Iliana Tavera - Nonprofit On The Rocks Interview

Iliana Tavera - Haven Hills

Matt talks to Iliana Tavera, Executive Director at Haven Hillls, a nonprofit that provides shelter and services for domestic violence survivors and their families. They reminisce about their shared experience being young EDs (a loooong time ago), the things they love the most about their jobs, and what they find the most difficult (and what their spouses find the most difficult) They also explore how the pandemic has impacted domestic violence and the organizations that work with survivors of it.

EPISODE #6

MATT:

So, if I'm a 21 year old, and I'm thinking of for profit or nonprofit, and I'm sitting in front of you right now and I'm like, "Should I ... Do I want to be an executive director? Is that something I want to do?" What would you tell me?

ILIANA:

You know, I think you have to take every opportunity presented to you. I think part of the problem that I see with young people coming up in these fields is that oftentimes they don't take those chances, right?

MATT:

Right.

ILIANA:

I remember myself at 19 and 21, and like, I would try anything, right? I would be the first to raise my hand to take on a new project because, if I didn't, I wouldn't have it. I mean, that's how I started supervising people. That's how I started doing job interviews and because I was like, "Oh, I'll do it. Yeah, look. I'll review resumes for that position, right? Because how am I going to learn that if I don't put myself out there?”

ILIANA:

And I think sometimes people are very like, "This is my job. This is what I do. And I don't do anything other than that. And you have to compensate me …You have to compensate me for doing these things." And sometimes--and obviously, I don't want to take advantage of anybody, and I don't want to not pay people … what they're worth, but I think sometimes you have to stretch a little to really set yourself apart and to be trusted to take on leadership roles.