Reimagining & Redesigning Civil Leadership with Nike Irvin
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About the Episode
Antionette D. Carroll and Managing Director of the Civil Society Fellowship Nike Irvin explore the complexities of equity, liberation, justice, and leadership in today's society.
They stress the importance of reimagining civil leadership and decision-making through a lens of equity and liberation and share their experiences of being part of selection committees for executive roles while exploring the weight of their decisions, particularly when it comes to long-term impact and legacy. Nike shares some actionable steps for building empathy and understanding, such as writing with your non-dominant hand to challenge accepted norms and bring awareness to societal imbalances.
The conversation culminates with a future-focused discussion, urging listeners to be more curious and empathetic. Nike envisions a future where humanity has evolved to become more equitable, embracing diversity as a superpower rather than a checkbox. Both Antionette and Nike agree that the quest for a more equitable and liberated society is a continual journey that requires constant rethinking, reimagining, and redesigning of systems and norms.
About Our Guest:
Nike Irvin serves as Managing Director of the Civil Society Fellowship for next-generation community and civil society leaders, a joint partnership between ADL and Aspen Institute, and new offering of the Aspen Global Leaders Network (AGLN).
Based in Los Angeles, Nike led the California Community Foundation’s (CCF) grantmaking for six years, overseeing grants to arts, education, juvenile justice, and health. Before CCF, Nike served as president of The Riordan Foundation for seven years. She is active in American truth and reconciliation efforts with the Kellogg Foundation and AGLN. Prior to her nonprofit career, she was a brand manager for Nestlé and Pepsi-Cola. She is a trustee for The Riordan Foundation, Southern California Grantmakers, High Resolves, Nonprofit Finance Fund, and The Broad Center.
Nike received a BA in Economics & Political Science from Yale and was named one of the “100 Most Inspirational Alumni” by UCLA Anderson School, where she earned her MBA. Nike is a Marshall Memorial Fellow. In 2016, she received LABJ’s Philanthropist of the Year award and recipient of Profiles in Diversity Journal’s Women Worth Watching award. Nike is a member of the 2004 Class of Henry Crown Fellows within the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute.
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