Scaling Social Impact: Suzanne Smith on Helping Organizations Create Change

Suzanne Smith has spent her career working with nonprofits and has witnessed a reality many people outside the field don’t see: solving big social problems requires more than passion and good intentions. It requires organizations strong enough to grow and build long-term sustainability.

In this episode, Suzanne shares what it’s like to work in the social impact world, and what she’s learned from working with organizations trying to turn big ideas for change into lasting results and stronger communities.

Hear Suzanne talk about:

  • Growing up in a family that talked about social issues at the dinner table

  • Her early career working in lobbying and the nonprofit sector

  • Why many nonprofits struggle to scale their impact

  • The intersection of nonprofit, business, and government in creating change

  • Why she believes social change work is a calling, not just a job

Mentioned in this episode:


 
One of the things I saw was the fact that the issues were scaling, but the organizations were not scaling along with them.
— Suzanne Smith
 


Episode 30 Notes

Coming soon.

Continue the Conversation

Listen & Follow Tell Me What It’s Like

Follow the show so you don’t miss future conversations about uncommon experiences and the perspectives they’ve shaped.

Know someone who would enjoy this story?

Send them this episode.

Next
Next

22 Days in a Buddhist Monastery: Clarity From Silence with Laurie Jacobson