Introducing 2012 ProInspire Bay Area Fellow: Alise Usher

Name: Alise Usher
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Previous Employer: Harvard University
Current Organization: Benetech

What inspired you to make the switch into the nonprofit sector?
I realized my professional life was headed in a direction that was opposite from my core values, and so I set out to find a career where I could fully engage and believe in what I was doing.

What is your current position, and a typical day like?
As a Development Officer at a high-tech nonprofit in Silicon Valley, everyday is an adventure! I’m enjoying working in place that pursues high impact social good rather than high returns on investment. We work to make our programs economically sustainable and to promote systematic change, which makes my role of talking to funders about what we do feel less like work …I can’t help but think, “Do I really get to do this everyday?!”

Where did you work prior to making the switch?
Before beginning the ProInspire fellowship, I worked primarily in the investment management industry.

What is your professional background and areas of expertise?
My professional background is primarily in investment management, and I attempted a few entrepreneurial ventures – that flopped. I packed a wide array of learning experiences into the first few years of my career, so I don’t really consider myself an expert quite yet. My experience and interests are in marketing, investor relations, social entrepreneurship, social media strategy, and the coffee business.

What are you involved in outside of work?
I’m a runner – it’s my way of maintaining discipline – so I’m enjoying road races in the California sun. I’m currently looking for volunteer opportunities in my new local community, and I recently became involved with a couple early-stage startups.

Tell us about your past leadership experiences and how they are helping you in your current role.
My previous leadership experiences have taught me to “know what you don’t know.” Keeping this lesson in mind, I try to ask good questions, learn the organizational culture, and keep our big picture goals in mind, ahead of my own professional goals. Doing these three things seems to help with overall success in both my current and previous roles. I also learned – and am still learning – to stay humble, confident, and engaged with my teammates.

What book are you reading right now or what is your favorite book?
Right now I’m reading Conscious Capitalism by John Mackey and The Art Forger by B.A. Sharpiro.

Where else have you lived?
Upstate New York, Paris, Boston