Stakeholder Spotlight: Cindy Mah

The “Stakeholder Spotlight” is an occasional series of posts highlighting people who are helping to advance Learning Life’s work.  Our latest post in this series features Cindy Mah, a member of Learning Life’s Board of Advisors since March 2022 who has thoughtfully initiated and guided a strategic planning process since August 2023.  That process will culminate in the first half of 2025 with goals, metrics, communications materials and a regular evaluation process that will strengthen Learning Life’s mission, programs and revenue.  For her patient, expert strategic guidance, Cindy has been named Learning Life’s Outstanding Volunteer of the Year for two consecutive years, in 2023 and 2024.    

Please tell us about your current and prior work. 

In my current work, I advise leaders on aligning strategy, processes, people, and structure to strengthen overall organizational integrity. I use a purpose-based planning approach that I developed to support social impact organizations. It is a framework that enhances organizational ability to define their long-term workforce plans and strategies, and design sustainable pathways and processes to meet their goals. This includes conducting organizational assessments and facilitating strategic planning to create prioritized action and operations plans. I also guide professionals to cultivate critical skills and competencies for their sustainable development using tools like the Leadership Circle Profile. I complement this with developmental coaching as a certified Integral Associate Coach.

I started my career at the Institute of International Education (IIE), whose mission is to help people and organizations leverage the power of international education to thrive in today’s interconnected world. During my tenure at IIE, I served in progressive management roles before joining the senior leadership team where I developed IIE’s signature initiatives and directed cross-functional program services. This included providing interim oversight of 11 of IIE’s international offices. My program management background includes designing and implementing global scholarship competitions, leadership and workforce development programs, primarily with private sector clients. This work prepared me to understand workforce needs and trends, and deepened my focus on developing people through education access and training programs, as well as leadership and organizational development.

What do you like to do in your free time?  

My focused career in international higher education belies my early trajectory towards clothing design and creative arts. My interest in clothing and textiles expanded to include jewelry and craft making over the years. Having had the opportunity to travel and experience many different cultures, I love learning to cook different cuisines and learning new languages. I’m particularly proud of my nearly five-year streak on Duolingo, learning Mandarin, Korean, Spanish, and French. And like many during the COVID-19 pandemic, I found some virtual escape through Korean dramas, music, and food culture.

What drew you to Learning Life?

Initially, the organization’s name drew me in as my work was centered around lifelong learning and the name resonated with me. Once I learned more about Learning Life’s mission and focus on inclusive learning communities and widening participation in democracy and diplomacy, I felt it aligned with my interests and experience and was drawn to support a young organization that was seeking to grow its impact. In particular, I was intrigued by the Family Diplomacy Initiative as I wasn’t familiar with focusing on the family unit in the diplomacy space.

What is something interesting you learned in the process of guiding Learning Life’s strategic planning?

In addition to sharing something interesting I learned, I first want to express my appreciation and gratitude to Paul Lachelier, Learning Life’s Founder and Director, for being open and willing to commit to a strategic planning process. It can be a daunting endeavor, but critical to shaping an intentional and sustainable organization.

As a Board of Advisory member, I initiated a conversation with Paul to explore how I might be able to help him with his external communications needs at the time. This led to a discussion to revisit Learning Life’s strategy to assess its alignment with its programs and future activities. Doing this would support more effective communications to its various audiences. As we gathered stakeholder insight through interviews and surveys, I came across vast differences in opinion about what Learning Life should be focusing on, but there was a common sentiment about the importance of Learning Life’s mission and vision and the desire to support its growth and success.

What is one piece of advice you would offer to small nonprofits looking to grow?    

In the start-up and growth stages of small nonprofits, it’s important to consider how to grow a viable and sustainable organization. As the organization grows beyond its founder or small group of founders, it will be critical to establish systems of accountability across all aspects of the organization: governance and leadership, processes and systems, staffing and structure. And establishing a strong foundation of measurement and evaluation will be key to sourcing funding and support. Founders will need to be open to seeking help and support to complete gaps in their skills and expertise. They will also need to be open to continuing their own self-development as a leader. It is a continuous learning journey that will be rewarded with a sense of accomplishment and impact!