Episodes
5 days ago
5 days ago
Generative AI for Nonprofits: Guidance, Precautions, Applications, and Navigating Platforms
Apparo Director of Marketing Bleema Bershad hosts Apparo Technical Lead, Todd Reavis, who shares his advice and cautions for nonprofits as they explore generative AI.
In this episode of The Apparo Effect, Bleema and Todd discuss:
- Using artificial intelligence to save time including: "How do I.." questions, summarizing content, and generating graphics, ideas, and more
- Understanding the differences between Copilot, ChatGPT, and Google Genesis
- Protecting your nonprofit from the risks of using AI in the areas of intellectual property, accuracy of results, and data security
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
A Purpose-Driven Path: Nonprofit Career Journey
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
A Purpose-Driven Path: Nonprofit Career Challenges and Successes
Apparo Director of Marketing Bleema Bershad hosts Apparo Development Associate Karen Rosenfeld in this episode of The Apparo Effect. Karen shares her career journey, beginning with her first nonprofit job at age 14.
Karen reflects on:
- The significance of her high school youth group experiences
- Challenges she faced and overcame
- Past nonprofit successes
- Motivators to weave social good in corporate roles
- How she came into her role on Apparo's Development team
Thursday Feb 15, 2024
Nonprofit Leader Insights on SHARE Charlotte Survey Results
Thursday Feb 15, 2024
Thursday Feb 15, 2024
Nonprofit Leader Perspectives on SHARE Charlotte Nonprofit Leader Survey Results
In this episode of "The Apparo Effect", Apparo CEO Kim Lanphear is joined by fellow nonprofit leaders, Pete Vacho, COO of Veteran's Bridge Home and Dr. Sharon Jones, Founder of Dottie Rose Foundation. These leaders provide insights from the frontlines of leading nonprofits in Charlotte and delve into the Nonprofit Leader Survey Results.
These diverse leaders discuss the:
- Importance of nonprofit collaboration
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Realities of nonprofit staff burnout
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Precious, limited resource of time in the nonprofit world
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Need to maximize nonprofit efficiency
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Demand for expanded nonprofit access to event space
Monday Jan 22, 2024
Cultivating Impactful Tech Careers
Monday Jan 22, 2024
Monday Jan 22, 2024
Innovating for Impact- Exploring Tech, Volunteering, and Collective Advantages
Apparo's CEO, Kim Lanphear hosts this episode of The Apparo Effect. In this episode, Kim is joined by Raja Musunuru, a business and technology leader from TIFIN and an avid Apparo supporter for the past decade. Kim and Raja explore:
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Raja's technology, customer-focused career path
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Career-enhancing benefits of volunteering with Apparo
- Demystifying technology challenges to create solutions for mission-focused organizations
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Technology's connection to corporate and nonprofit business processes
Friday Nov 10, 2023
Bridging Corporate Wisdom with Nonprofit Passion
Friday Nov 10, 2023
Friday Nov 10, 2023
The Intersection of Corporate Expertise and Nonprofit Impact
Apparo's CEO, Kim Lanphear hosts this episode of The Apparo Effect. For this conversation, Kim is joined by guest Donna Dunlap, Apparo Board Member and President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas. Kim and Donna discuss how their corporate backgrounds have informed their nonprofit careers, including:
- Commonalities between working in a corporation and in the nonprofit sector
- Corporate best practices that should be applied in nonprofits
- How nonprofits can move as efficiently as possible, given limited resources
Friday Sep 29, 2023
Navigating Rapid Nonprofit Growth
Friday Sep 29, 2023
Friday Sep 29, 2023
Mastering Nonprofit Growth: Success Factors for Navigating Rapid Expansion
Apparo's CEO Kim Lanphear chats with Aaron Randolph, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Carolina Youth Coalition (CYC), a rapidly growing Charlotte area nonprofit whose mission is to nurture and propel high-achieving, under-resourced students to and through college. In this episode they focus on success factors for a quickly growing nonprofit like CYC that has grown to serve 10 times more students over the past few years.
They cover topics such as:
- Technology's role in sustainable nonprofit growth
- The importance of long-term focus on change management
- Remaining mission-oriented
- How Apparo supported CYC's growth
Learn more about Apparo's partnership with CYC here.
Monday Sep 25, 2023
The Impact of Skilled Volunteering - A Triple Win with Apparo
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Charlotte Skilled Volunteer Week– Volunteering as a "Triple Win"
In honor of Charlotte Skilled Volunteer Week, host of "The Apparo Effect" and Apparo Director of Marketing Bleema Bershad sits down with Apparo Skilled Volunteer John Pressley and Apparo's Sponsorship Manager, Vickie Wixon. John Pressley, of Duke Energy discusses his evolution from excel coaching as a Skilled Volunteer to becoming an Apparo Sponsorship Committee and Board member.
In this episode, Bleema, Vickie, and John delve into:
- The contrast between direct service to Apparo nonprofit partners and service directly to Apparo
- Benefits of volunteering with Apparo- how finding opportunities to match a volunteer's skills and availability makes a difference
- What motivates John to support Apparo as a skilled volunteer
- The "win-win-win" effect: Nonprofits, volunteers, and sponsors
- How listeners can get involved as skilled volunteers and/or as corporate sponsors
Inspired to volunteer or sponsor with Apparo? Learn more or reach out to Vickie Wixon.
Friday Sep 15, 2023
Benefits of Skilled Volunteering with Apparo
Friday Sep 15, 2023
Friday Sep 15, 2023
In honor of Charlotte Skilled Volunteer Week, Bleema Bershad hosts Apparo Skilled Volunteer Dr. Bridget Jones to discuss her experience volunteering with Apparo and the significant impact it made on her career journey.
In this episode, Bleema and Dr. Bridget Jones chat about:
- Unexpected benefits and ease of skilled volunteering with Apparo
- Bridget's career journey from education to tech and back to education
- How Apparo holistically applies volunteers' experiences and skillsets when pairing them with nonprofits in need
Read more about her volunteer work and community impact here.
Monday Aug 28, 2023
Ensuring Expansion Success – Nonprofit Lessons from Corporate America
Monday Aug 28, 2023
Monday Aug 28, 2023
CEO of Hylaine and Apparo Board President Adam Boitnott joins Apparo CEO and host of this episode of "The Apparo Effect", Kim Lanphear to provide nonprofits with lessons for ensuring success during times of expansion from corporate America. This podcast marks the third in Apparo's series focused on taking traditional business fundamentals and applying them to fulfill nonprofit goals.
Kim and Adam discuss key elements of successful growth relevant to both corporate and nonprofit organizations. They cover key topics such as:
- Fostering a robust corporate culture and maintaining it while growing– emphasizing trust, transparency, and mission-alignment
- The critical role of hiring during expansion
- Promoting candid communication and the ability to share difficult realities across the organization
Friday Aug 04, 2023
Technology Mentorship with Nonprofit Leaders
Friday Aug 04, 2023
Friday Aug 04, 2023
Apparo's Director of Marketing, Bleema Bershad, sits down with Apparo's Stephanie McKee and Executive Assistant of Hospitality House Charlotte, Yasaman Sarmadi, to discuss Yasaman's technology journey with Apparo. In this episode, Stephanie shares how her passion for mentorship and technology influenced Yasaman's career and technology journey.
Through Apparo's Tech Therapy program, Stephanie worked with Yasaman and Hospitality House to provide technology training, mentorship, and a valuable network of resources. The group gives special mention to Apparo's Expert Link Program, which connected Hospitality House to a service provider to address the challenges they were facing. Join us to hear more about how support they received through this engagement has already saved Yasaman and the organization time, energy, and has supported growth of the organization's mission to provide affordable lodging to families with a loved one undergoing medical care.
Yasaman opens up about the confidence that comes with having the technology tools and knowledge necessary to maintain a peace of mind about the wellbeing of a nonprofit. Additionally, Bleema, Yasaman, and Stephanie dig in about the importance of cybersecurity in the nonprofit world, and how Apparo can help nonprofits stay secure