Today I have on a truly inspired and inspiring guest; Aila Malik. When I first met her, I was immediately drawn to her spirit because she is doing some incredible things for non-profit organizations looking to make a difference in the world.   Aila is a values-driven leader who lives with intention. She is a compassionate advocate of community kindness, planet protection, and family togetherness. She’s deeply committed to contributing to a world in which disparity does not limit people’s access to opportunity. Her organization, Venture Leadership Consulting, pairs a Venture Leader with a non-profit organization to “turn their ‘idea’ into I did!” They help these organizations uplevel their performance and scale solutions that close systemic gaps of inequity. Through this work, she has received recognition for her leadership, activism, and tireless service.   Aila truly is an absolute gem. In our conversation today, she touches on the five dimensions of leadership that are so essential. She shares her insights on the non-profit sector, how globetrotting for a year informed her leadership, what led her to embrace the terms ‘activism’ and ‘advocacy’ within her role as a leader, what she has learned when serving as an Interim Executive in several organizations, and the key characteristics and competencies that leaders in non-profits should display.   Key Takeaways: [:50] About today’s inspiring guest, Aila Malik. [1:44] Welcoming Aila to Fifth Dimensional Leadership. [2:08] Aila shares about her organization, Venture Leader; why she originally founded it, and what their mission is. [5:04] Aila’s thoughts on the for-profit sector vs. the non-profit sector. [8:22] The daring leap of faith Aila took early on in her business, globetrotting and experientially building empathy within her and her husband’s three littles. [12:26] How globetrotting for a year with her family informed Aila’s leadership and future goals within her own company. [15:09] When did Aila consider herself a leader? How did she get to this place? [19:16] Aila defines leadership and speaks about a word she recently began to embrace within her leadership: activism. [22:40] Aila elaborates on this expanded notion of advocacy within her leadership. [25:00] Aila’s work requires a high EQ (emotional intelligence) and the ability to code-switch. She explains what this means and why it is key in the work that she does. [29:25] Aila has sat as an Interim Executive in several organizations. She shares how this works and one of her many experiences. [31:43] What Aila offered as an Interim Executive; how she showed up and created trust, transparency, and safety with the organization. [34:41] The importance of holding space for yourself and others — especially now, during the pandemic. [36:00] Aila offers some onboarding tips for getting to know the organization you’re working with better and vice versa. [37:28] Are there characteristics and competencies that leaders in non-profits need that might be different than for-profit leaders? [42:48] Aila shares her vision for the future and offers some inspiring words of encouragement for leaders in how they need to be showing up in the world right now. [46:57] Thanking Aila for all that she does and for joining the podcast!   Mentioned in this Episode: Aila Malik’s Websites:  AilaMalik.com VentureLeader.org FranklinStreetGlobetrotters.org Pocket Mommy Life Notes Aila Malik’s Twitter @MalikAila Fifth Dimensional Leadership Ep. 4: "You Can't Do Good Business with Bad People": Dorri McWhorter on Creating Inclusivity, Empowering Women, and Eliminating Racism   About Fifth Dimensional Leadership & Ginny Clarke Fifth-Dimensional Leadership is a podcast about leadership — knowing yourself, speaking your truth, inspiring love, expanding your consciousness and activating your mastery. As an executive recruiter and career expert currently leading executive recruiting at a Fortune 20 tech company, Ginny Clarke is a passionate and authentic thoug