Member Shout-Outs

The inspiration felt throughout Shift is contagious. When members buzz around the community spaces at lunchtime, you’re bound to hear someone talking about their most recent deal or that one “ah-ha” moment that led them to where they are today.

Someone who is constantly inspiring us is Leah Weiner, founder 0f Non-Profit Learning Lab. Leah is quite literally a catalyst of inspiration. Her company acts a connection for companies that strive to better the world as we know it.

Hi Leah! Thanks so much for meeting with us to share your story. Let’s start this off with a little bit about you…

I moved to Denver a year ago from Los Angeles. I miss my morning runs on Venice Beach but I am learning to love the mountains! And looking forward to next ski season when I will actually be able to get on the slopes!

Awesome. Now let’s talk business. Fill us in on Non-Profit Learning Lab. We’d love for people to get involved!

I am the Founder and CEO of the Non-Profit Learning Lab, an organization dedicated to empowering nonprofits and supporting professionals. The Nonprofit Learning Lab is a national organization that connects, supports and develops professionals leading the nonprofit sector. We work with nonprofit professionals to sharpen their skills in fundraising, board development, organizational leadership and capacity building. We offer a variety of programs and services including grants, scholarships, a mentor program, career center, webinars, conferences, trainings and more. We have 35,000 subscribers who receive our weekly e-newsletter and 1000+ members. Our members are from across the country and include organizations such as American Red Cross, Teach for America, American Cancer Society, Clinica Colorado, Humane Society, Museum of Boulder and more!

We are also recruiting professionals to serve on our National Advisory Committee. If you offer services or products that benefit nonprofits, let’s chat! Serving on our National Advisory Committee can bring exposure to your and your business. Our National Advisory Committee members write guest blog posts, lead webinars and share their expertise with our members.

What about your job inspires you? Are there clients that you’ve worked with that inspire you?

I launched the Nonprofit Learning Lab because my passion is to ensure that individuals working in the nonprofit sector are armed with best practices, tools and strategies, and a community of peers. I have long believed that having a strong network of support makes the day-to-day work of a nonprofit professional much easier. It can be challenging work and sometimes doesn’t come with a lot of pay, so having a support system is really important! I have been working in the nonprofit sector for over 12+ years. I have a doctorate in organizational leadership and development, my research focused on best practices for nonprofit organizations. So, I am lucky to have created a job for myself that combines my passion and expertise.

You just recently gave birth to your second baby boy. Did you come up with a name yet?

Yes! Ezra is his name and he was born in March. I am excited to be fully participating in Shift happy hours after my maternity leave….that keg has been calling my name for over 10 months now!

We love our members. And this one, in particular, is one of our faves. Michael Collins is an amazing human who founded an equally amazing company called Be Story Driven. It blends the concept of improvisation with the reality of professional interaction. I was able to learn more about Michael’s past, current and future during a brief interview. And I also learned that he studied at one of the most influential improv theaters in the world, Second City. Can you see why he’s one of our faves?

To kick things off, let’s provide readers with Be Story Driven’s one-liner description:

Be Story Driven uses improv and acting techniques to help people connect to their audience, inspire teams, build confidence and develop their message.

Michael has an interesting back story. Ranging from winning college improv competitions to studying at Second City and L.A. to hosting his own TV show in Steamboat Springs…

I was never that great in school, but was good at being the class clown. After finishing 3^rd in a stand-up comedy competition in college and then performing with various improv and sketch comedy groups, I decided to move to Chicago to audition for the Second City Training Center. At Second City, I learned the fundamentals of improv and storytelling. I also performed with various ensembles at The iO Theater and The Playground. After Chicago, I moved to Los Angeles, where I continued performing improv and sketch comedy, but also studied at several well-known acting studios. I was able to learn more about how an actor prepares for a role, how to connect to a script and things like nonverbal communication, listening and give and take. Then, out of the blue, I was offered a job with Outside Television as a host and producer of a live morning talk show in…Steamboat Springs. It took moving to a small mountain town to get a steady gig as a performer. That was definitely the most fun I’ve had with a job. I was also the co-host for their national show, The Buzz. After a while though, I was missing the energy of a bigger city and decided to make my way down the hill to Denver, where I founded a company called Be Story Driven.

I asked him “What about your job inspires you?” His answer: learning what makes people tick.

Having a job that allows me to work with a wide range of professionals using the skills and techniques that I’ve learned over the past 20 years is very fulfilling. I’ve worked with everyone from senior level executives at multinational companies to tech startups to non-profit organizations to entrepreneurs. The reason the program works so well with so many different types of people is that it’s all about people communicating effectively with other people, whether you’re a VP or a sales rep. Hearing people’s stories and what makes them tick is always inspiring to me.

Any big events coming up that we, the people, need to be aware of?

I just started producing a podcast from the friendly confines of Shift and will be recording my second episode this week. I’ll also be performing at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret on Friday, July 29^th with several of Denver’s best improvisers and comics.

You can find out more about Be Story Driven at www.bestorydriven.com, where you can also find his podcasts.