Episodes

  • Chris Lowney: Integrating Our Spiritual and Work Lives

    Chris Lowney: Integrating Our Spiritual and Work Lives
    Sep 30 2024
    Throughout his life and career in both corporate and nonprofit settings, Chris Lowney has learned that one of the most important pieces of leadership is avoiding what he calls “split life-ism,” where someone’s spirituality and personal life is left at the door when they enter the work place. “Nobody can live their whole life in a split way,” Chris shares. On this episode of The Catholic Leadership Podcast, Chris Lowney joins us to discuss integrating spirituality and work together, practicing love-driven leadership, and how to handle leadership transitions. Chris shares leadership lessons learned both from his unique life journey through Jesuit seminary, J.P. Morgan, and in his leadership coaching and consulting. About Chris Chris Lowney, a one-time Jesuit seminarian, now chairs the board of CommonSpirit Health, a Catholic hospital system that is the largest nonprofit healthcare system in the USA, with more than 140 hospitals and 150,000 employees. Previously, Chris served as a Managing Director of J.P. Morgan & Co. on three continents. He has authored some half-dozen books, including the bestselling, “Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company that Changed the World,” which has been translated into eleven languages. His other award-winning books include “Pope Francis: Why He Leads the Way He Leads” and "Everyone Leads: How to Revitalize the Catholic Church." He also chairs the board of Commonweal magazine. His B.A. and M.A. are from Fordham University, and he holds eleven honorary doctoral degrees (But, Chris adds: "I don't have the intellect to earn one the real way!") He grew up in New York City, hates the New York Yankees, and roots for the New York Mets. You can learn more about Chris and his work and books at https://chrislowney.com/wp/ (https://chrislowney.com/wp/). You can follow Chris on: Facebook @ChrisLowneyAuthor (https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLowneyAuthor) X @chrislowney (https://x.com/chrislowney) You can learn more about CommonSpirit Health at https://www.commonspirit.org/ (https://www.commonspirit.org/) and on social media: Facebook @commonspirithealth (https://www.facebook.com/commonspirithealth) LinkedIn @commonspirithealth (https://www.linkedin.com/company/commonspirithealth/) Instagram @commonspirithealth (https://www.instagram.com/commonspirithealth/) X @commonspirit (https://x.com/commonspirit) McKinsey & Co. study: “Decoding leadership: What really matters” (https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/leadership/decoding-leadership-what-really-matters?cid=other-eml-mtg-mip-mck&hlkid=62271661ff5544e9b5cd28cf2ada7d70&hctky=1926&hdpid=2ac69b21-9396-4ba8-8c76-8904758e3278)
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    45 mins
  • Kendra Davenport: Living Your Faith in Leadership

    Kendra Davenport: Living Your Faith in Leadership
    Aug 30 2024
    Since getting her first job in development right after graduating from college, Kendra Davenport knew that the nonprofit sector was where she belonged. Kendra shared that early in her career, “[I] realized how difficult it would be for me to work for a private sector company, as opposed to a nonprofit that really had a mission of helping and serving people.” Kendra has dedicated her career to mission-based NGOs with the purpose of serving those marginalized and in need, all while keeping her Catholic faith at the core of her personal, professional, and family practices. On this episode of The Catholic Leaders Podcast, we welcome Kendra Davenport, President and CEO of Easterseals, a national organization leading the way to full equity, inclusion, and access through life-changing disability and community services. Kendra joins hosts Kim Smolik and Kerry Robinson and shares her story of faith, leadership, and service with our listeners. About Kendra Kendra E. Davenport, MPL, CFRE, is President and CEO of Easterseals. Kendra brings more than three decades of experience working exclusively in the nonprofit arena. She has managed several national development and communications portfolios, served as president of a nonprofit serving veterans’ families, and was a philanthropy and communications consultant to several national and international nonprofit organizations. Previously, Kendra served as the chief development officer for Operation Smile, where she managed multichannel global philanthropy efforts, including domestic and international corporate fundraising, mass market and direct response, digital fundraising, major gifts and planned giving, community engagement, special events and partnerships, private sector grants, and government relations. Kendra possesses extensive management experience, having overseen more than 1,000 international staff across eighteen sub-Saharan countries while working for Africare, one of the largest African American founded and led nonprofits at the time. Much of Kendra’s career has been dedicated to facilitating the provision of critical services and interventions with organizations that include the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Alliance, Goodwill Industries, and The Arc Montgomery County. Follow Kendra on: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendradavenport/) @kendradavenport Twitter (https://x.com/kendraedav) @kendraedav Learn more about Easterseals on their website, www.easterseals.com, or on social media: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/easterseals) @easterseals Twitter (https://x.com/eastersealshq) @eastersealshq Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/eastersealshq/) @eastersealshq LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/easterseals/) @easterseals YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/easterseals1) @easterseals1
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    46 mins
  • Dr. Carol Zinn, SSJ: Responding to an Invitation

    Dr. Carol Zinn, SSJ: Responding to an Invitation
    Jul 31 2024
    “Have you ever thought about being a sister?” That simple invitation from a religious sister became a call to consecrated religious life for Dr. Carol Zinn, SSJ. Looking back on her life, Dr. Zinn, a religious sister with the Sisters of Saint Joseph, sees a series of invitations to which she responded “yes,” each of which shaped her vocation, career, and spirituality. On this episode of The Catholic Leaders Podcast, hosts Kim Smolik and Kerry Robinson talk with Dr. Zinn who today is Executive Director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). She draws back the curtain on the state of religious life in the United States and provides a candid look at how discernment, charism, and vocation are shaping the landscape of consecrated and religious life in the 21st century. Dr. Zinn also provides insight into her work at the U.N., working for global peace. About Sr. Carol Dr. Carol Zinn, a sister of St. Joseph from Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA has ministered in education as a teacher, professor, religious educator, sacramental coordinator, and music minister. Dr. Zinn holds a Doctorate in Curriculum Development and Education Foundations from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Dr. Zinn worked in grassroots-based international movements as consultant and facilitator. In particular, she worked on the United Religions Initiative and the Earth Charter. Dr. Zinn served as the main representative for the Congregations of St. Joseph, an NGO in General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations. She represented over 15,000 Sisters of St. Joseph who live and minister in 57 countries. Dr. Zinn also worked as the Education Program Director for Global Education Associates, a non-governmental organization working to further global systemic change. Dr. Zinn served on her Congregation’s leadership team and in the Presidency of Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) from 2012-2015. Currently, Carol serves as the Executive Director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. You can learn more about the Sisters of Saint Joseph on their website (https://ssjphila.org/), www.ssjphila.org, and on social media: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ssjphiladelphia/) @ssjphiladelphia X (https://x.com/ssjphila) @ssjphila You can learn more about LCWR on their website, www.lcwr.org (http://www.lcwr.org), and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/lcwr.org) @lcwr.org.
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    45 mins
  • Jim Towey: To Love and Be Loved

    Jim Towey: To Love and Be Loved
    Jun 28 2024
    Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta (now Kolkata) has left an indelible impact on the Church, the world, and the life of Jim Towey. What began as a one-day stop in Kolkata to meet the renowned sister ended up transforming Jim’s life and forming an enduring, close friendship between the lawyer and the nun. Today, Jim credits much of who he is to Mother Teresa and the lessons she taught him. On this episode of The Catholic Leaders Podcast, hosts Kim Smolik and Kerry Robinson welcome Jim Towey, author of To Love and Be Loved: A Personal Portrait of Mother Teresa. Jim offers a glimpse into his close friendship with Mother Teresa, sharing leadership lessons she modeled, as well as her spiritual struggles, and her lifelong calling to serve those experiencing poverty. Jim also shares about his time working in the White House as head of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and how his work with Mother Teresa led him to create Aging with Dignity, the organization he founded to bring advocacy and support to end-of-life issues and planning. About Jim Jim Towey was a trusted advisor and personal friend of Mother Teresa of Calcutta for 12 years and did the first reading at her Mass of Canonization in Saint Peter’s Square. He has been pro bono legal counsel to the Missionaries of Charity for 38 years. He previously headed the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives under George W. Bush for four years and served on his senior staff. His career spans the presidency of two Catholic colleges for thirteen years, a seven-year stint as a US Senate staffer, and the leadership of Florida’s 40,000-employee Health and Human Services agency. In 1996, with Mother Teresa’s encouragement, he founded the nonprofit advocacy organization Aging with Dignity and created the Five Wishes Advance Directive, which has sold over 40 million copies. He currently serves as the organization’s CEO. Towey is the recipient of seven honorary doctorate degrees, including ones from Catholic University of America and Franciscan University. In the year 2000, Pope John Paul II awarded him a papal medal for distinguished service. He currently is a trustee of The Papal Foundation. In 2022, Towey authored To Love and Be Loved: A Personal Portrait of Mother Teresa, published by Simon and Schuster, which is now available in five languages. He and his wife Mary are donating the book’s royalties to charities affiliated with the saint’s work. Towey met his wife in Mother Teresa’s Washington D.C. AIDS home and married her in 1992. They have five children and three grandchildren and reside in Falls Church, Virginia. To Love and Be Loved: A Personal Portrait of Mother Teresa can be purchased through Simon and Schuster (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/To-Love-and-Be-Loved/Jim-Towey/9781982195632). You can find Jim’s blog at agingwithdignity.org/jim-toweys-blog (https://agingwithdignity.org/jim-toweys-blog/). You can learn more about Aging with Dignity at agingwithdignity.org. You can follow Aging with Dignity on: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/agingwdignity) @agingwdignity YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/agingwithdignity) @agingwithdignity You can learn more about the Five Wishes program at www.fivewishes.org (https://www.fivewishes.org/). You can follow Five Wishes on: Five Wishes (https://www.facebook.com/5WishesOrg/) @5wishesorg Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/5wishesorg/) @5wishesorg Twitter (https://twitter.com/5wishesorg) @5wishesorg YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNgZvSBrRPXWAQJ0twyYCNg) @UCNgZvSBrRPXWAQJ0twyYCNg
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    45 mins
  • Dr. Hosffman Ospino: Daring to Dream a Better Church

    Dr. Hosffman Ospino: Daring to Dream a Better Church
    May 31 2024
    Moments when success may seem elusive are moments where Dr. Hosffman Ospino sees opportunity for innovation. Dr. Ospino is a professor, writer, and researcher in the fields of theology, religious education, and Catholic Hispanic/Latino ministry. Dr. Ospino is a leading scholar in the conversations surrounding how to engage young adults in the Church, how to grow and foster greater Hispanic/Latino leadership, and how to create a healthy, thriving Catholic Church. Join us for the latest episode of The Catholic Leaders Podcast, where our hosts Kim Smolik and Kerry Robinson sit down with Dr. Ospino. Dr. Ospino shares insights into what he has learned through his research surrounding ministry and engagement with Hispanic/Latino Catholics, his work teaching and forming young adults, his leadership in the V Encuentro, and two exciting projects he’s piloting at Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry to support Hispanic/Latino leaders: “Nuevo Momento” and “Haciendo Caminos.” About Hosffman: Hosffman Ospino, PhD, serves as Professor of Theology and Religious Education and Chair of the Department of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry at Boston College, Clough School of Theology and Ministry. His research explores the relationship between faith and culture, and how that relationship shapes Catholic ministerial and educational efforts. Dr. Ospino has served as the principal investigator for several national studies on Hispanic Catholics. He is the director of Boston College’s five-year national initiative “Nuevo Momento: Leadership and Capacity Building for Ministerial Organizations Serving Hispanic Catholics” (2024-2028) and one of the principal investigators for the project “Haciendo Caminos: Theological Education for New Generations of U.S. Latino/a Catholics” (2023-2027), in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame. He was instrumental in developing core resources for and designing the process guiding the Fifth National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry (2018). Dr. Ospino is a prolific writer with more than 20 books and 250 articles, both academic and general. He is Past-President of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States (ACHTUS) and is currently an officer of the Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA). He is actively involved in ministry with his family in the Archdiocese of Boston. You can follow Dr. Ospino on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/hosffman.ospino/) @hosffman.ospino and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hosffman-ospino-598a44206/): @hosffman-ospino-598a44206. You can learn more about Dr. Ospino on Boston College, Clough School of Theology and Ministry’s website (https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/stm/faculty/faculty-directory/hosffman-ospino.html). You can follow Boston College, Clough School of Theology and Ministry on: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/bcstm/) @bcstm Twitter / X (https://twitter.com/bcstm) @bcstm Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/bcstm/) @bcstm LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/boston-college-school-of-theology-and-ministry/) @boston-college-school-of-theology-and-ministry YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@bcstm/featured) @bcstm
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    46 mins
  • Gloria Purvis: Modeling Justice and Mercy

    Gloria Purvis: Modeling Justice and Mercy
    Apr 29 2024
    Gloria Purvis didn’t set out to be an author, commentator, and the host of a popular Catholic podcast. But as she says, “the Lord has a funny sense of humor.” Join us for the first episode of Season 2 of The Catholic Leaders Podcast, where we talk with Gloria about how her faith in God’s plan for her life has steered her career from real estate finance to journalism and advocacy. In this episode, we will delve into her work to promote racial and social justice in the Church and our world through The Gloria Purvis Podcast and how she still applies the lessons of working in finance to hosting her show and having synodal, listening conversations about her faith. Follow Gloria on X (Twitter) @gloria_purvis (https://twitter.com/gloria_purvis?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) and on Instagram @iamgloriapurvis (https://www.instagram.com/iamgloriapurvis). Learn more about The Gloria Purvis Podcast (https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/gloria-purvis-podcast) on americamagazine.org and listen on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gloria-purvis-podcast/id1566614456) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/30CM6AMWHGr2LPEEbD7kEb?si=35baa9f435d94f1e&nd=1&dlsi=5889d9ac37094a72). View full show notes at https://www.leadershiproundtable.org/podcast (https://leadershiproundtable.org/news/?openDrawer=https%3A%2F%2Fleadershiproundtable.org%2Fdrawer%2Fthe-catholic-leaders-podcast%2F).
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    44 mins
  • Season Two Trailer

    Season Two Trailer
    Apr 19 2024
    Season 2 of The Catholic Leaders Podcast is here! This season, Leadership Roundtable and Catholic Charities USA are partnering to bring you interviews with esteemed Catholic leaders doing renowned work in synodality, outreach, and community building. Join our hosts Kim Smolik and Kerry Robinson for these conversations you won’t want to miss!
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    1 min
  • Season One Finale: A Season of Transition

    Season One Finale: A Season of Transition
    Dec 21 2023
    It’s the season one finale of The Catholic Leaders Podcast! As we wrap up an amazing season, Kim and Kerry sit down to reflect on this incredible first season of the podcast and what’s to come. Both hosts share about recent personal experiences of discernment and transition, from Kim’s recent pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago to Kerry taking on the role of President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA. The Catholic Leaders Podcast is brought to you by Leadership Roundtable. Visit our website to learn more about our work and for full show notes. www.leadershiproundtable.org. Follow us on social media! Facebook: @LeadershipRoundtable Instagram: @LeadershipRoundtable Twitter: @leadershipround LinkedIn: @leadershiproundtable
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    29 mins