speaks volumes. I think we all feel that more than ever, that uprising, but it feels like you've been leaned in and attuned to this, as you've built the program. We prepared
• 7:14
  Becky Endicott: that way, please, like this.
• 7:17
  Jonathan McCoy: So give us an overview of the main programs that you're involved in and kind of walk us through what they do and their focus areas.
• 7:24
  Lola Adedokun: Sure. So in Africa, we have invested in what we are calling, building and strengthening learning health system. So that's building a culture of drawing on data research and evidence by practitioners by policymakers and community leader to create policies and programs that worked for them that work locally for them. Typically, what happens in the global south is global North donors have an idea and a solution that they kind of foist upon governments.
• 7:55
  Lola Adedokun: And so there isn't that healthy culture of pushback and centering it around real lived experience. So we have been supporting Ministries of Health, and Ghana, Mozambique, Rwanda, Zambia, and Tanzania and Ethiopia now to facilitate those learning cultures, which, you know, it sounds complex, but really all it is, is giving space and time for people to problem solve together. And so we've funded and finance the space and the time for all of these parties, policymakers, practitioners, frontline workers, community health workers, parents to come together and problem solved, and then hold themselves accountable through sort of 14 Accountability Report backs. And for that work here, I can, quote, measurable improvements in health reductions and total fertility rates. But what's the legacy is what we've started with a whole new quarter of leader who know how to think differently, who know how to feel empowered, to ask questions, and supported to do take the time to find the right solutions. So that's our legacy.
• 9:06
  Lola Adedokun: And Africa. And, and the US program, it's evolved quite a bit, endorses. Well, she wrote that she wanted her funding to go to many areas, but one of which will be a focus on reducing child abuse and neglect. She spent her life engaged in this work. And so that was what she wanted her legacy to do. So through the program, Linda Simpson remained to be the child well being program. It's a little bit similar, where in addition to building this learning culture, because our systems are imperfect as well, and they also are under resourced and under supported to really reflect and think and be more creative. So we're helping to create those spaces. We're also funding collective impact strategy, so neighborhood, coordinated programs and projects that really serve neighborhoods, and are providing the kinds of support and resources they need, when they need them, how they need them. And you know, enough of that. And then finally, within this portfolio, which I'm most excited about, again, is leadership. So what we know is, historically, I think, we sort of assume that a good leader went to an Ivy League school, then went to a fabulous business school or medical school with a name brand that you can recognize, and then they're done. They're a leader, they're the head of a house. What we know is, that is not it. Yeah, they are. Right, so many other skills that are not technical, that make a leader in this new age, effective, knowing how to be humble, knowing how to engage and partner knowing to how to solicit authentic solutions. And also knowing how to communicate and tell a story that's compelling, but is honest, to one's experience. So we're funding a little number of national leader who are in the social sector to really hone in and lean into that. And then they're provided with a mentoring support, to thrive in their organizations or just beyond in their careers. So that's, that's what we're working on. It's a it's a broad scope of work. But what I, what I hope to sort of make clear as solutions, I believe, has to be holistic, there, if we want to have enduring solutions that really bleed into conversations around Systems Transformation, you know, we can call it build back better, but just looking at a decade of the decade ahead of us, how we will be different and transformed. We have to take a holistic approach. And that's that's what we're trying to build this reinforcing ecosystem of support that Senator centers around the human experience, no matter where you are, is the the the legacy the footprint that we're trying to weave.
• 12:43
  Jonathan McCoy: It's not lost on me that we're already back to like, how do we pull walls down?
• 12:45
  Jonathan McCoy: You know, how do we quit looking that we're only solving this one outcome and not looking at the holistic human being that was that, you know, we're talking about,
• 12:55
  Becky Endicott: and the three themes that keep coming up, as you're talking to me, Lola, these are the three I've pulled out. One is the number one is coming in with a heart for humility. The second one is listening. And I have to tell you, this is probably the one of the biggest elephant in the room in terms of what nonprofits are not doing our social good organizations, we push our content, we push our stories, and there is not a symbiotic nature, to where we're listening to that and you have grounded all of your work in the ability to listen. And that human to human narrative is informing the process. And then the last one is data, also an Achilles heel in the nonprofit industry. And I'm here to tell you, I'm one of them. So knowing that that is kind of how you set the groundwork, I want to kind of talk about, you talked about this little new pathways to leadership, I mean, talk about the need to invest in these new pathways. And we particularly want to know how we can do it for leaders of color for young people and people who want to do this grass work, grassroots work on the ground.
• 14:05
  Lola Adedokun: Absolutely. And I'll speak about it as how I experienced that. One is to remembering that we all have a role to play in mentoring in your community, and your network that's beyond that, we have a responsibility to mentor and support younger people, and bring them in and be honest about our experiences with them.
• 14:28
  Lola Adedokun: And I also think that we we often start to wait, you know, we might say in philanthropy, we decide that our entry point might be third grade, or eighth grade, or college. And that's too late. You have to start with the parents, you have to start with the community where those people will be. And really, really, when you see someone who has a talent, who is has that star, which you know, we've run into those young people around who just they're special, that you remember their specialness and you think about them and consider that in your day to day and how you can lift them up. So that's it. And the last message I'll leave is, I know that we fund a lot of fellowship programs, often and in we fund people tend to get they're surprised by the financial cost of those leadership and fellowship programs because sometimes those costs match the cost of a college education right But we have to value it as a different type of education.
• 15:38
  Lola Adedokun: And we have to make that investment. Because once you have done it, I talked about legacy a few times, that's your legacy. It's a whole generation.
• 15:44
  Lola Adedokun: So we have to put our dollars, put our money, where our mouth is, if you believe and humans and you believe in people, you need to create the space for them to, to, to to live their authentic lives. Wow.
• 16:02
  Jonathan McCoy: I mean, there's just so much there, everybody can take something from what you've shared already. And so I'm just loving this conversation, Lola, could we talk, you know, transition to our next piece of just Becky lifted up the idea of data, and really making these data driven decisions throughout your career, and you've leveraged it to make informed decisions and create these programs?
• 16:22
  Jonathan McCoy: Definitely to foster deeper impact. Could you talk about that process and kind of how you're using it to lead that in all of your work?
• 16:31
  Lola Adedokun: Sure. So for me, of course, I, before going into a community, before making a decision about what we will do, I lean into the data, that's how we decide where our resources will go, data, administrative data, census data, and also the the kind of community based participatory research, which enables you to understand what the community's needs are. So we went into a lot of community assessments. And we ask that our partners do as well. So we have had to it's a weakness in the space, and just in the capacity of leaders to understand how to where to find data and information, how to process that information, and then how to ensure that that is what's guiding day to day decision. So that means, in addition to investing in evaluator, that we are also focusing a lot on translating researchers research results. I say this a lot. I'm not a researcher, I'm a Research enthusiast. I am a consumer.
• 17:44
  Lola Adedokun: So as such, I can understand the challenges that practitioners face and policymakers face and making sense of what is coming out. And so we invest in that translational element, that this is what the what this report said about this community and that, that we're speaking only to one community, not to all communities, and knowing how to parse that out. So that's, that's how we leaned into data data use. And finally, it's about people. So we have to invest in training more leaders of color, more researchers of color. So we're investing in a couple of organizations right now, at Boston University and the University of Michigan, our leader at Boston University, it's focusing on building out a robust network of African American researchers focusing on early childhood development. Our leader at Michigan is focusing on supporting Native American researchers in the psychology, social psychology space and their mentoring, and creating again, opening doors for these young people to come in and do the work for themselves, by themselves for their community to sort for us by US model. So that's been an exciting investment to see. And then what's happening is these are these organic networks are being developed amongst communities of color, because that's an authentic way in which a lot of leaders of color work we are in this together. So that's been a really exciting shift. And I have to give credit to my other philanthropic colleagues in the room who last made similar investments, and have also had the fact that we have to do it together to you. It's not about one foundation, and that how big their endowment is, it's about the entire industry and how we how we work on and on together.
• 19:38
  Jonathan McCoy: And I don't want to miss that. I think something poignant that you said in the middle of discussing this is that it always comes back to the individual community, too. It's not these broad swath answers like we're so far past that I mean, it's about understanding the nuance of the community, specifically, and building to that so thank you for lifting that.
• 19:59
  Becky Endicott: And it makes me just think of in this is probably a selfish inclination of like, we're for good and the we're for good community. It was built on everyone matters, with the last value of being that community is everything and this is another living example of it, except for you have decades of experience of doing this and I have to compliment you on. I mean, this is such a massive problem. When you talk about like public health and child wellbeing and these things these are massive systemic problems, but the fact that you have approached the problem I'm from the one going in with a heart of humility. And the fact that you have data that shows that our organic community can build as a result of this, it doesn't have to be powered by advertising and marketing, and all of these things that we think we need to channel into things to get people moving, if you take the time to listen, allow them to pour in the way that they want to the organic community growth will already build.
• 21:04
  Lola Adedokun: Right? That's just incredible. Well, I
• 21:07
  Becky Endicott: would, I would love to hear an example. Because I'm sure people are saying I love this, I can see why it's been very successful at door stoop. But give us an example of how like kind of leveraging this data can lead to such a great impact.
• 21:20
  Lola Adedokun: Sure, I'll give one from Rwanda. And then I'll give another from my backyard here in New York. So the first in Rwanda, we were supporting, in addition to supporting, you know, the, the capacity building of leaders, we also invested in larger interventions that were determined by the governments.
• 21:44
  Lola Adedokun: So they identified a problem in Rwanda. That is that they wanted to strengthen the capacity of nurses, and community, they were the sort of first point people that families get engaged with, and they just weren't capacitated to do this evidence based decision making and thinking and partnership. The group also just identified that one of the biggest challenges they were facing were shockingly high infant mortality rates. And so they wanted to ensure that nurses had a deep understanding of what why infants were dying so early, and what programs are interventions work to resolve those issues. And then we're trained in those interventions.
• 22:27
  Lola Adedokun: And as such, they were able to observe an 18% reduction in infant mortality and the regions that we were working in a matter of two years. That's enormous.
• 22:43
  Lola Adedokun: Unbelievable. And our investment was this was a sub project. And it came out because there was a research community conversation in our neighborhoods, this is unacceptable in our communities, how do we solve it? So that was huge. And as such, we engage the Minister of Health in this work, and they scaled it nationally, this is now a national intervention, to talk about legacy, talk about solutions, we invested, you know, the whole program was an $8 million program over five years, think about how much the Gates Foundation or government spend on health interventions,
• 23:21
  Becky Endicott: I thought you were gonna say a much higher number,
• 23:24
  Lola Adedokun: much smaller. And this was a sub part of this project. So it took, you know, at the end of the day, a rounding error of a global health budget to create a solution that will change the trajectory of a country of a nation. So that's, that's huge.
• 23:37
  Lola Adedokun: And one of the lessons is, this is kind of looping back to what are we what can we draw from other countries. So we're taking that model, and that approach from both Rwanda and in Togo, to do work in the South Bronx, we have a colleague, Kevin fury, who is based at Montefiore Hospital, and he is replicating an intervention that he's been leading in Togo for many years now, winking community health workers, creating a cotter, which will give you a warm handoff to the next organization that provides the services that you need. So it's between the health system and an all the other social support networks that are in the South Bronx, because that's the missing piece that you go into, you go to a doctor, they tell you, these are the things you need to do. And then they you know, after the next patient, without recognizing that there are real issues related to being unable to access those services. So right now, he has tested out a subset of the community. And not only is he seeing improvements in, you know, health outcomes in the short term, he's seeing that there's greater job satisfaction by these community health workers. And then on top of that, he's saying cost savings.
• 24:54
  Lola Adedokun: Because intellectual intuitively, we know that if we were able to do better and serving families, there will be a cost reduction that our health system does not have to take on.
• 25:04
  Lola Adedokun: So he's seeing that, and he's got lots of your leadership on board with this model. He's built out a research center, to sort of further the case for this. And they're listening, the hospital system is listening.
• 25:14
  Lola Adedokun: And it's one of the biggest hospital systems for the city.
• 25:17
  Lola Adedokun: So if they redirect their funds to take on this model, again, you'll see this triple bottom line is that they call it these multiplicity of effects. I like to call the positive externalities from one singular intervention
• 25:34
  Becky Endicott: President
• 25:37
  Jonathan McCoy: it speaks again to data, humility and listening, even the hospital showing humility to listen, you know, and to adapt. What a thread.
• 25:46
  Becky Endicott: And I just think about the intangible benefits that you don't even quantify in the moment that have trickle, mental health balance, because you're not having that stress, the the togetherness of the family, and there's more security, there's more economic security, the ripples to this, I'm just really geeked out about it. Naturally, I'm thinking, what is this framework? And how can everyone adopt? It is right, yeah, let's hear it.
• 26:14
  Lola Adedokun: It's a public health framework. I'm a public health professional, this is what we do. We have an answer.
• 26:25
  Becky Endicott: The Cure? Oh, my gosh, I'm Fascinating.
• 26:28
  Jonathan McCoy: Well, so how can how can leaders use their own voices to you know, get people to the table to have these kind of conversations from policymakers? And how do we advance these things? What has worked for you, I mean, in what you've seen,
• 26:41
  Lola Adedokun: wherever we go, when we're making an investment, we invite different leaders to join the table. I mean, so, you know, we're a national thunder, but I live in New York. And I know that I don't know about every community, but we, we kind of do kind of How would I describe it, we enter el la, that's a big city, but I'll just name it. And we invite the lead funders in that city, we invite or have one on one conversations with the key policymakers in the space. And we invite community leaders, and we invite them to sit around a table. And we introduce ourselves. It's it's an African technique, we introduce ourselves, and then we talk about our approach and ask if they're willing to do it with us, will you join us and being transparent, being honest and listening to one another as we create solutions, and I say 97% of the time, it's a and then I note to them, the part of this experience is failure. The point is, you will fail. But your segments to look upon that failure, adapt and proceed. You know, adapt your model adapt your approach, but failure is part of it. And that's a scary, that's a scary, fraught concept.
• 28:03
  Lola Adedokun: For funders, we talk about risk and funny ways. And for policymakers, they have real risks to concern themselves with. But if we open the door with a here we are in community together to solve this issue or address this problem, or build on this strength, or this asset, which are plenty which are bound, then we have to understand the part of it is tripping, failing, making a few missteps and course corrected.
• 28:36
  Jonathan McCoy: Okay, Lola, you got to go to the United Nations or Secretary of State work
• 28:43
  Becky Endicott: on all those ESGs and just solve the,
• 28:47
  Jonathan McCoy: through them.
• 28:48
  Becky Endicott: I just think it's just a really interesting conversation. And we all know that risk is very much a cuss word. In the nonprofit world, we just have that scarcity mindset of just, we've got to do it the way it's always been done. And now, I love this concept of meeting the moment, and how are you rising up to meet the moment? So I would love for you to kind of talk about how you developed this global mindset?
• 29:16
  Becky Endicott: And how can individuals right now who are just so passionate about what they're doing, whether it's in social justice, environment, or food scarcity, whatever it is, how can they pour into that and use it to lead?
• 29:30
  Lola Adedokun: Sure. That's a big question. So I'll be I'll say this. And I know others will understand that this is this can be very lonely, work. It, it requires constant, giving up your spirits, giving every dollar time giving of your thoughts and recognizing that there is a whole community of folks who are here is and then connecting with them. I know there are many ways to connect with social impact leaders that are more formal, but creating those networks where it's about feeding your spirit and your soul makes the work much lighter. So I just want to especially for my leaders of color, we have to release the load. That's how you meet the moment that it's not on all us, only on us, even though we're being called to lead in new ways that we have to call upon our allies or white allies, just to be it be on the panel. With us, there's the second way that I hope that we're meeting the moment is I mentioned that, you know, starting investing earlier, what we've seen is the power of community organizing, and affecting so many different policy decision that there are community leaders, who aren't your usual suspects, not the same people you see on a community advisory boards, you're self selected, and they choose to be leaders. But the young people, the grandmothers, the fathers, who some of them are turning for being incarcerated for whoever a special commitment to the community and family, who know how to lead in a way that there's no rebuilding of trust, they are already trusted leaders. So we're trying to find ways to create platforms of visibility for those leaders.
• 31:24
  Lola Adedokun: Because policymakers, the smart ones are asking who can I ask them? Where do I get this information, nobody tracks us, you know, you see a CPS worker walk into a community. Nobody wants to talk to that person about improving the child welfare system, there's no trust there. But they will talk to a grandmother who've been taken care of many generations of family to figure out what she needs. And that can be communicated to a policymaker.
• 31:46
  Lola Adedokun: So that's, that's how we're doing our best to meet the moment. And then the last thing I'll do is whenever I meet a leader, I like to say their name, and other settings, I have a colleague at Endora, who's running a really incredible direct cash assistance program.
• 32:07
  Lola Adedokun: And Jackson, Mississippi, where she's giving single black moms living in housing, public housing, $1,000 a month, for 12 months, to just get them to the next step. That's the dollar amount that they thought was just enough, they didn't want more, this is asking the moms, what do you need, what do you need, and they only want it for for one year. And I share the envision that and I speak her name and every form I can so that she gets the visibility that she deserves, so that, you know, she can be partners in the arms of all of us. So just you know, say their name, if you see a leader, you we all have that power. So that's, that's what I'll leave with.
• 32:51
  Jonathan McCoy: And we wholeheartedly believe that, you know, and I think we try to live that out here on the podcast to have just lifting and connecting people to stories that you wouldn't know otherwise. And we've seen it so many times so many. That's how these things happen. You know, it's people, meeting people and having that passion and having that connection. And if you
• 33:11
  Becky Endicott: say their name, you don't even have to be present to be a part of community, the network in the repple keeps going and the amount of connectivity that helps us move faster, that helps us move smarter, has got to just channel and fuel our mission so much more there is only good that can be done when linking arms and uplifting someone else and I just I really love your focus on leaders of color and and and our marginalized communities. I just love Rachel cargo. And she always talks about, you know, it's not enough for people to say I see you people of color are looking for people to say I'm beside you to up in the system. And that, to me is one of the most beautiful rallying cries I've heard for the allies that are needed in this space. And just what you've said, Lola is such a gentle and kind and empathy based way to do it. So way to go Rockstar leader, we're drinking your Kool Aid.
• 34:15
  Jonathan McCoy: Well, you know, it's by no surprise, we love philanthropy, we love the power of it. And you've gotten to experience so much of that. I think even just stewarding this gift of the foundation that you're a part of, would you talk about a story, some something that's happening even personally through your work at the foundation? What's the story of philanthropy that's really stuck with you?
• 34:36
  Lola Adedokun: You know, in the last few years, as we all have been going through it, and before this, this moment, if you will, you know, each foundation I felt found their lane stayed in their lane, we talked about partnerships, we don't really partner where we're just trying to, we might align but co funding, creating solutions together it's not has not been a culture. But in the last I'd say nine months, 10 months, what has been so hard is to be at philanthropic table where they're leaning into partner and they mean it and they're working quickly. Or it we're sort of ending a lot of the the navel gazing, pontificating, you know, Ivory Tower, sort of approach to to funding and really just, you know, getting on our knees and saying we have to do better.
• 35:30
  Lola Adedokun: This is the time We have to do better together. So I was incredibly heartened to see that this culture of building partnerships and thought and an investment has been happening.
• 35:42
  Lola Adedokun: And I just hope that we stay there in that space. We can only do better work. So that's, that's my one recent takeaway from from philanthropy. And I guess also, I'd say that bleeders of philanthropic organizations, I would say, especially those who are with a family foundation for living, living donors are engaging in conversation deeper, new ways.
• 36:09
  Lola Adedokun: And that's, I think, brought a new sphere of entrepreneurship and an opportunity and hope that that has been exciting to see.
• 36:20
  Lola Adedokun: So we are it's enables us to sort of better think through solutions with folks who are in space living the work, but also economy, economic drivers at the same time. So I just it's, it's been exciting to see a whole new breath of fresh air that I love.
• 36:42
  Becky Endicott: It's just like old world, isn't it? Yeah, I mean, it truly watching foundations. And the way that they reacted to the pandemic, from the sidelines, was one of the most interesting experiments because you had those who were have been so set in their ways who just kind of shut down lockdown. And then you had those that said, Throw out the strategic plan and the five year playbook, we are living in the now, what can we do now that aligns with our values, it aligns with our mission. And because of that leaned in nature, we've talked with some who have pivoted away from what they thought they were doing.
• 37:23
  Becky Endicott: And again, it's this this time in history has sped up their ability to edit, innovate, to iterate, to listen, and I'm thrilled about the new partnership component. I'm with you. I hope we stay in this space forever. So Lola, we ask all of our guests to share a one good thing with us. This could be a life hack, a mantra something that really could motivate you and you could get done today. What kind of one good thing advice would you give to our audience today?
• 37:56
  Lola Adedokun: I'd say the one good thing that we I'd like to leave with those have a great glass of water and take a walk outside.
• 38:04
  Becky Endicott: That might be the most grounding, mental, physical and emotional thing that you could do for yourself.
• 38:11
  Becky Endicott: So take a nap and take a nap.
• 38:13
  Jonathan McCoy: Are you back on this? Right? Yeah. Okay. So Lola, this conversation, truly, I want to go back and just process through and apply it just at a huge level because of the great feedback that you've given us today. Would you tell us how can we connect with you?
• 38:27
  Jonathan McCoy: how can listeners find you? How can we follow along with your work or find you on social? Are you on LinkedIn, just pointing us in all the places
• 38:37
  Lola Adedokun: adding my lack of social media, you can find me on LinkedIn that's my engage with but easy to find. I'm very responsive. Welcome conversation, opportunities to think together. LinkedIn, you'll find me there. But I'd
• 38:51
  Jonathan McCoy: say also dive into the Doris Duke Charitable Foundations website. I think there's a lot of information about these programs and puts color to it, you know, and you can see faces behind it. And it's just a fascinating story.
• 39:02
  Becky Endicott: Thank you so much for your time and wisdom we have just positively loved sitting here and visiting with you today.
• 39:08
  Lola Adedokun: Y'all are the best. Thank you. Hey, friends.
• 39:11
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• 39:31
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• 39:34
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• 39:43
  Julie Confer: Thanks friends. I'm our producer Julie confer and our theme song is sunray by Remy Boris boom