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Wednesday, August 3, 2011
6 Minutes With a CEO
Bill Kitson
President & CEO
United Way of Greater Toledo
- As the CEO of an organization that serves three counties in NW OH, what’s the most daunting challenge presented by operating in multiple and diverse locations?
Keeping our work authentic to each community is the biggest challenge of being a regional organization. While the things we do in Toledo's central city are dramatically different than what we do in rural North Baltimore in southern Wood County, they are grounded in the belief that we must reflect what our community asks of us.
- You've successfully re-engineered your organization for greater impact. What lessons would you share with our readers about that process?
Re-engineering sounds so cold and calculating. I would like to think that what we did was to simply start fulfilling our mission of changing the community. In the early days it was about remembering why we are in business. Today, it's about alignment. Making sure our entire organization is moving in the same direction, and more importantly, turned outward to reflect its aspirations.
- What's the most rewarding aspect of your job?
The most rewarding aspect of my job is going into our neighborhoods and seeing residents emerging from their homes, getting involved in their community. People want to be connected, and it's great to be able to be able to help them do that.
- What experience (formal or informal) do you feel has been the most helpful in the development of your leadership skills?
The most significant formal experience I had was taking part in United Way of America's Advanced Leadership Program. It was a group of 6 who came together three times over 18 months with monthly conference calls in between. It showed me that I really did know what I was doing and to not hesitate to accelerate our work. The best informal experience I had was becoming the interim CEO in Bridgeport, CT in my early 30's. I often referred to it as "the best of times and the worst of times." As the UW was going through its search process, it was great for me because the staff didn’t know if I would get the job or not. It became a challenge once another candidate was announced as the new CEO. Trying to do the same position as a lame duck was interesting.
- What's the best leadership advice you ever received?
I once had a boss that listened. And while that might not sound all that unusual, he was very good at listening. I learned from him the value of not talking, giving people the chance to speak before I assumed what they were going to say. The answers they sought were usually available to me if I stopped and listened to them.
- When developing younger leaders, what methods and approaches do you find work the best?
I love giving young leaders significant opportunities to succeed. I find they excel when given the chance. We all learn something about their capabilities when you throw them into new situations, as long as you're sure their core values match the organizatio'’s. It's more about getting out of the way.
- When you started your current position you were new to Toledo. What advice would you have for someone coming into a new role in a new city about how to do this successfully?
I spent the first year in Toledo going to a lot of dinners. It was important to quickly interact and learn who people were in Toledo. It's hard to do that sitting at your desk in your office, so I aggressively attended as many events as my family's calendar would allow, and even made a deal with my wife that when the year was over, we'd slow down the pace of activities. It's paid off in significant relationships that began that first year.
- Please complete this sentence – People would be surprised to know that I am ________.
People would be surprised to know that I am shy. You would think the president of United Way with his public position would relish being in the crowd. I find that in crowded situations, I go find one or two friends and hide in the corner talking to them all night (except for that first year).
- What advice would you provide for aspiring CEO's based on your own career trajectory?
Be prepared to move. I have found if you look across the non-profit landscape at your community's most significant leaders, most of them have moved to get the position they're in. In my own career, I moved to Milwaukee for a quick 2 year job in order to position myself to become the leader in Toledo. Without that big city experience, I wouldn't have been as attractive a candidate for the Toledo position.
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United Way of Greater Toledo is a collaboration of community volunteers, health and human-service providers and donors throughout Lucas, Wood and Ottawa counties who are committed to changing lives.
United Way assists citizen leaders to develop an agenda to strengthen community life in areas the community most cares about and needs. United Way facilitates and supports a wide range of community-based efforts to make a measurable impact in those areas.
Through sites in Lucas, Wood and Ottawa counties, United Way services are provided to people who need help, want to volunteer, need assistance from organized labor or want to donate. By maintaining offices in all three counties, United Way encourages and facilitates increased community involvement.
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