187. Bold Leadership – Celebrating IVMDay with Nicole Smith Artwork

Volunteer Nation

Nonprofit leadership author, coach, and expert Tobi Johnson shares weekly tips to help charities build, grow, and scale exceptional volunteer teams. Discover how your nonprofit can effectively coordinate volunteers who are reliable, equipped, and ready to help you bring about BIG change for the better. Rather than continuing to “do more with less,” achieve abundance for your organization by engaging community talent that helps you do more with more. Society is evolving and so, too, is volunteerism. With over 25 years of experience working in nonprofits, public sector agencies, and grassroots campaigns Tobi is known for her modern “big hat” thinking and straight talk about what it takes to achieve success in today’s world. You will learn how to coordinate volunteers, improve the volunteer experience, recruit volunteers, appreciate volunteers, and do it all more efficiently with the right volunteer management software and digital tools. It’s a mix of interviews and solo shows you’re not going to want to miss. So, if you’re ready to ditch the stress and harness the power of people to fuel your good work, you’re in exactly the right place. Hit subscribe and let’s DO this!

All Episodes

Volunteer Nation

187. Bold Leadership – Celebrating IVMDay with Nicole Smith

November 06, 2025 • Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA

In this inspiring episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi Johnson celebrates International Volunteer Managers Day with special guest Nicole Smith, Executive Director of Alive. Together, they dive into this year’s powerful theme — “Be Bold and Make Change.”

Nicole brings a wealth of experience and insight to the conversation, sharing what it really takes to lead boldly in today’s volunteer management landscape. From strategic advocacy and clear communication to accountability and continuous improvement, she offers practical wisdom for leaders who want to make a lasting impact.

Tobi and Nicole also get real about common challenges like imposter syndrome, the importance of self-care, and how to manage upward effectively within organizations.

Full show notes: 187. Bold Leadership – Celebrating IVMDay with Nicole Smith

IVMDay - Episode Highlights

[00:29] - Celebrating International Volunteer Managers Day
[02:32] - The Importance of Bold Leadership
[06:42] - Challenges and Ethical Considerations in Volunteerism
[14:47] - Nicole's Journey into Volunteer Management
[23:56] - Calculated Risks and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
[32:14] - Reflecting on Past Achievements
[36:20] - Managing Upward and Advocating for Volunteers
[41:35] - Skills for Bold Leadership
[46:44] - The Importance of Strategic Planning
[52:53] - Delegation and Self-Reflection

Helpful Links

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast. If you enjoyed it, please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review so we can reach more people like you who want to improve the impact of their good cause.

For more tips and notes from the show, check us out at TobiJohnson.com. For any comments or questions, email us at WeCare@VolPro.net.

Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA

Host