Transitioning a venture to a new leadership model

The ask

Set the parameters for successful co-leadership

Stanford Impact Labs (SIL) invests in government, business, and nonprofit partners working alongside with scholars to solve major economic, political, and social challenges.

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SIL’s founding faculty director had recently brought on a new executive director with deep experience in international development, fundraising and public policy.

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Traditionally, a faculty director holds power over an executive director – but in the spirit of working more sustainably and equitably, the leaders wanted to create a new, shared model of leading the organization.

The Strategy

Embody inclusive values across the ecosystem

A venture portfolio can’t slow down to accommodate new working models.

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UME’s org-design experts created a coaching plan to help this leadership team develop their working model in response to specific on-the-job challenges.

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Our research-backed curriculum structured our coaching sessions: dissecting traditional ideas of leadership and power, outlining clear roles and responsibilities, and setting guidelines for challenging conversations.

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We captured each coaching session as concrete, repeatable rituals and behaviors.

The Impact

Creating impact beyond its two leaders

The leadership team developed UME’s tools and ways of working into best practices for the wider SIL team, including their portfolio companies.

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SIL’s co-leaders also helped Harvard University on pilot its own Impact Lab – which is also directed by co-leadership.

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To read more about UME’s process (and what we learned from it), read our article: Lessons in Co-Leadership.

“UME has been essential to setting our co-leadership up for success.

Through their sensitive and strategic coaching, UME gave us a container to explore our vision for partnership and guidelines for practicing it every day.”

Misan Rewane

Executive Director, Stanford Impact Labs

Services

Project Team

Transitioning a venture to a new leadership model

Set the parameters for successful co-leadership

Embody inclusive values across the ecosystem

Creating impact beyond its two leaders

“UME has been essential to setting our co-leadership up for success.

Ready to launch? Let’s connect.

Certified M/WBE

Services

Project Team

Transitioning a venture to a new leadership model

Set the parameters for successful co-leadership

Embody inclusive values across the ecosystem

Creating impact beyond its two leaders

“UME has been essential to setting our co-leadership up for success.

Uptake

Mina Foundation

Ready to launch? Let’s connect.

Certified M/WBE