Episode 12
Create a Purpose-Driven Journey with Milton Little
In this episode, Michelle talks to Milton Little, Jr., President & CEO of United Way of Greater Atlanta. Milton strives to create a positive impact in the world by improving the lives of children and families across Greater Atlanta. He believes social issues are best addressed if we come together, leveraging our collective skills and experiences, instead of solely relying on fundraising efforts.
Milton provides invaluable insights into how to excel as a trailblazer, leading the way for others to follow. Through his advice, listeners can gain vital knowledge on overcoming challenges and conquering perceptions when becoming the first of their kind in senior leadership roles.
Milton became United Way of Greater Atlanta's first African-American president and CEO in July 2007. Previously, he served as president of United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley.
Milton joins a strong legacy of fundraising and collaborative leaders who bring together supportive partners in the for-profit, nonprofit, philanthropic, and government sectors to identify challenges facing individuals and families and offer solutions. He has helped raise more than a billion dollars for local community needs and priorities during his career.
Before joining United Way, he served as the Chief Operating Officer, interim President, and CEO of the National Urban League. Prior to joining the League, he had a career in corporate philanthropy at AT&T and Lucent Technologies and served as the President of Field Operations for MDRC.
Episode Highlights:
06:00 - Friend raising is really about this invitation to people that if you want to do big things in the community and make big things happen on behalf of children and families.
07:42 - Whatever you decide to do in your career, make sure you're also trying to help somebody.
17:14 - Sometimes you get in a space and you just have to listen to a voice, and decide whether or not it's calling you to stay where you are or move in a different direction.
23:07 - You got to be able to separate who you are from what you do and if your identity is caught up in your profession, if something happens in your profession, then your identity suffers. You got to be able to have these two things separate.
32:47 - You need to find a job and a career that aligns with your purpose. I subscribe to a school of thought that says you need to bring your purpose to whatever it is you do because the reality is most people work so that they can put a roof over their heads and put food in their stomachs, and take care of their families. That's why people work. That's why they call it work. But it's how do you bring a sense of purpose to that.
Episode Takeaways:
- The importance of understanding your company’s values and aligning them with your personal values. Is there alignment, or is there a disconnect?
- How can you apply the “Friend Raising” concept to what you do in your career?
- The importance of looking back to see the path forward.
- Purpose & Prosperity, you can have both. You must determine the sacrifices you’re willing to make to achieve them and have a solid foundation for both to stand.
- Learn how to change your Life of Success to a Life of Significance.
- Being the first minority to take a senior-level role can offer many challenges in overcoming perceptions and expectations, whether high or low. Listen to the advice Milton provides to how to deal with the challenges of being the first black CEO of an organization.
#purposedriven😊
Connect with Michelle
LinkedIn: Journey Unlimited, LLC
Connect with Milton Little
