“The role of a leader is not to come up with all the great ideas. The role of a leader is to create an environment in which great ideas can happen.”― Simon Sinek

A strong business acumen, commitment to social responsibility, passion, and a clear vision create the perfect mix for leading a successful organization. Terri Wingham founded nonprofit A Fresh Chapter (AFC) in 2010 to support and empower individuals emotionally impacted by cancer. In 2013, AFC launched its first volunteering and personal growth program in India. AFC helps individuals take back their lives, contributing to their personal and professional well being while also leading to a positive ripple effect on their friends, families, and communities.

Many may not know of Terri’s extensive business background, including experience as a corporate headhunter, which has helped her in building AFC. If you step back, you see her exhibit those skills in the daily life of A Fresh Chapter. I sat down with Terri to understand how she turned a unique non-profit idea into the successful organization it is today – while, in the process, helping hundreds to reclaim their lives.

About A Fresh Chapter

AFC provides a deep sense of belonging for people impacted by cancer. It fills a niche in the oncology community that is not otherwise being served – one primarily focused on life beyond the disease. Participants learn that the most difficult aspect of their stories do not define them.

Using volunteering as a catalyst for post-traumatic growth, AFC serves cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors. Its programs empower participants to give their time to support others in need – whether at home or around the world in program sites like South Africa, India, Peru, and Kenya.

Expanding through innovative corporate partnerships

As with many other entrepreneurs, Terri built something that did not exist in the marketplace. She recognized the need for such an organization, after her own personal journey with cancer. For the last few years, I have watched, in awe of her abilities, and wondered how she accomplishes so much. It’s clear that Terri’s success is tied to her belief in core principles such as continual growth, trusting one’s intuition, and being open to mentorship and feedback.

While volunteering in India in 2012, Terri learned about Eli Lilly and Company’s Connecting Hearts Abroad Program and saw an opportunity to build a strong partnership with a company focused on creating medicines that make life better for people around the world. Terri relied on her experience as a headhunter to build the right connections and ultimately forged a  partnership that made sense for both organizations. Terri worked with her partners at Lilly to map out what a partnership would look like, formalize an infrastructure, design the program, and align on a plan for execution. Terri’s corporate skills helped to establish the trust that AFC would deliver the employee experience it promised.

Empowering volunteers

After experiencing AFC’s programs, many participants want to continue their work with the organization. Their continued commitment led Terri to establish a network of skilled volunteer ambassadors who contribute to the organization’s success. These dedicated volunteers (and the growth of the organization) challenged Terri to move from thinking about A Fresh Chapter as “her vision” to embracing the collective vision. Terri sets parameters and is transparent about what is non-negotiable in order to stay on mission, but she knows the importance of finding the right people whose capabilities she believes in and trusts. Terri is a unique leader who empowers her volunteers to bring their own personality, skills, and experiences to their work. The organization’s network of ambassadors and consultants take pride in being a part of something revolutionary.

Knowing volunteers might not put their hearts into the work if they felt it was an obligation, Terri puts on her headhunter hat. She matches the work that needs to be done to each individual’s unique skills. This includes providing encouragement when there is an opportunity for someone to develop skills they can leverage elsewhere in their lives. Terri realizes this benefits one’s community and family. In the end, this empowered person serves as an agent to make an even bigger impact.

Creating the “ah-ha” experience

As a CEO, Terri displays confidence in her job as an architect of the container, collector of the right elements, and creator of the right experience where people are challenged to grow.

At one of the earlier programs, she recognized initial fear in the participants. She also appreciated the shift when people felt safe being in a new country. Volunteering in the community, participants saw struggles in people from a different culture. They also witnessed happiness and resilience.

Creating those ah-ha moments is something Terri does well. She knows the power those moments have in changing one’s perception and often one’s reality. These “Terri-created” environments reflect her expertise and vision. They provide opportunities for people to bring the best version of themselves, leading to immeasurable “ripples” in the communities AFC travels to and in the lives of participants, their friends, families, and communities. Terri is clear that A Fresh Chapter is now so much bigger than her. It’s about everyone involved in this movement to turn adversity into an opportunity for growth.

A compassionate leader

Terri’s leadership style can be best described as compassionate, which was the first quality I noticed about her. Terri has a unique ability to connect with people who want to be in a place where they can reveal the highs and lows of their lives. Terri works hard to emulate that behavior.  She provides a unique space for people to feel comfortable and honest about what they struggle with, along with celebrating their triumphs.

In return, she is also transparent about her challenges and successes. A Type A person by nature, Terri acknowledges she does not have all of the answers and trusts her intuition – and colleagues – to guide her. Terri takes pride in being open to feedback about what people see in her and AFC and how she (or AFC) might evolve. When she listens, she says, “magic happens.”  That magic is A Fresh Chapter.