Lumay is from the MBA Class of 2016 during which time she was a Board Fellow with The Chicago Literacy Alliance. She is now a Principal at ZX Ventures, Vice President of the Board of Directors at The Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture and serves on the board of The Ocean Foundation.
Why did you apply to be a Nonprofit Board Fellow?
Before Kellogg, I worked as a legislative aide in the Senate and the House of Representatives. I wanted to stay connected to social impact work while at Kellogg, but honestly, I think all Kellogg students should have to go through the Board Fellows program. My experiential training at Kellogg provided the most meaningful and actionable insights for a post-MBA career. Board Fellows is particularly fantastic for board governance – whether you want to serve on a non- or for-profit board one day.
What were some of the specific benefits you gained?
Board Fellows gave me knowledge, perspective, and a community of peers that lives on after graduation. In the classroom, I learned about the enormous responsibilities and legal duties of a nonprofit board. As a result, the knowledge shifted my perspective of boards from ‘doers’ to ‘governors’. Years after I’ve graduated, I continue to be choiceful in the organizations to whom I give my time because of the importance of governance. Lastly, I gained a community of peers; I gained not only from their positive experiences but also from their dysfunctional board stories, too.
How has the experience impacted your subsequent roles?
Board Fellows made me better at identifying where I can be a ‘good match’ for the nonprofits I seek to serve, both in terms of size and stage, but also examining our mutual expectations and requirements. In short, I got better at board due diligence. Second, the program—and especially the experience of my project—gave me insight into common governance issues that I would later face. For example, I have come to appreciate the simplicity and clarity of good strategy because it can be easily implemented.
Looking back on the program, what are your reflections?
During COVID, nonprofits—like for-profits—were talking about how to navigate issues like remote working in light of their specific organizational scale, operations, revenue model etc. But being able to navigate people? That's the hard part. Nonprofits, like other organizations, are driven by humans, and decisions are made by people, including myself, who aren't always 100% rational. Having actual experience of being in the decision-making room and understanding what soft skills you can use—and how to make people see the answer you think is clear—is really important.
What advice do you have for prospective or current students who are interested in the program?
Two quick takes! First, expect that your project will change. Nonprofits are very resource constrained organizations, and many of my peers’ projects shifted as resources, priorities, or context changed. Second, take ownership of that project shift. Some of the best projects I saw were ones where Fellows were self-motivated, flexible, and undeterred by some level of perceived dysfunction. Even if you’re frustrated, say by a misaligned board, there will be real learnings in observing what happens when board members don’t see eye-to-eye. Those learnings will be applicable to your future career and board service, as you navigate change.
