Lynn Renken

Background

About Lynn Renken

When the going gets tough, as it often does in humanitarian and community development work, I like to prove people wrong. I am most inspired when I or a team I’m working with show that the impossible can be possible if approached in a different way. People tell me that I lead from the heart and always put the needs of my team or organization ahead of my own. I work hard and like to be challenged. That’s why I’ve been called upon, several times during my career, to step into a program or organization in need of repair. It’s been rewarding to turn around and even radically reset a culture, quickly gain the respect of the team, and help staff, partners, and donors renew their faith in the organization. I have extensive experience working in and leading teams in multicultural contexts in the U.S, Africa, and South Asia. From ultra-poor women in Kenya’s Arid Lands to farm workers in southeastern Washington state to incarcerated women, I’ve been successful in shifting strategic focus to reach those most in need of assistance and those who, with the right investment at the right time, have the power to transform their lives and the lives of those around them. I’m particularly proud to have worked with both the Nike Foundation and Mercy Corps to institutionalize a focus on investing in adolescent girls around the world. With changes ahead for the portfolio of programs I currently lead at Mercy Corps, I am looking forward to pursuing new leadership opportunities in the realm of social impact—especially those that offer the chance to engage corporations and the private sector in new and expanded partnerships. I welcome opportunities to connect, either here or by email at renkenlynn16@gmail.com.