Animal Welfare Leadership
A REMOTE MASTERCLASS WITH RACHEL D.K. FINNEY, CAWA
5 Sessions to Advance Your Skills:
Decisions, Decisions: All The Tools You Need to Make Tough Calls
The Power of Perspective: Finding the Silver Lining When It’s Raining Cats & Dogs
Volunteer Programming that Really Works
The Logistics of Drama at Work
A Feedback Junkie's Guide to Saying What Needs to Be Said
Schedule
June 4, 2024-June 20, 2024
Tuesdays and Thursdays
1:00PM-2:30PM
Pricing
$50 for each 90 minute session,
$75 for the combo class,
$200 for all
Columbus Humane is an approved provider of content which enhances professional competence and aligns with the CAWA Exam specifications. To apply this masterclass to CAWA continuing education credits, click here.
Decisions, Decisions: All The Tools You Need to Make Tough Calls
June 4, 2024 | 1pm - 2:30pm
Because we are a movement fueled and funded by animal-lovers, our decision-making is most often guided by what is in the best interest of an individual animal. I call this the “intuitive model.” The problem is that this model doesn’t reliably generate effective, sustainable results and overtime can lead to poor animal care, compassion fatigue in staff and volunteers and even financial strain for nonprofit organizations. We must consider many factors when making animal care, treatment and outcome decisions in order to meet the needs of all of our stakeholders.
In this session, I introduce an easy-to-use, balanced three-pronged decision-making model that takes into account what is in the best interests of the animal, the organization and the people engaged. When we make decisions that meet each of these critical needs areas, the whole community benefits.
The session is designed to expand critical thinking, boost leadership skills and offers barrier-busting strategies to conquer nay-sayers. The presentation is interactive and fast-paced and utilizes real-life examples to help participants from agencies of all sizes and philosophies easily relate. Attendees receive the model overview, tips and tricks for incorporating the model, and tools for implementing the very next day.
“One word #WOW! Thank you so much—I can’t wait to share what I learned.”
The Power of Perspective: Finding the Silver Lining When It’s Raining Cats & Dogs
June 6, 2024 | 1pm - 2:30pm
Sometimes a set-back is really a remarkable path forward. This is a story about shaping our best possible future by changing the lens through which we view our challenges. Join Rachel for an inspiring look at how she and her team leverage adversity and make the best of difficult situations by shifting perspectives. Conquer any challenge from catastrophic flooding to feline overpopulation with a journey to the bright side.
This session creates an opportunity to consider the “up side of down.” A self-proclaimed “advantage-ist,” Rachel teaches participants to consider the advantages of experiencing hardship and the good that can come from otherwise bad situations. Attendees will receive an advantage inventory and a reflection activity ready for immediate use.
Volunteer Programming that Really Works
June 18, 2024 | 1pm-2:30pm
Ask a room full of animal welfare leaders about the biggest challenges of our jobs and managing passionate people is often at the top of the list. This session addresses the most common sources of drama and dysfunction in volunteer programming and the negative impacts it can have on quality of life for the people and animals within the organization. I underscore the importance of clear, open and supportive communication for all team members and give examples of what works and what does not.
The session is interactive, entertaining—even funny; and hits straight at heart of the problems we face on a daily basis. Using real-life examples and solutions, attendees learn why it’s critical to invest time, training and dollars in volunteer programming and how to get the most return out of that investment. I cover recruiting, training, retaining and thanking volunteers and stress the importance of accountability for all team members.
Special combo class
The Logistics of Drama at Work and A Feedback Junkie's Guide to Saying What Needs to Be Said
June 20, 2024 | 1pm - 3pm
The Logistics of Drama at Work
Is drama wasting your emotional energy and contributing to an unhappy group dynamic? In this one hour presentation, Rachel tackles how work groups make well-intended, simple mistakes that create and sustain a drama culture AND the easy steps to take to fix it starting today!
Participants are lead through a recipe for drama and a simple tool to use to stop drama in its tracks. This session is especially helpful for work environments with high emotional stress and compassion fatigue, like animal welfare!
A Feedback Junkie's Guide to Saying What Needs to Be Said
Everyone deserves feedback about their performance and contributions, but finding the right words and approach can be tricky. Fear of failure or hurt feelings can keep us from sharing the important information our team members need to succeed in the workplace. In this session, attendees learn the biggest barriers to delivering the messages that need to be said and how to address them head on. You'll learn why, how and when to give the most direct, supportive feedback and how you can reinforce a culture of feedback in your organization.
“I HATE conflict in the workplace, but I learned that I also contribute to it. It taught me that we all have positive intentions, truly. I feel like that is something I often lose sight of.
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Space Is Limited. Register Today.
Classes are conducted in small groups designed to promote discussion and learning
Appropriate for both seasoned animal welfare executives and emerging leaders
Remote sessions make it easy to join from anywhere and registrants get a link to access recordings afterwards
$50 for each session or $200 for all five
Register For All 5 Classes and Save $25!
About RACHEL D.K. FINNEY, CAWA
Rachel serves as CEO at Columbus Humane managing 60 staff and 425 volunteers with a budget of $4 million. She has 21 years of executive leadership in nonprofit management and is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator with 17 years of experience in animal sheltering. Rachel has degrees in nonprofit management, psychology, political science and sociology from Indiana University. She was recognized as Nonprofit CEO of the Year by Columbus CEO in 2015 and a Columbus Business First 40 Under 40 in 2013.
Rachel is a regular lecturer at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and delivers keynote presentations on animal welfare and the power of finding advantages in personal and professional challenges. She operates under the philosophy that we should "never be afraid to do the right thing." She shares her home with her husband, 2 children, 3 dogs, 1 cat and 1 fish.
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