Newsroom
Q&A: Kayla Weber from the Arizona Humane Society on her American Express Leadership Academy experience
by Alexandra Conforti, ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation
February 2, 2022
Kayla Weber is currently halfway through the American Express Leadership Academy at the ASU Lodestar Center, and has already successfully tackled a variety of topics including the signature Emergenetics training, the seven levels of leadership and the importance of strategic decision-making. Weber is absorbing the lessons from the Academy to propel her nonprofit career with Arizona Humane Society even further. “The program is going wonderfully,” Weber said. “It has been impactful in my own personal development by helping me become more self-aware of my own strengths and opportunities for growth.”
This year, Class 14 and its 33 participants are engaging through and adapting to a hybrid format. The 2021-22 cohort includes participants from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and nonprofit organizations.
The Academy is an unparalleled leadership-development experience, designed just for Arizona's nonprofit professionals. Each year, the Academy accepts a cohort of Arizona's top emerging nonprofit leaders for a 10-month program. Participants gain practical knowledge and the confidence to advance in their career, an increased awareness and understanding of the nonprofit sector and issues affecting its prosperity, and a broad network of personal and professional relationships.
In this Q&A, Kayla shares with us her nonprofit background experience with the Arizona Humane Society, and how this year’s Academy program has already impacted her with a recent promotion.
Why did you apply for the program, and what were your motivations/goals going in? What do you hope that the program will give to you and your career?
I heard about the program through my director of pet placement, Jane Clark, who encouraged me to apply for the program. I applied for the program because I thought it was a fantastic opportunity to develop personally and to grow as a leader within my organization. I also believed it to be a great opportunity to network with other nonprofit leaders in my community, and to learn more about their important work. I am so grateful I was chosen for the program this year and look forward to soaking up everything the program has to offer!
Being halfway through the AmEx program year currently, how is the program so far and what have you learned?
The program is going wonderfully. I am enjoying each program day and learning how to become a better-rounded leader in the nonprofit sector. Through the program, I have learned more about myself and how to work with others that may think and lead differently than I do. I have also learned how to make strategic decisions and how to better take care of myself as a leader. I am thoroughly enjoying getting to know all of the other program participants professionally and personally. I enjoy learning about the important work they are doing. Jill and Cassidy, our program leaders, have also been fantastic in providing us with excellent speakers and learning materials to help us grow. The program has been impactful in my own personal development too by helping me become more self-aware of my own strengths and opportunities for growth.
Tell me about your new position at the Arizona Humane Society. What does the position include? How did you get there and how long have you been at this organization?
I recently received a promotion from placement programs supervisor to placement programs manager. In this new position, I oversee two different departments. I oversee our transport team, which is responsible for moving animals and supplies between our three Arizona Humane Society locations. I also oversee our placement programs department, which is responsible for finding innovative and creative ways to save more lives. We help to find placement for animals that are not adoptable due to behavior or medical concerns. We also work to bring in animals to our shelter that we can help find forever homes for. Through our Project Reach Out program, we transfer at-risk pets to AHS from other animal welfare organizations when space on our adoption floors allow.
A big part of my position here is creating strategic, mutually beneficial partnerships with other animal welfare agencies that aid in saving additional animal lives. I have worked at the Arizona Humane Society for a collective six years now and originally started as an adoption counselor. I have been blessed to continue to grow into higher level positions over time. I feel honored every day to be part of an organization that makes such a huge impact in animal welfare in this state.
What is your nonprofit background and path look like before the humane society? What led you to want to work in nonprofits?
From a young age, I have known that I wanted to do work that made a difference in the world and that I wanted to help animals. I have always felt very passionate about being an advocate for animals that are unable to speak for themselves. I have been working in animal welfare for over nine years and my passions led me directly to a career in nonprofit work.