I created this biographical piece as part of a larger project for sustainability and networking nonprofit, Net Impact. The aim was to reach out to Millennials in business careers and get them involved in sustainability networking and mentorship programs.
Judy Belk has got guts. Crazy chutzpah, in fact. This is a woman who turned down a promising career in public relations because she knew philanthropy was her calling. And it’s been that confidence in who she is that has lifted her into high impact senior leadership roles. Over the past 30 years, she’s been among the best in her field, working towards the broader good across government, corporate – and now with her work at Rockerfeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) – nonprofit sectors.
It all starts with core skills.
Judy cites her communications skills as foundational. Storytelling, speaking in front of a crowd, and especially writing have all been major strengths for her. As an African-American who came of age in DC during the civil rights era, Judy was also galvanized by the idea of serving the greater good. This led her to choose government work right after college. But she soon found herself enticed by the private sector.
Going against the grain to succeed.
Judy got the opportunity to interview for a PR manager position at Mervyn’s, a major California department store chain. The thing is, Judy wasn’t sold on the idea of being in PR. What excited her was philanthropy – and she knew through her research that Mervyn’s parent company was deeply involved in that area. She spent a good part of her interview asking about it – to the point that the VP of Public Affairs, also a future mentor, had to reiterate the job description. Judy said:
“I really like you and I’d love to work with you, but my passions are not with the public relations side. If you ever have an opening in the philanthropic arena, I hope you’ll think of me.”
Needless to say, the VP was dumbfounded. She called up Judy two weeks later and said:
“You know, I’ve never had an interview like that and I still have the PR opening, but I’ve carved out an entry level position in the philanthropy area and if you want it, you can have it.”
Common wisdom may say you should never hijack an interview. But Judy’s philosophy is that you should always be interviewing your potential employer as much as they’re interviewing you.
Broad experience produces great insights.
Judy took the entry-level job and rose through the ranks quickly. Eventually, she was recruited to a senior leadership role at Levi’s Strauss, where she led pioneering work on AIDS education, racial awareness, and economic development. This is where Judy found her sweet spot. She used her communications savvy to engage multiple departments and thousands of employees to create memorable global campaigns. Her background in government and at Mervyn’s gave her unique insight into how to energize partnerships, gain credibility with new communities, and create smart philanthropic strategies that supported Levi’s brand.
If not for the increasingly crazy pace of the job and its impact on her family, Judy might still be there, working closely with the CEO on a host of new initiatives. But due to that and her growing interest in pure philanthropy, Judy made the move to RPA. Now she brings her experience to bear on philanthropy consulting that bridges the nonprofit and private sectors.
With such a wealth of experience behind her, Judy has some tips for sustainability job seekers.
- Ask probing questions in an interview. If you want to get a real idea of what it’s like to work somewhere, try asking your interviewer something that will give you a deeper view like “how do you handle things when someone makes a mistake?”
- Recognize pros and cons of corporate philanthropy. Although you’ll have access to enormous resources, your work may not be seen as central to the company’s product. Take a close look at how deeply philanthropic efforts are built into the company’s brand. One way to tell is by how engaged the C-suite is in this piece of the business.
- Don’t be afraid to take risks. Judy took a big chance when she left her home for an entry-level job in California. She had loans to repay. She left a big network behind. But taking that chance helped her actualize her leadership potential.
It helps to have an awareness of what skills really set you apart. Like Judy and her communications abilities, you’ve got those things that are intrinsic to you. Go ahead and show those skills off.
To see all of the biographies and videos I created for Net impact, visit their site.