What does it take to lead a nonprofit in today’s world? This week on FOMO Sapiens, Nick Grono, author of “How to Lead Nonprofits” and CEO of the Freedom Fund, an organization dedicated to ending modern slavery, joins Patrick J. McGinnis and shares his journey that began at 16, sailing around the globe and learning the discipline that would shape his career. Together, they dive into the experience of growing up on a 100-year-old sailing ship and leading a global organization that has liberated over 30,000 people from modern slavery. He challenges the conventional wisdom about non-profits, arguing that they require unique skills. Nick emphasizes the importance of purpose-driven leadership, especially in times of crisis, and offers practical advice for anyone looking to get involved in non-profit work. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in making a real difference.
Meet our guest:
Nick was appointed as the inaugural CEO of the Freedom Fund in January 2014. The Fund is an ambitious effort to mobilize the knowledge and capital that will be needed to end modern slavery. It was launched by President Bill Clinton in New York in September 2013, who declared at the time, “This is a huge deal, and we should all support this.”
In its first nine years of operation, the Freedom Fund has worked with some 140 frontline partners around the world to directly liberate over 30,000 people from modern slavery and return over 153,000 at-risk children back to school. Overall, its programs have positively impacted the lives of more than 1.4 million people and changed the systems that put millions more at risk of exploitation.
Nick serves on the advisory councils of Global Witness and the McCain Institute. Prior to the Freedom Fund, he was the inaugural CEO of the Walk Free Foundation, a key international actor in the fight against modern slavery. And before Walk Free, Nick was the Deputy President and Chief Operating Officer of the International Crisis Group (ICG), the world’s leading conflict prevention NGO, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, with offices in over 20 countries.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Jordan is a passionate public speaker and blogger, frequently sharing
Nick is a lawyer by background and served as Chief of Staff and National Security Adviser to the Australian Attorney-General from 1999-2001. He has a law degree with first-class honors from the University of Sydney and a Master’s in Public Policy from Princeton University. He has written a book on nonprofit leadership, published in July 2024.
For media and speaking requests, and to suggest a guest for the show, please email letsconnect@patrickmcginnis.com.
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