By Katie Andriulli
In late July, Neighbor to Neighbor Executive Director K. Brent Hill joined two fellow Greenwich nonprofit leaders, Mary Lee A. Kiernan, President & CEO of YWCA Greenwich, and Rachel Kornfeld, Chief Executive Officer of Jewish Family Services of Greenwich, for a week-long immersion at Harvard Business School (HBS)’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program.
The program, offered through HBS Executive Education in partnership with the school’s Social Enterprise Initiative, brings nonprofit executive directors and CEOs from around the world to the HBS campus in Boston for six days of multifaceted, case-based learning, small-group sessions, and lectures from a diverse array of distinguished guest speakers.
During the week, participants worked through real strategic challenges facing nonprofits today — from sharpening mission focus and building operational capacity to leading during organizational change and scaling impact — alongside peers who are navigating many of the same pressures in their own organizations.
The presence of multiple Greenwich leaders at the program is no accident; it’s an indicator of the strength of the town’s nonprofit sector, and reflects local leaders’ drive to work more closely together to benefit the community. The program could not have come at a better time, as rising costs for basic needs and changes at the federal level are increasing the need for nonprofits’ services and demanding even more resourcefulness and creativity from leadership and staff to tackle these challenges.
“I’m humbled and grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the program,” said Hill. “The experience challenged my thinking, sharpened my strategic perspective, and reminded me of the extraordinary work nonprofit leaders are doing in communities around the world. Spending six days learning alongside leaders from 18 countries left me both inspired and energized. Many of the connections made will become lifelong partners in service. I return to Neighbor to Neighbor with fresh ideas, new skills, and an even deeper commitment to advancing our mission.”
“Attending the program was an energizing reminder of what is possible when mission-driven leaders come together to exchange ideas and challenge one another to think differently,” Kiernan added. “The experience broadened my perspective on innovation, leadership, and the evolving needs of the communities we serve. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from such accomplished colleagues and return to YWCA Greenwich with new tools, fresh inspiration, and an even stronger commitment to building pathways that empower individuals, strengthen families, and create a more equitable community for all.”
Kornfeld echoed that sense of energy and purpose:
“As a lifelong learner, receiving one of two scholarships from the Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Connecticut Community Partners was a tremendous gift. Spending a week at the program, learning alongside 172 of the most innovative nonprofit leaders from around the world, was both humbling and energizing. Experiencing it with colleagues Brent and Mary Lee made it even more meaningful, as we return home ready to put these ideas into action together. My heart is full, my perspective has expanded, and I am more committed than ever to advancing systemic change that creates lasting opportunities for the individuals and communities we serve.”
Neighbor to Neighbor was proud to represent Greenwich and learn alongside such a distinguished cohort. We are excited to put new ideas to work in partnership with our colleagues at YWCA Greenwich, Jewish Family Services, and the many other organizations in Greenwich’s nonprofit ecosystem, so we can further our mission of building a community where everyone can thrive.