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Q&A: Carrie Hughes on how the American Express Leadership Academy propelled her career
An alumna of the American Express Leadership Academy at the ASU Lodestar Center, Carrie Hughes is now head of the foster program at the Arizona Humane Society. Here she is posing with recovering dogs in Phoenix, Ariz.
Program alumna says she grew as a leader and made lasting connections with her classmates
by Alexandra Conforti, ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation
March 19, 2021
Carrie Hughes joined the 2018-19 class of the American Express Leadership Academy at the ASU Lodestar Center with the hopes of learning more about nonprofit leadership, finding personal growth, and taking the latest management techniques back to her organization, the Arizona Humane Society (AHS). “Thanks in part to my experience at [the American Express Leadership Academy], I have been promoted to manage the AHS foster program,” she shared with us last month.
The ASU Lodestar Center’s American Express Leadership Academy is a nine-month program featuring a cohort of Arizona's top emerging nonprofit leaders. With executive coaching, access to exclusive alumni networks, team collaboration projects, personal leadership development, and insights into key issues affecting the sector, the program is an empowering experience for Arizona nonprofit professionals who are working to develop their leadership skills and move their careers to the executive level. Applications for the 2021-22 program year are being accepted now.
In this Q&A, Carrie tells us more about her experience in the Academy and why it was so pivotal to her personal and professional development.
Why did you initially choose to apply for the American Express Leadership Academy?
I wanted to expand my leadership capabilities so I can make more of an impact in my organization.
Who do you feel you were when you joined? What knowledge were you coming in with?
My journey started as a manager with The Cheesecake Factory, so joining AHS was the beginning of my nonprofit career. I was very passionate about AHS’ mission so it was a perfect fit. I had had management experience in the past, but I think leadership experience in a nonprofit is definitely something that needs cultivation and development. I was seeking additional opportunities to learn from mentors that had been in the industry for a long time to see their path of success.
Can you tell me about your experience in the Academy and the highlights of your time there?
Oh, it was a wonderful experience. One highlight was the wonderful people that I met as part of the program. Another was learning from different leaders in the Valley. The program covers a high-level overview of nonprofit and board work, financials and topics like the nonprofit life cycle, but I really enjoyed the Emergenetics and emotional intelligence presentations.
Were you able to gain any professional/personal relationships from the program?
Yes. The highlight of my time was the network that I built from other program participants. We're still connected today and are able to share successes, ask each other for advice and share opportunities to continue our relationship with each other. I was able to connect with quite a few participants who were in development and were more aligned to what I was doing. This allowed us to form close bonds where we are able to share the work of our organizations and brainstorm on how to make our organizations better.
Carrie Hughes (front row, fifth from left) graduated from Class 11 of the American Express Leadership Academy, photographed here in front of the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Ariz., in spring 2019. Hughes credits her recent promotion at the Arizona Humane Society in part to her Academy experience.
What were some key takeaways or lessons you learned? What kind of tools, techniques or new processes did you implement as a leader into your organization?
There are many different leadership styles and many avenues to get to who you are as a leader. So being able to explore all of the different styles of leadership and to be able to create one that is successful for my needs was wonderful. Learning to look at my organization holistically empowers me to make a greater impact. Also, learning how to focus on others’ strengths and motivators became essential.
Can you tell me about the organization that you are currently a part of?
I transitioned from development/fundraising into leading the foster program for the Arizona Humane Society. My journey with AHS began 13 years ago, when I became a foster for the organization, so my journey has really come full circle into being able to lead. So that's really special to me to be able to serve other foster families.
The Arizona Humane Society’s mission is to save the most vulnerable animals and enrich the lives of pets and people. Our comprehensive medical, behavioral rehabilitation, surrender intervention and spay/neuter initiatives saved an additional 115,000 lives over the last seven years. Our life-saving programs include the Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital, Mutternity Suites, Kitten Nursery, Bottle Baby Kitten ICU and Parvo Puppy ICU which save the lives of pets routinely euthanized in shelters. AHS is a private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) companion animal shelter and is not affiliated with any other local, state or national humane groups. When you support AHS, you’re saving the lives of homeless pets in our community.
The Arizona Humane Society foster program is an amazing way to help give second chances to animals who need time away from the shelter to heal from injury or illness. Foster Heroes expand our ability to care for more animals by providing temporary homes for 400-800 pets at any given time. Last year, our dedicated fosters opened their homes and hearts to 4,635 animals in need of special care.
Do you feel the Academy at the ASU Lodestar Center has helped you get to where you are today?
This journey has been so exciting for me and I feel like the AMEX leadership program really provided me with the tools and the knowledge I needed. The skills that I learned from the AMEX program combined with the support of my peers and mentors at AHS opened doors for me and I'm very excited to continue my journey.
The American Express Leadership Academy at the ASU Lodestar Center is now accepting applications for Class 14. Applications are due by May 4, 2021.