WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:01.480 I grew up in the South. 2 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:04.160 If you can't tell by my accent, but actually I 3 00:00:04.280 --> 00:00:06.799 was born in Florida. My dad was in the Navy 4 00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:10.119 at the time, so I was initially a military brat, 5 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:14.320 and then we moved around this great country, mostly focusing 6 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:18.000 on Southern states. I went to Wake Forest University. 7 00:00:17.600 --> 00:00:18.320 Go Deacons. 8 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:22.199 Then I finished my master's at wake Forest, my PhD 9 00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:23.399 at the University of. 10 00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:24.719 North Carolina and in Greensboro. 11 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:27.079 And so I come to you with a great deal 12 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:30.320 of Southern background, but a lot of work in the 13 00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:32.520 nonprofit space, and that's why i'm here today. 14 00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:34.000 Well, we're thrilled to talk to you, and we have 15 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:35.439 a little bit in common because I used to live 16 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:37.840 in Raleigh for eight years. So I know your schools 17 00:00:37.960 --> 00:00:39.920 very well, and they're great schools, and I'm glad you 18 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:42.159 got a great education. And that's where i'd like to 19 00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:43.679 start about going out of school. 20 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:43.799 Now. 21 00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:46.200 Obviously, we're here to talk a lot about American humane 22 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:49.560 and there's so many cool things starting in eighteen seventy seven, 23 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:52.159 what you've done over almost fifteen years now, which is 24 00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:55.960 absolutely incredible, about the programs and ways to give and 25 00:00:55.960 --> 00:00:58.200 all the cool things and what you exactly do. But 26 00:00:58.280 --> 00:01:00.000 coming out of school, what did you want to do? 27 00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:02.560 Because you've got a really diverse background. I mean, you've 28 00:01:02.600 --> 00:01:04.920 been in finance and then a nonprofit. But what do 29 00:01:04.920 --> 00:01:06.040 you want to do coming out of school? 30 00:01:06.359 --> 00:01:09.719 So when I graduated from Wake Forest, I knew. I 31 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:12.719 knew that I wanted to be a university treasurer. 32 00:01:13.239 --> 00:01:16.400 Really, yes, that's very specific. I know it was very specific. 33 00:01:16.439 --> 00:01:18.959 I said, I'm going to get my PhD, I'm going 34 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:22.000 to finish my MBA, I'm going to have lots of certifications. 35 00:01:22.040 --> 00:01:24.920 In fact, I have a lot of financial and accounting 36 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:28.760 certifications for a career as a university treasurer. And my 37 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:31.719 mother said, stop getting so many certifications. You have more 38 00:01:31.760 --> 00:01:34.680 certifications than you do children. So I think you've proven 39 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:37.000 a point. I said, thank you, Mom. I guess I did. 40 00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:38.079 And so when I. 41 00:01:38.040 --> 00:01:41.599 Finished up my PhD, I was still working full time 42 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:45.640 at Wake Forest University. I loved my time at that 43 00:01:45.719 --> 00:01:49.159 gorgeous campus, both as a student and then as a 44 00:01:49.159 --> 00:01:52.040 as a staff member assistant dean for Finance and administration 45 00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:55.439 with the NBA School and all. And I had an opportunity. 46 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:57.719 You know, those opportunities come and knocking. 47 00:01:57.400 --> 00:01:59.439 Sometimes sometimes out of nowhere, out of. 48 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:04.280 Nowhere, and it was Walkovia Bank, and they said to me, Robin, 49 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:07.680 we're creating a new think tank and philanthropy and we 50 00:02:07.719 --> 00:02:10.120 know that you have the financial skills that will align 51 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:13.960 you nicely with our wealth management division, but we would 52 00:02:14.039 --> 00:02:17.280 like for someone to specialize in the nonprofit space, and 53 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:20.639 we believe you have those skills. So I became the 54 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:23.319 first ever director of the Center for plan Giving in 55 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:26.240 the Center for Philanthropy at Walkovia. And but before I 56 00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:29.280 turned around, I was fortunate to have over five thousand 57 00:02:29.800 --> 00:02:32.599 nonprofit clients in our team's book of business that I 58 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:35.960 ran and went around the country met with all these 59 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:40.520 incredible charities, and I knew then that this was my 60 00:02:40.759 --> 00:02:43.080 heart and my life was that I was going to 61 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:46.560 work in the philanthropic sector, and that I wanted my 62 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:49.159 life to be devoted not just to serving as a 63 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:52.599 university treasure, which is noble and indeed very import us, 64 00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:57.520 but to be more engaged in meaningful social impact. And 65 00:02:57.719 --> 00:03:01.680 that was learned through my first career step at Walcovia Bank, 66 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:05.479 leading their Center for Planned Getting and their Philanthropic Strategies unit. 67 00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:08.719 And Robin, that takes us to twenty ten, about fifteen 68 00:03:08.759 --> 00:03:10.719 years ago. Now I do want to ask you this, yes, 69 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:15.520 because we're leading into the job at American Humane. Now 70 00:03:15.639 --> 00:03:18.360 you've talked a little bit about your diverse background and 71 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:21.159 what you've done. I can certainly see why they were 72 00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:23.960 interested in you joining the organization, but why did you 73 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:25.360 want to join them? 74 00:03:25.719 --> 00:03:27.759 So I felt that this was an opportunity for me 75 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:32.360 to learn the philanthropic space from a key driver. You 76 00:03:32.599 --> 00:03:37.680 cannot build social good in the NGO sector without financial resources, 77 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:40.400 and I had a skill set in the financial resources, 78 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:43.800 as my mother told me, more certifications than children, right, 79 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:45.759 and a PhD in nonprofit finance. 80 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:47.879 So I knew that I had. 81 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:50.039 A talent where that was and that that could be 82 00:03:50.360 --> 00:03:53.680 a very important factor in working in social impact. I 83 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:55.680 wasn't sure which side I would stay on. What I 84 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:59.879 stay on the wealth management side, serving to drive as 85 00:04:00.039 --> 00:04:03.840 sets into the nonprofit sector, or would I actually go 86 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:08.240 into the nonprofit sector. And that's when again, opportunity came 87 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:11.560 a knocking, as we say in the South, and it 88 00:04:11.639 --> 00:04:15.599 was the Pew Charitable Trust. The Pew Charitable Trust grew 89 00:04:15.639 --> 00:04:17.759 from a bank. Did you know that I did? Yes, 90 00:04:17.800 --> 00:04:21.480 It's fascinating story. And so when Pew came to me 91 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:25.319 and offered me a very unique position, it was a 92 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:28.480 wonderful opportunity to join one of the world's top think 93 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:32.279 tanks in philanthropy to drive social good. And so I 94 00:04:32.279 --> 00:04:35.879 immediately took that opportunity and spent some formative years of 95 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:39.079 my career with the Pew Charitable Trust, which again was 96 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:41.839 the launching pad for me to become the CEO for 97 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:43.279 American Humane. 98 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:45.279 Right and also probably just a great training ground too 99 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:46.600 for you right for the next level. 100 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:50.240 Remarkable Rebecca Raimel was the CEO oft PEW at the time. 101 00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:52.959 I learned so much from Rebecca. I learned so much 102 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:56.399 from the senior leaders at PEW, importantly how to drive 103 00:04:56.480 --> 00:05:00.600 incremental change, how to evaluate effective programs. So, while I 104 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:05.319 knew the financial resources of the nonprofit sector, the program 105 00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:09.279 impact and program effectiveness, the evaluation of those the key 106 00:05:09.319 --> 00:05:12.759 performance indicators for social good, it was a question mark. 107 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:15.480 I didn't have that skill set until I had the 108 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:17.079 opportunity to experience PEW. 109 00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:18.839 Well, I am glad you brought that up. I want 110 00:05:18.839 --> 00:05:20.560 to divert just a little bit because I think there's 111 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:23.360 a good teaching lesson for our future entrepreneurs or people 112 00:05:23.480 --> 00:05:26.079 who would like to lead a company. Yes, And my 113 00:05:26.199 --> 00:05:28.480 daughter is now an aspiring filmmaker in New York. And 114 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:30.199 we've talked about this a lot since our high school 115 00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:32.319 years about learning everything behind the scenes. If you want 116 00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:35.600 to be a director or cinematographer, learn what everybody else does, 117 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:38.079 learn about blocking, lighting, audio, da da da da da 118 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:39.879 da da. That way, when you're in a little bit 119 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:42.600 more charge, you know what everybody's doing around you. That's 120 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:44.560 kind of what you did. You were getting all these 121 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:48.279 skill sets before becoming president and CEO of American Humaney. 122 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:50.199 And I imagine I'm not going to assume, but it 123 00:05:50.279 --> 00:05:50.879 paid off. 124 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:53.439 Right, paid off. I'm still I'm still here. We have 125 00:05:53.480 --> 00:05:54.480 incredible impact. 126 00:05:54.519 --> 00:05:56.639 We've taken our work, as you know, from one country 127 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:00.759 to forty five countries is very definitely incredible years. And 128 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:04.240 the number of animals we impact, again, we count them, 129 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:07.439 have put paul print, footprint, you know, you name it. 130 00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:10.560 We count these incredible creatures that we serve are over 131 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:15.360 one point five billion each and every year that we 132 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:20.439 have touched through our programs. And I feel very fortunate 133 00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:22.519 and blessed every day to be in the space. 134 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:25.040 Well you should and I know you're working very hard too, 135 00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:29.399 because you're an accomplished author and podcaster and running a company. 136 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:30.879 I don't know how I have time for everything, but 137 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:33.399 I always know that CEOs and presidents have a lot 138 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:36.240 of extra energy like a rock musician, and I think 139 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:39.560 you have that. So let's talk about American Humane. Let's 140 00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:41.040 do this first, because we're going to go into the 141 00:06:41.079 --> 00:06:43.040 history and what you do. But what's the mission statement? 142 00:06:43.800 --> 00:06:46.480 You know what it's at American Humane. We are there 143 00:06:46.519 --> 00:06:49.439 to uplift the healing power of the human animal bond. 144 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:54.199 We are the nations and I dare say the world's 145 00:06:54.839 --> 00:06:57.800 biggest champion and protector of animals. So when I think 146 00:06:57.800 --> 00:07:02.120 about American Humaine, I think about rescue, care and protect 147 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:06.000 animals no matter where they are, they know no geographic bounds. 148 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:07.879 So some of our listeners are going to be new 149 00:07:07.879 --> 00:07:10.120 to American Humane, even though it's been around since eighteen 150 00:07:10.199 --> 00:07:12.680 seventy seven. And I want you to talk about that 151 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:15.120 in just a second, because it's truly incredibly one of 152 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:19.120 the first organizations out there that is charitable. But if 153 00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:21.560 you were to give somebody maybe a thirty thousand foot view, 154 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:23.319 Robin about what you do, what. 155 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:26.319 Would you tell them we're the largest certifier of the 156 00:07:26.360 --> 00:07:30.759 protection of animals around the world. American Humane serves as 157 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:33.519 global humane outside of our country, and we protect over 158 00:07:33.560 --> 00:07:37.079 one point five billion animals in all areas of our lives, 159 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:41.680 from conservation, from animals on farms and ranches, from animals 160 00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:45.839 and zoos and aquariums, animals and entertainment and working animals. 161 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:46.800 So wherever we. 162 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:50.439 See an animal, American Humane has an initiative to ensure 163 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:54.399 that that animal has a humane life. How do we 164 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:57.079 determine what is to be humane? We get so emotional 165 00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:59.680 about puppies and kittens, don't we But what we go 166 00:07:59.800 --> 00:08:02.879 to is one of our fundamental core values is science. 167 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:06.199 So we have a group of the world's top scientists 168 00:08:06.279 --> 00:08:09.680 who provide the critical success factors for each of our programs. 169 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:13.000 And then we added something else very important as we 170 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:16.439 talk about animals in our lives, and that's ethics. So 171 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:20.120 we have the world's top ethicist for animals also serving 172 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:23.199 at American Humane. So when I think about what we do, 173 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:26.879 we rescue, we care, protect, we serve as the globe's 174 00:08:27.160 --> 00:08:31.600 largest voice for animal protection, and importantly, we define what 175 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:35.559 it is to be humane through science. And evidence based 176 00:08:35.559 --> 00:08:36.960 practices wonderful. 177 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:39.399 So we mentioned eighteen seventy seven a couple times, and 178 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:42.440 I imagine that you did your research on the history. 179 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:44.639 Can you tell us about the origins of it and 180 00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:47.759 exactly what it was back then to what it is today. 181 00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:50.559 Well, my children think I was around in eighteen seventy seven, 182 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:53.200 so of course they think I was always the CEO 183 00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:55.759 of American Humane because they've been raised with this great 184 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:59.320 charity in their lives, this great nonprofit. So in eighteen 185 00:08:59.399 --> 00:09:01.919 seventy seven, and our country was coming to terms with 186 00:09:01.960 --> 00:09:05.000 the ravages of the Civil War, they were coming to 187 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:09.759 terms with cruelty and abuse and all of those horrific, 188 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:13.840 horrific changes that were going on in society. And what 189 00:09:14.039 --> 00:09:17.840 a group of people started was this great organization called 190 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:22.120 the International Humane Society. I love that at the very 191 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:25.879 formation of this entity, they thought global. They were the 192 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:28.879 very first champions for farm animal protections. And you might 193 00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:32.519 say why farm animals, And it was because the railroads 194 00:09:32.519 --> 00:09:36.200 were going into place. Then think about the transportation of 195 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:40.320 herds and flocks from the East coast out west and 196 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:44.679 the unimaginable losses to those animals lives that happened because 197 00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:48.360 there were no stops for water, no food, and inhumane 198 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:51.600 standards of care. So it was farmers and ranchers who 199 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:54.759 gathered forces with American Humane to create the very first 200 00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:58.440 transportation laws for animals. And that was American Humane also 201 00:09:58.480 --> 00:10:01.840 known as the International Humane Society, who created that in 202 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:05.440 the first years of our founding. Since then we were 203 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:11.559 behind the first ever child cruelty actions and laws because 204 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:15.200 child welfare was associated with animals. Animals and children had 205 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:17.559 no rights, and so we were the very first advocates 206 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:20.480 for children and animals in the eighteen seventies and eighties 207 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:23.200 and nineties, in the turn of the century. And every 208 00:10:23.240 --> 00:10:26.679 single major advancement we take for granted today for child 209 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:32.840 protection and animal protection was actually promulgated by American Humane. 210 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:33.279 Wow. 211 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:37.639 So yes, eighteen seventy seven, people say, oh, we rescue 212 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:40.000 animals today, and I say to them, did you know 213 00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:43.320 the very first rescue program occurred on the battlefields of 214 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:46.960 World War One. Think about trench warfare. Think about the 215 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:51.000 movie Warhorse. The Steven Spielberg so puts on the screen 216 00:10:51.399 --> 00:10:53.919 and touches our hearts and our minds and our souls. 217 00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:59.399 That was American Humane rescuing calvary horses and mules in 218 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:03.600 World War It was the Secretary of War of our 219 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:07.399 country that called my predecessor, doctor William Stillman, and said, 220 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:10.960 doctor Stillman, we need you, We need you to go overseas. 221 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:15.320 Before US boys went overseas, it was American Humaine caring 222 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:18.120 for sixty one thousand war horses a month in World 223 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:21.559 War One. That was the very first idea of animal rescue. 224 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:22.799 And it was American Humaane. 225 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:23.519 It was there and. 226 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:27.279 How historic, incredible. Well, this is a good segue into programs. 227 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:29.200 And you've got nine that are featured on the website, 228 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:30.519 and I don't know if you want to go through 229 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:32.720 all of them very quickly, but maybe you can touch 230 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:35.519 on some of them, and not necessarily the more important 231 00:11:35.559 --> 00:11:37.039 than the others, but can you go through some of 232 00:11:37.080 --> 00:11:38.039 the programs. 233 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:40.200 For us absolutely Well, we talked about rescue, and to 234 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:43.600 this very day, we're rescuing animals that were left behind 235 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:47.519 in the ravages of Hurricane Eleen and Hurricanes Milton. We're 236 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:49.799 there for fires and floods this very day with six 237 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:54.679 rescue caches stationed in high prone disaster areas. American Humaine's 238 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:57.120 there to reunite you with your furry best friend in 239 00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:59.600 a time of disaster and crisis. We've been doing that 240 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:02.440 for well over one hundred years. We think about the 241 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:05.960 idea of animals and film and entertainment, and you already 242 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.960 know us. There are no Animals Were Harmed program. We're 243 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:12.480 on thousands of production days every year ensuring that animals 244 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:15.559 you see in film and entertainment are humanly treated and 245 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:18.759 that those animal stars are given the care they so deserve. 246 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:22.919 You already know us through our American Humane Certified program. 247 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:25.440 If you eat a cage free egg or enjoy a 248 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:29.960 butterball turkey at Thanksgiving time, those are all American Humane Certified. 249 00:12:30.200 --> 00:12:34.120 That program's been around almost twenty five years and allows 250 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:37.279 us to make sure that animals aren't farms and ranches 251 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:41.360 have a humane life. It's very, very important you already 252 00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:44.360 know us through our conservation program. If you enjoy some 253 00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:47.559 of the world's top zoos and aquariums where you're introduced 254 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:50.440 to an incredible megafauna and you fall in love with 255 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:54.200 a rhino or elephant, those zoos and aquariums that have 256 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:58.440 our Good Housekeeping Silver Approval or American Humane Certified Seal 257 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:02.080 are the world's very and We're very proud of that initiative. 258 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:05.279 And of course you may know us, particularly if you're 259 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:08.759 a veteran. There we our Pups for Patriots Service dog program. 260 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:12.679 We founded that over seven years ago, providing wounded warriors 261 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:17.159 with those healing paws and healing leashes, and we actually 262 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:20.440 save both ends of the leash. We've placed over three 263 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:23.840 hundred healing leashes on this very day and saved both 264 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:24.799 lives and the ends. 265 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:25.519 Of the leash. 266 00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:27.559 And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Everybody, It's 267 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:30.000 just absolutely amazing. I do want to ask you a 268 00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:33.639 question about leadership, Robin, and you're such a large organization, 269 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:36.320 and I know you have staff, and then you have managers, 270 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:38.679 and then you have people that work across the globe 271 00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:41.200 with you. Yes, when it comes to the vision of 272 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:45.120 the organization, but also your vision, morals, ethics, and how 273 00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:47.600 you want things to go down. Because there are so 274 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:50.320 many people, how does the work get trickled down to 275 00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:53.159 make sure that the culture is stole there, your message 276 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:55.759 is still there. Everybody's having a great time with those 277 00:13:55.799 --> 00:13:58.840 work life balances, but still saying this is American humane. 278 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:01.720 We're doing all the same thing's the same mission for 279 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:02.919 everybody right across the board. 280 00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:04.879 With that many people, well, we do have a lot 281 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:10.039 of people, and most importantly, all of our people care 282 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:14.440 about those animals. So this mission is personal. This mission 283 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:17.480 is we act professionally in terms of the way we 284 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:20.960 follow our core values that we instituted fourteen years ago. 285 00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:26.919 Core values of a culture that embraces kindness, compassion, personal excellence, 286 00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:32.679 accountability to the mission. Those are entwined in everyone's individual 287 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:33.799 performance goals. 288 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:34.919 Isn't that wonderful. 289 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:35.919 Yeah, So when we. 290 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:38.639 Talk about a culture of civility, it's because we are 291 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:43.840 running the world's oldest humanitarian organization. So those values of 292 00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:46.720 what is to be humane to animals are reflected in 293 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:50.120 our culture. And I believe I'm the number one culture 294 00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:53.159 champion right Well, I have to be. I have to be, 295 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:55.799 and so I recognize that I have. It's what Betty 296 00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:58.240 White told me before she passed. She said, Rob, and 297 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:02.440 I'm handing over to you heavy mantle of responsibility. I said, 298 00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:05.000 oh no, Betty, I don't know about this. She said, 299 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:07.399 I'm getting old and I want to hand over to 300 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:11.879 you that heavy mantle of responsibility of animal welfare and protection. 301 00:15:13.320 --> 00:15:16.159 Gave me goosebumps. It still does, and I share that 302 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:21.240 story to each and every colleague at American Humane. It's 303 00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:25.639 our heavy mantle of responsibility to be that voice for 304 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:29.919 animals to be humane, and that starts with how we 305 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:32.600 are with each other and how we hold each other 306 00:15:32.679 --> 00:15:38.759 to excellence, accountability, kindness, compassion, and most importantly love. 307 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:42.480 I love that. That's fantastic. And Betty Wade, if you 308 00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:45.559 don't know, just looved animals, all animals. She was wonderful 309 00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:48.120 and uh quite a treasure. So I'm glad you've got 310 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:49.799 some time with her. I think that's really special. 311 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:54.159 She was our oldest supporter and champion. Seventy five years 312 00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:56.759 of her ninety nine year life she was engaged with 313 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:57.639 American Humane. 314 00:15:58.279 --> 00:16:00.759 Amazing, absolutely amazing. I do want to talk to you 315 00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:02.879 about challenges. And I always tell people in this series 316 00:16:02.919 --> 00:16:05.519 that when we talk to leaders and CEOs and entrepreneurs 317 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:08.279 and presidents of the series that it's always windyst at 318 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:11.279 the top. And sometimes you know, when you have your issues, 319 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:12.799 there's not a lot of people that you can relate 320 00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:15.639 with and talk to you about your problems. So I'm 321 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:19.399 here for you. So, but challenges in the industry, are 322 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:21.840 there any presenting you and your team right now. 323 00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:23.279 Well, first of all, let me tell you who I 324 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:26.360 do tell my challenges to. His name is Julius Caesar, 325 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:28.759 and he's his most perfect cat in the world. 326 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:31.480 So I have to sell of it. Julius Caesar, here's 327 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:33.919 it all. Listen. Oh, he's a great listener. 328 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:36.879 He purs going through it, and he also gets his 329 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:39.519 tuna every morning at six am because he's an early 330 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:43.080 riser king. But I respect that lovely. So he is 331 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:46.200 certainly a great confident. But when I think about challenges 332 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:49.759 in this space, first and foremost, there's always the challenges 333 00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:54.039 of resources, and there's never enough to protect the animals 334 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:57.759 in Africa to the animals in our own backyard. And 335 00:16:57.840 --> 00:17:01.080 so I say resources are always a challenge. But that's 336 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:03.000 where I think I had, early on in my career 337 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:03.600 a great. 338 00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:05.359 Talent with finances. 339 00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:08.880 So I ensure that there are key performance indicators with 340 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:11.359 every dollar that we spend, and that we hold each 341 00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:15.960 other accountable to using our financial resources with excellence, to 342 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:20.720 expect that we have impact and accountability, and that we 343 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:23.960 measure our social impact. So first and foremost is a challenge, 344 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:27.759 never enough resources, But that makes us more responsible with 345 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:31.680 the resources that we have. Secondly, I don't think people 346 00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:34.599 understand the crises with animals. They think, oh, Robin, you 347 00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:36.599 get to work with puppies and kittens all day, And 348 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:38.920 I say, on some days those are the great ones. 349 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:41.039 Churs I had the best cat ever with Julie is 350 00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:43.680 at home. But I also think about those animals who 351 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:47.519 have no voice, and we are facing what people don't 352 00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:51.599 understand is real, and that is the sixth mass extinction, 353 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:55.240 where one million species will be gone in our children's 354 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:59.440 lifetime twenty twenty five years. The very web of life 355 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:02.119 on this earth as we know it will not be 356 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:05.640 the same. So as I think about those animal advocates 357 00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:09.640 out there, it's important for us to understand that it's 358 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:13.200 more than our companion animals in our lives. We must 359 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:15.839 be better stewards of the earth because the loss of 360 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:20.000 species and the loss of individual animals matters today. 361 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:20.839 More than ever. 362 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:23.400 All right, let's talk about a good story. Now. I know, 363 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:26.079 with almost being fifteen years at the organization, yes that 364 00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:28.799 there are probably hundreds of great stories, but maybe you 365 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:31.480 could just share one with us about And this is 366 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:33.640 how I present it when I talk to people like 367 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:35.480 you that are in charge of organizations that are doing 368 00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:38.000 some incredible things. This is why we get up every 369 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:40.400 day because that happened. Do you have a story for us? 370 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:44.160 I have lots of stories, I know I do. That's 371 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:46.799 an unfortunate question for me given a limited time of 372 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:48.920 a podcast. So I'll tell you one. I'll talk about 373 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:52.799 Mighty Mitchell. Mighty Mitchell is very, very cute and charming boy, 374 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:56.119 and his T shirt said Mighty Mitchell. I took Mighty 375 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:57.599 Mitchell to Capitol Hill one day. 376 00:18:57.640 --> 00:18:58.279 Man, you know why. 377 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:02.319 Mighty Mitchell was winning his battle against a horrible form 378 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:06.079 of childhood cancer. Mighty Mitchell was one of the first 379 00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:10.880 kiddos to participate in one of American Humane's innovative clinical 380 00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:13.960 trials that work to prove the efficacy of the use 381 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:17.160 of therapy dogs for kids with cancer. This was one 382 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:19.480 of my dreams when I joined American Humaine. So let's 383 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:23.119 talk about how we can show and prove in clinical 384 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:27.480 trials and drive great effective public policy by showing the 385 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:31.160 healing power of the human animal book. I brought Mighty 386 00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:34.079 Mitchell to Capitol Heel and he told his stories to 387 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:38.440 members of Congress, and we actually had the most unbelievable 388 00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:42.640 study outcomes in eight children's hospitals around our great country 389 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:45.279 that proved the efficacy of the use of therapy dogs 390 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:47.640 for kids with cancer. And that is one of the 391 00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:50.839 stories of Mighty Mitchell that gives me great hope for 392 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:54.319 the future because Mighty Mitchell not only a cancer survivor, 393 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:57.319 but an animal lover. And I'll have to tell you 394 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:01.400 it's the next generation of animal life who I will 395 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:05.319 transfer this heavy mantle of responsibilities to be the animal's 396 00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:06.680 voice that Betty White gave. 397 00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:08.319 Me to them. 398 00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:10.920 Outstanding. Thanks for sharing that. I really appreciate that. Why 399 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:14.400 don't we stay on that Capitol Hill because part of 400 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:17.680 your job, I know, is advocating, yes, and not only 401 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:19.319