Scott Small

Background

About Scott Small

I have served in the formal roles of a Director, Manager, Coordinator, Chair, student, teacher, mentor, member, and more creating an over 30 year journey of leadership experience. The first 10(ish) with for profit companies and the more recent 20(ish) with non-profit organizations. I find great joy in helping others become confident in who they are and being filled with purpose. It is rewarding to witness up close people feeling better about who they are and what they can do. For their employer this translates into less absences, a more productive person, noticeably satisfied with their work, and they become another source of good for those near them. Being in healthy relationships is hard work. Investing and learning mental and emotional health tools and tips has been a lifelong pursuit. Over time and by trial and error I believe because of the diversity of the people I am surrounded by, I am becoming better at listening, learning, governance, strategic planning, operations, organizing, budgeting, writing, peer support, and just being good to be around as well. I am also encouraged and inspired by others to use my artistic drawing skills to help communicate more clearly. I find I am also being drawn and called into nature where I can often connect with people in a healthier place. I invite others formally through retreats or exercises to go outside of their daily duties and roles and take time to walk in the woods where they can reflect, recharge or just be distracted in good ways by the environment for a little while. I quite regularly craft reference letters for former staff(s) as they continue to grow into new roles years after working with me. It is a great opportunity to reflect on how we worked together writing so many policies, guidebooks, handbooks, manuals, memos, solicitation letters, articles, and ad campaigns. Because of others needs, I have helped start 501(c)(3)'s in the USA and write Charter applications for Non-profits in Canada. Because of others requests, I have been part of teams that have merged and moved agencies, shuttered one, helped rebuild staffs, budgets and more for another. The more people I meet and work with, the more I want to meet more people and work on more projects together. It is a circle and cycle that is very fulfilling and fascinating. Even with or especially in communities filled with vulnerable people facing barriers and biases.