Doubling Impact and Building Belonging with Jewish Community Center CEO, Elise Dowell

In this episode, Elise Dowell—CEO of the JCC of Mid-Westchester—reveals the strategic blueprint behind a thriving community pillar that has doubled its operating income and expanded its reach to over 25,000 patrons. Elise shares her transition from the corporate world to the nonprofit sector, proving that "doing good" and "doing well" are not mutually exclusive when you lead with empathy and authenticity.

Elise dives into her "Management by Walking Around" philosophy, illustrating how showing up for a special needs preschool graduation or a simple check-in with a grieving staff member builds a culture of radical trust. She explains the "Story of the Week" ritual that keeps her 300+ employees connected to their "why," and why she intentionally creates a "bandwidth for failure" to spark innovation in a 70-year-old institution.

We explore:

The Law of Personal Commitment: Why employees commit to leaders who demonstrate commitment to them.

The Cathedral Builder Mentality: How to keep a team motivated by connecting daily "brick-laying" tasks to a grander visionary purpose.

Strategic Adaptability: Leveraging a marketing background to listen to community "passion projects" and pivot services during times of crisis.

The Power of Tangible Connection: Why printed flyers still matter in a digital age and how human interaction remains the ultimate brand-builder.

If you want to understand how to foster intergenerational loyalty and run a nonprofit with the strategic rigor of a Fortune 500 company, this conversation is a masterclass in heart-centered leadership.