In partnership with New York City-based poverty-fighting organisation Robin Hood, Berkeley provides pro-bono executive coaching to non-profit leaders to help them achieve their goals and better serve communities in New York City.
With the 2022 programme now underway, Berkeley consultant and programme leader Murray Smith reflects on the success of the 2021 pilot and his own experience as a coach.
In 2021, Berkeley began a pro-bono programme to provide executive coaching to a cohort of non-profit leaders, whose organisations are working to help New Yorkers in need.
We collaborated with Robin Hood, a non-profit organisation that has been fighting poverty in New York City for more than 30 years. In 2021, Robin Hood invested over $171 million to fund, support, and connect 425 community organisations citywide that provide low-income New Yorkers with the tools they need to build better lives. Part of their work has involved supporting these non-profits to build their leadership and management capabilities to become more impactful.
We’re delighted that Berkeley has partnered with us to provide pro-bono executive coaching to non-profit leaders. By helping impactful non-profits to strengthen their leadership and become even more effective, we can better support low-income families and elevate them from poverty.”
Deborah Sakellarios, Managing Director, Management Assistance, Robin Hood
Adapting our coaching expertise to help non-profits
Berkeley’s expertise and approach lend themselves to a natural partnership with Robin Hood. As we work with our clients, we act as trusted partners to senior leadership teams, helping them navigate challenging circumstances to achieve their ambitions. As well as offering executive coaching as a specific service to enable more effective transformational change, we’ve also adopted and embedded a coaching approach throughout all that we do – both with clients and with supporting our own people to grow and develop.
Through the Robin Hood partnership, we were able to offer pro-bono coaching to leaders from a diverse range of non-profits, which provide a host of services to their communities.
Class of 2021
Careerwise NY
A youth apprenticeship system, offering practical learning and opportunities to high school students in growing NYC industries, such as IT, financial services and business operations.
IMPACCT Brooklyn
A non-profit that is seeking to create affordable housing, support local economic development, and organise members of the community to hep build and sustain flourishing communities.
KindWork
A provider of career training, coaching and job placement support. The organisation helps young people from overlooked communities to build careers in the innovation economy.
The Knowledge House
A provider of training and development programmes for traditionally underserved young people, helping them to secure careers in the technology economy.
Make the Road New York
A provider of education, health and legal services to immigrant and working class communities. The non-profit also focuses on community organising and policy work to achieve dignity and justice for all.
NMIC
A provider of crisis intervention services, including legal and social services to meet basic needs such as housing, immigration, income and health. The organisation also provides further support to help individuals and families to become self-sufficient and secure prosperous futures.
South Bronx Early Head Start
A free early childhood education program, that provides an array of services to the South Bronx community. It engages families in weekly home visits for children up to the age of three, as well as centre-based learning and enrichment.
Class of 2021
A youth apprenticeship system, offering practical learning and opportunities to high school students in growing NYC industries, such as IT, financial services and business operations.
A non-profit that is seeking to create affordable housing, support local economic development, and organise members of the community to hep build and sustain flourishing communities.
A provider of career training, coaching and job placement support. The organisation helps young people from overlooked communities to build careers in the innovation economy.
A provider of training and development programmes for traditionally underserved young people, helping them to secure careers in the technology economy.
A provider of education, health and legal services to immigrant and working class communities. The non-profit also focuses on community organising and policy work to achieve dignity and justice for all.
A provider of crisis intervention services, including legal and social services to meet basic needs such as housing, immigration, income and health. The organisation also provides further support to help individuals and families to become self-sufficient and secure prosperous futures.
A free early childhood education program, that provides an array of services to the South Bronx community. It engages families in weekly home visits for children up to the age of three, as well as centre-based learning and enrichment.
Helping leaders to ensure organisational effectiveness and achieve desired outcomes
Each of the Berkeley coaches met with their individual coachee at a minimum of twice per month over the course of 2021. Through building trusting relationships with our coachees, we were able to work together on bespoke plans for development and action, as well as provide an objective sounding board for their ideas and goals.
My coach asked great questions and was able to reframe and push my thinking.”
Feedback from a 2021 coaching participant
It was wonderful to help these leaders to strengthen effective behaviours, sharpen competencies, and address issues and barriers to success. At Berkeley, we know that good leadership is crucial for ensuring organisational effectiveness and achieving desired outcomes. Our aim was to give tools and techniques that the leaders could incorporate into their management styles for the long term – making a lasting positive impact to both the leaders themselves, their organisations and programmes, and ultimately, the communities they serve.
I am more expressive when it comes to communicating my needs and concerns to both my supervisor as well as my staff.”
Feedback from a 2021 coaching participant
Enabling our people to give back to the community
But the Robin Hood programme proved equally rewarding for us at Berkeley. Half of our team in New York were able to volunteer as coaches, recognising this unique opportunity to make a meaningful contribution. It felt particularly important during such a challenging time, when many New York City families are still struggling in the wake of the pandemic, and trying to recover from its social and economic impact.
As a firm, we believe that one of the most significant ways that we can give back to the communities around us is by using our professional skills and experience to help organisations make a real difference. The Robin Hood coaching programme is just one of the many ways in which Berkeley enables its people to take positive social action.
My coach gave great advice and specific strategies on how I can move forward with certain challenges at work.”
Feedback from a 2021 coaching participant
As another example, the firm’s emphasis on doing the right thing and its healthy respect for life outside of work has allowed me to actively volunteer with several non-profits tackling homelessness. In a personal capacity, I’ve also been able to join the board of directors for the Jericho Project, a non-profit which is serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity in NYC.
I feel so fortunate that Berkeley is a firm that values its people, and empowers us to support the interests and social causes close to our hearts. I adopted NYC as my home more than eight years ago and am proud to call myself a New Yorker. I believe strongly that it’s my civic duty to help tackle inequality in this city and to aid those in need.
That’s why I’m delighted that Berkeley is partnering again with Robin Hood in 2022. As we meet and coach a new group of non-profit leaders, I’m looking forward to helping them turn their ambitions into real outcomes – for both their organisations and the wider community. Whether that means increased fundraising, a better governance model, or building a more effective volunteer network, it will lead to non-profits better delivering vital, life-changing services to the people of New York.
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