Photo by Boutique Photographer Linda Smallpage
MEET MORE OF OUR 2024 WOMEN OF DISTINCTION
A constant focus on Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago’s mission: “Connecting people to work. Preparing people for life.” has helped to guide President and CEO Jackie Hallberg through her two decades of transformative leadership.
This mission, along with the lives it touches, lies at the heart of the organization’s ongoing growth. Goodwill has thrived not only as a successful retail business, but as a nonprofit that connects more and more community members with meaningful work each year.
“We support people in accessing work and the dignity that comes with it.”
– Elizabeth McNally
In 2023, Hallberg’s 10th year as President and CEO, Goodwill served more than 50,000 people and coordinated more than 4,000 job placements.
“I hope that communities, families and individuals throughout greater Milwaukee and Chicago continue to be positively impacted by Goodwill’s mission,” says Hallberg. “It’s all possible because of the continued generosity of our donors, the loyalty of our shoppers, and the support of our community partners.”
Hallberg has surrounded herself with a talented leadership team that supports the organization’s ongoing efforts.
“One of our team’s biggest strengths is our ability to adapt and maintain a can-do attitude, particularly when facing new challenges or changes,” says CJ Wang, vice president, controller and treasurer. “This mindset has allowed us to remain resilient and innovative, consistently delivering results as Goodwill continues to deepen its impact in our community.”
Goodwill continues to find new ways to remove barriers, contribute to the community and support the next generation of the local workforce. In 2023, Goodwill awarded 20 scholarships to dependents of Goodwill employees and community members, with 75 percent being first-generation college students. The scholarships helped finance tuition and fees for the school year.
“Goodwill’s mission is important because we support people in accessing work and the dignity that comes with it,” says Elizabeth McNally vice president, strategic planning and chief of staff. “We all know people with barriers, even if we don’t realize it – often they aren’t visible. And many of us will face barriers at some point in life through changes in life circumstances, injuries, illness, or as we age. It greatly impacts our local community.”
Q&A
What advice would you give to young women aspiring to leadership roles, especially in the nonprofit sector?
In my experience, finding a fulfilling career in the nonprofit sector is both challenging and rewarding. Nonprofits offer a unique environment for learning and leading and are rich in development opportunities particularly for people who have an entrepreneurial spirit and wish to build, design and innovate, or explore new career paths. The advice I’d share with women leaders is:
Build a network; surround yourself with people who inspire you, where you can learn and share ideas and support one another.
Be a pioneer; be strategic, be brave. Embrace innovation and constraints. Learn from others and engage others in solutioning. Balance the bigger picture with shorter term
initiatives. Dream.
Lead by example; try new things often and empower others to do the same. Celebrate wins and losses; make failure, specifically what you have learned from it, part of
your story.
Know your superpower; and more importantly, know the superpower and strengths of others, be dynamic, be a connector, work together. Pay it forward; Be a mentor.
– Nicol Britten , Senior Vice President, People and Culture
What is one leadership lesson you’ve learned that you wish you had known earlier in your career?
I wish that I’d understood earlier in my leadership journey, how powerful the simple act of listening is. By truly listening, I’ve been able to tap into strength, talent and diversity of
thought and experience. Taking the time to foster trust, hear varied opinions and consider wise counsel before making decisions, has served me well. Though my natural inclination is toward decisive action, I’ve developed a practice of balancing that with careful consideration of different perspectives. I’m grateful to have had many opportunities throughout my career to hone this skill and know that I am a better leader because of it.
– Suzanne Maldonado, Vice President, TalentBridge and Business Development
What do you prioritize in your approach to leadership?
My approach to leadership focuses on fostering collaboration and playing to people’s strengths. I believe unlocking individual potential for what people are naturally good at can help strengthen a team’s ability to drive project results and business goals. I’m only a strong leader if my team is strong and empowered to share their perspectives and use the skills they have developed to be the rockstars they were hired to be.
– Anita Guerrero, Vice President, Corporate Communications & Brand Management
