Strategy. Community.
Real Talk.
The Strategy Studio is a monthly conversation series for nonprofit Executive Directors and CEOs who are ready to stop reacting and start building.
EDs and CEOs Only
Real Data from Real Organizations
Honest Peer Conversations
Expert Panel Discussions
Live Q & A with Allecia
ABOUT STRATEGY STUDIO
Built for the Leader at the Top of the Org Chart
Running a nonprofit is not a solo sport, but it can sure feel that way at the top. The Strategy Studio was created to give Executive Directors and CEOs a confidential, peer-powered space to think strategically, learn from leaders who have done the hard work, and walk away with something you can actually use.
Each session brings together two to three ED and CEO panelists, framework insights grounded in real organizational experience, and live discussion on the exact topics keeping nonprofit leaders up at night, from strategic planning and team culture to board engagement and operations.
This is not a webinar. It's a working session with peers who get it.
Our inaugural session on March 12th focuses on building a strong strategic foundation, the component most organizations skip, and why that single decision costs them everything down the road.
Session Format (60 - 75 min)
MEET THE PANELISTS
Leaders Who Have Done the Hard Work
Joining Allecia Harley for the inaugural session of The Strategy Studio about "Building a Strong Strategic Foundation" on Wednesday, March 12, 2026.
Iona Calhoun-Battiste
Senior Director of Collective Power
Chicago Community Trust
Iona Calhoun-Battiste is a trusted nonprofit leader recognized for her ability to cast vision, develop cross-functional teams, and fund innovative social impact solutions across the Chicago region. She serves as Advisory Board Chair for Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy and sits on the board of Urban Gateways. She holds a master's degree in developmental psychopathology from Teachers College, Columbia University and a bachelor's degree from Howard University.
Stephen Martin, PhD
Executive Director
CPASS Foundation
Stephen A. Martin, Jr. is a nationally recognized healthcare executive and population health leader with over 20 years of experience. He serves as Executive Director of CPASS Foundation, a private-public partnership increasing underrepresented students in medicine and health professions. Previously, he was Chief Operating Officer for the Cook County Department of Public Health and a senior executive at the American Hospital Association. He holds a Ph.D. from University of Michigan and an M.P.H. from Tulane.
Laura Zumdahl, PhD
President and CEO
New Moms
Laura Zumdahl leads New Moms, a social impact organization focused on economic mobility for young mothers and their families, along with Bright Endeavors, a social enterprise providing transitional jobs, and Bright Path Consulting, a national consulting practice for human service organizations. She holds a PhD in Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University, an MA in Social Work from the University of Chicago, a BA in Sociology from Trinity Christian College, and is a Licensed Social Worker in the State of Illinois.
DATE: Wednesday, March 12, 2026
TIME: 11:00am to 12:15pm CT
LOCATION: Zoom (link sent upon registration)
COST: Free, no strings attached.
MEMBER BENEFITS
What You Get at Every Strategy Studio Session
Every session is designed to give you something real to think about and something concrete to act on.
Framework Insights
Every session is anchored in the Thriving Nonprofit HQ framework so you always know how what you're learning connects to the bigger picture of building a stronger organization.
Live ED/CEO Panel Sessions
Two to three carefully selected executive panelists share candid insights on the month's topic. No fluff, no sales pitches, just honest conversation from leaders doing the work.
Session Recordings and Resources
Can't make it live? Registered members get access to the session recording and any frameworks or tools shared during the session.
Direct Access to Allecia
Bring your real questions to the live Q&A and get direct input from a strategist who has guided more than 45 organizations through transformational growth.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
Strategy Studio is for You if...
This space is curated exclusively for nonprofit executive leaders. If you check any of these boxes, you belong here.
You're leading with limited peer support
You're the one everyone comes to for answers, but you rarely have a confidential space to think through your own strategic questions without judgment.
You want data, not just opinions
You're tired of generic nonprofit advice. You want insights grounded in real organizational experience so you can make informed decisions.
You're ready to connect and learn from peers
You value candid conversation with other EDs and CEOs who are navigating the same challenges and are willing to share what's actually working.
MEET YOUR FACILITATOR
The Strategist Behind the Strategy Studio
Allecia Harley has spent her career helping nonprofit leaders see clearly, move strategically, and build organizations strong enough to deliver their mission.
Allecia Harley is a nonprofit strategist, facilitator, and speaker who helps executive directors and CEOs build organizations strong enough to deliver their mission. With deep experience across public health, academic medicine, and the nonprofit sector, she brings a rare combination of strategic clarity, systems thinking, and genuine sector knowledge to every engagement.
She is the founder of IntuWork Consulting, the creator of the Thriving Nonprofit HQ framework. She has guided more than 45 organizations through strategic planning and transformational growth.
Founder and Principal Consultant, IntuWork Consulting
Creator of the Thriving Nonprofit HQ Framework
Former Associate Vice President, Rush University Medical Center
Former Director, Huron Consulting Group
Graduate, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program
Graduate, Chicago Leadership Circle, University of Chicago and Crain's Chicago Business
Master of Public Health, University of Michigan School of Public Health
Bachelor of Science, Spelman College
Member, Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
TESTIMONIALS
What Nonprofit Leaders Are Saying
"This workshop taught me how to delegate more effectively with a team and provide feedback to people along the way. The balance between oversharing and being transparent, and how to create a project management plan and evaluation."
- Victoria
"My top 3 takeaways from this workshop are being intentional about identifying my choice points as a manager, the tools/strategies/templates that I received for program and project management, & my project plan I created."
- Maricela
“I definitely recommend this professional development
workshop and any other workshop that Allecia does, not only for our community
but for anyone who needs it.”
- Asia
SELECTED CONSULTING CLIENTS
Some of Our Distinguished Clients
REGISTER NOW
Start Building. Your First Session Is Free.
Join nonprofit executive directors and CEOs from across Chicago for an honest conversation about building organizations strong enough to deliver their mission.
Our first session focuses on building a strong strategic foundation, the component most organizations skip, and why that single decision costs them everything down the road.
You'll hear from Iona Calhoun-Battiste, Senior Director, Chicago Community Trust, Stephen A. Martin, Jr., PhD, MPH, Executive Director of CPASS Foundation and Laura Zumdahl, PhD, President and CEO of New Moms on building the strategic foundation your organization needs to thrive.
DATE: Wednesday, March 12, 2026
TIME: 11:00am to 12:15pm CT
LOCATION: Zoom (link sent upon registration)
COST: Free, no strings attached.
Coming Up in The Strategy Studio
Each month we go deep on one critical component of building a thriving nonprofit.
Upcoming topics include:
April: Empowering Your Finance Director — Budget Transparency and Board Engagement
May: Hiring, Keeping, and Letting Go — HR Essentials for Nonprofits Without an HR Department
June: No IT Department? No Problem — Right-Sizing Your Tech and AI for a Lean Team
September: Leading Year-End Success — Campaign Strategy and Delegation
October: Facilitating Strategic Planning — How to Lead Your Board Through the Process
Sessions are $47 per month beginning in April. Register for March free and be the first to know when registration opens.
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