Three nonprofit leadership mistakes we made | With Kimberly MacKenzie

Three nonprofit leadership mistakes we made
With Kimberly MacKenzie

Episode #112

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Stop leading like everyone else

In this powerful first episode of a six-part LinkedIn Live series, leadership coaches Kathy Archer and Kimberley MacKenzie dive into the three biggest mistakes they made during their years in nonprofit leadership and what actually worked instead. They open up about burnout, misaligned values, and the pressure to conform to traditional (often masculine) leadership models.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re losing yourself in leadership or constantly running on empty, this conversation will hit home. Kathy and Kimberley reflect on their own journeys and offer actionable insights that can help women leaders reclaim their authenticity, realign with their values, and lead with greater sustainability and courage.

Key Themes & Takeaways

The three mistakes Kathy Archer and Kimberly MacKenzie shared in this episode were:

1 - They tried to lead like men
Believing they needed to adopt the leadership styles of their male mentors and models, ignoring their own natural strengths, intuition, and relational approaches, which led to feeling inauthentic and misaligned.
 What actually works: Leading from your own strengths


2 - They thought working harder would get them further
They believed putting in longer hours and sacrificing personal well-being would lead to success, but it only led to burnout, health issues, and strained personal relationships, while reducing their leadership effectiveness.
What actually works: Practicing sustainable leadership and protecting your energy


3 -  ​They didn’t know what their values were
They were unclear on their core personal values, leading to decisions and leadership actions that conflicted with what mattered most to them, causing internal discord and disconnection from their true identity as leaders.
What actually works: Values-aligned leadership as a foundation for clarity and confidence

Leadership is personal development work. You must go inward to lead outward effectively
Burnout isn't a badge of honour. It's a sign to recalibrate
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Notable Quotes

“Leadership is actually personal development work. If you're not doing the inner work, you’ll struggle as a leader.” — Kathy Archer
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“If I had been told that I could lead with empathy and love, I wouldn’t have felt like I had to ‘man up’ to be taken seriously.” — Kimberley MacKenzie
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Links Shared in the Episode

• ​To connect with Kathy Archer, visit https://kathyarcher.com
• To connect with Kimberley MacKenzie visit www.kimberleymackenzie.ca
• Get the Character Driven Leadership for Women Book