Just as Alpha Auxilior was born from my desire to share knowledge and help professionals thrive in the corporate environment, our family charity foundation was created almost two years ago. Why? Simply put—because I care.
While the desire to help those in need and support young talents was my driving force, I also saw charity as a break from the corporate world. I envisioned charity work as a way to step outside the often-relentless pace of business life, offering a peaceful escape from the pressures of corporate challenges. I even thought it might help me tame my workaholic tendencies. But as I quickly learned, that’s not quite how it works. That, however, is another story.
What I want to share today is how, to my surprise, I found so many leadership similarities between the corporate world and charity work. At first glance, they seem like completely different environments – one focused on profit, the other on giving. But when I dug deeper, I realized that leadership, no matter the setting, revolves around the same core principles.
The Importance of a Clear, Common, and Inspiring Goal.
In both corporate environments and charity projects, a clear, common goal is essential for success. When everyone understands the “why,” you can spend less time explaining and more time focusing on the “how,” which leads to quicker, more efficient results. An inspiring, well-communicated goal naturally motivates people to contribute their best. With a shared purpose, they don’t need constant direction – they’re driven by a shared purpose. As a leader, it’s your responsibility to ensure that this goal is clear and compelling, so your team feels motivated to support it with their full potential.
It’s All About Trust
There are countless leadership and management styles in the corporate world, but the most successful ones are always built on trust. While you could choose to lead through formal authority, this is often a fast track to failure, resulting in low employee engagement and subpar outcomes.
In the world of charity, titles and formal authority are meaningless. People either trust you and rally behind your projects, or you’re left alone with nothing but your ideas. The principle is the same in both environments: trust is essential. However, in charity work, you’ll get quicker and more honest feedback on trust—people’s loyalty and commitment that are tied directly to their belief in you, not your title.
Network Matters
I’ll admit it—I hate formal networking. Walking into a room of strangers to exchange small talk and business cards doesn’t come naturally to me. It often feels like both parties are just going through the motions, pretending this interaction matters while counting the minutes until it’s over. I don’t believe this kind of forced networking benefits anyone.
However, I do believe in networks that develop naturally. These are the people I’ve collaborated with—sometimes only briefly—but in those moments, something meaningful was exchanged, whether for me or them. I make it a point to check in on these individuals, support their professional or personal endeavors, and celebrate their success. Why? Because I care, and I’m genuinely happy to see them thrive.
Corporate culture often emphasizes the importance of networking, but too often it lacks sincerity, and the motives behind it feel hollow. Still, whether in corporate life or charity, you can’t succeed on your own. You need a team, and you need a network to support you. In charity work, where resources are often limited, a strong network becomes even more crucial. You might have a great idea and the trust of a few people, but if you want to create real change—whether in your organization or the world—you need a network to amplify your impact.
Yours,
Kristine Kopce-Lumane
