El Futuro is a nonprofit organization that provides and advances bilingual and culturally informed behavioral health treatment for underserved Spanish-speaking individuals and families. The organization provides clinical services, training for professionals who work with this population and prevention, education and outreach in the community. It has received the state’s highest honor for nonprofits from the N.C. Center for Nonprofits – the Nonprofit Sector Stewardship Award.
Karla Siu has served for eight years as a therapist and for the past three years as clinical director of El Futuro. As clinical director, Siu turned to ESC’s executive coaching program to help her grow as a leader.
“I was raised in deferential cultures – where people have a high regard for authority and collective needs – so I needed to find my own leadership and management style,” says Siu, who grew up in Honduras, Tokyo and Virginia.
Her previous experience included work in welfare reform, community mental health and social work research.
With the help of her ESC executive coach, Siu learned how to cast vision and execute leadership. “The questions from my coach led to my growth in many areas, particularly in the area of encouraging others to participate in the vision,” she said.
Benefits of Executive Coaching
Many leaders and managers in the nonprofit sector are increasingly turning to coaches for support. This support can take the form of a coach providing in areas like making decisions, focusing on interpersonal skills and building productive relationships. In addition, a good coach can provide unfiltered feedback, which is often hard to get at the highest levels of an organization.
A good coach can do these things and isn’t afraid to push their clients beyond what they previously thought was possible.
“My coach and I worked well together,” Siu said. “She offered perspectives I had not considered and provided a different way to think about challenges. Her calm and confident disposition helped me get through one of the toughest years.”
Pleased with her experience, Siu recommends ESC coaching to other nonprofit leaders. “They would receive the necessary guidance, support and insights to accomplish their organizational goals,” she said.