Core Growth, Core Consulting’s 6-month emerging leaders program, features guest speakers from various walks of life who share experiences that participants can then reflect on and take back to their own industries. One of our classes convened at Aviatra Accelerators to hear from Nancy Aichholz, the accelerator’s Executive Director. This particular session focused on the importance of alignment in propelling an organization forward. Included below are words of wisdom shared by Nancy about the role of alignment in her professional and personal lives.
Nancy’s professional journey spans from the Director of Marketing at Chiquita to the ownership and operation of her own start-up, NanBrands (whose carrot cakes were featured in Nordstrom). This past experience led to her role at Aviatra Accelerators, supporting female entrepreneurs like herself. Having taken time off to raise her children and focus on political fundraising in between careers and starting her own business, Nancy is familiar with the importance of alignment.
Her advice when building alignment?
- Engage the old and embrace the new
- Focus on recruitment and on-boarding to secure the right talent for your team and integrate them into the culture of your organization
- Clearly define and communicate roles at every level to avoid confusion
- Share the highest level of information appropriate to everyone involved
- Stay on the same page by engaging team members (with staff retreats, for example)
Learn more about Core’s emerging leader training program here. A new class kicks off in September of every year.
