Karen S Wells: Make-A-Wish America

Karen S. Wells is the Chief Operating Officer at Make-A-Wish America, a nonprofit creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. With over 30 years of distinctive career experiences, Karen has successfully held key leadership roles in a Fortune 500 company, multiple C-suite roles in nonprofits, and as an entrepreneur and small business owner. Before joining Make-A-Wish in January 2023, she served as CEO of Bridge Communities, a nonprofit organization supporting families experiencing homelessness. A renowned keynote speaker, guest lecturer, and panelist, Karen connects with audiences by openly sharing her diverse professional leadership journey shaped by courage, hope, and resilience.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[1:26] Karen S. Wells shares her career journey from McDonald’s VP to Make-A-Wish COO
[9:41] Passion for helping children and families through entrepreneurship
[11:19] Why Karen decided to buy a Goddard School franchise
[14:50] How Make-A-Wish grants life-changing wishes to critically ill children
[18:26] Clarifying the misconception that Make-A-Wish is only for terminally ill children
[20:17] Heartwarming stories of life-changing wishes and lasting impacts
[30:23] Leadership challenges in today’s rapidly evolving nonprofit landscape

In this episode…

Navigating a career transition can be overwhelming, especially when shifting from corporate leadership to the nonprofit sector. The challenges of managing financial sustainability, engaging volunteers, and staying mission-focused while leading an organization can feel daunting. How can leaders leverage their past experiences to create meaningful impact in a mission-driven role?

Karen S. Wells, an experienced executive leader, shares how her background in corporate leadership helped shape her approach to nonprofit management. Drawing from her journey through operations, strategy, and entrepreneurship, she emphasizes the importance of adaptability, servant leadership, and maintaining a clear mission focus. Karen also highlights the critical role of volunteers, the power of storytelling in donor engagement, and the impact of fostering a strong organizational culture to drive success.

In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith interviews Karen S. Wells, Chief Operating Officer at Make-A-Wish America, about leadership, nonprofit management, and the transformative power of granting wishes. Karen shares her journey from corporate leadership to the nonprofit world, offering insights on adapting to a mission-driven environment. She also discusses overcoming leadership challenges, the emotional impact of a wish, and how nonprofits can engage communities more effectively.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Quotable Moments:

“The impact of a wish is that it’s not just a nice thing to do, it’s part of healing.”
“I just wanted to work hard so that I could help my family and my mother.”
“We want every eligible child around the entire globe to have a life-changing wish.”
“When you own it, you’re on — 24/7. Every parent is your boss, all 120 plus of them.”
“The power of hope is something that you almost can’t measure, but we see it every day.”

Action Steps:

Leverage past experiences to drive nonprofit success: Recognizing how past experiences translate to new roles helps leaders adapt quickly and make a meaningful impact.
Engage volunteers as essential team members: Investing time in volunteer training and appreciation strengthens their commitment and improves service delivery.
Use storytelling to connect with donors and stakeholders: Emotional and compelling stories about beneficiaries create stronger engagement and increase donor contributions.
Develop leadership resilience in uncertain environments: Nonprofit leaders must navigate rapidly changing economic conditions and funding challenges while keeping their teams motivated.
Prioritize mission-driven decision-making: Ensuring mission alignment helps organizations stay true to their purpose and build long-term credibility with stakeholders.

Sponsor for this episode…

Today’s episode is sponsored by Paul Gregory Media, an 18-year-old digital marketing agency in downtown Naperville, Illinois.

They are one of the few thousand Certified B Corporations worldwide, demonstrating PGM as a leader of a global movement to use business as a force for good, meeting high standards of accountability, transparency, and community involvement. They have been trusted by hundreds of organizations since 2006.

PGM is recognized as one of the top marketing agencies in the region, earning more awards than many of its competitors combined. They have the passion, commitment, and expertise to get it done.

To learn more about the services PGM offers or how they can support you with your marketing needs, visit www.paulgregorymedia.com or email them at [email protected].