Monica Chen on theories of change, collaboration and leadership within the animal advocacy movement.
Nov 15, 2023
01:09:58
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Monica Chen discusses theories of change, challenges of collaboration in animal advocacy, cultural norms, and leadership. She shares insights on empowering the next generation and the importance of balancing activism with self-care. The podcast explores strategies for enhancing collaboration and organizational leadership within the advocacy movement.
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Quick takeaways
Theories of change are essential for the animal advocacy movement to create meaningful impact.
Collaboration between organizations can be challenging but is crucial for successful advocacy campaigns.
Effective organizational leadership requires a focus on creating a supportive work culture and embracing continuous evolution.
Deep dives
Monica Chen's Journey to New Roots Institute
Monica Chen, the Executive Director of New Roots Institute, shares her journey from being a third-grade teacher to leading an organization focused on ending factory farming. Chen's passion for animal rights and the impact of social norms led her to adopt a vegan lifestyle and eventually transition to activism. Through New Roots Institute, she empowers students by providing knowledge and training to tackle factory farming issues.
New Roots Institute's Approach to Ending Factory Farming
New Roots Institute focuses on capacity-building to end factory farming by engaging high school and college students. Through classroom seminars and fellowship programs, the Institute aims to reach 50,000 students annually, preparing them for careers aligned with animal advocacy. By training students to lead campaigns and spread awareness, New Roots Institute contributes to a larger movement aimed at transforming culture and norms around animal consumption.
Strategies for Cultural Shift and Collaborative Efforts
The podcast highlights the importance of shifting social norms and culture to achieve long-term change in attitudes towards animal consumption. Collaboration between organizations, focusing on regional campaigns, and connecting grassroots efforts with policymakers are seen as crucial steps. By working collaboratively and targeting specific communities, such as students, activists aim to create a ripple effect that influences larger societal changes towards ending factory farming.
Leadership and Organizational Management Insights
The podcast episode delves into the challenges of organizational leadership and management as highlighted by the guest's experiences. The guest shares the complexities of transitioning into a leadership role and managing teams effectively. They emphasize the importance of creating a supportive work culture that values communication, feedback, and employee well-being. Additionally, the guest reflects on the misconception that leadership solely revolves around not being negative, emphasizing the need for structure, intentionality, and fair compensation to drive optimal team performance.
Adaptation and Sustainable Leadership
The discussion shifts towards the necessity of adaptation and sustainable leadership within organizations, especially during unprecedented times like the pandemic. The guest shares their journey of leading an organization through multiple phases of change and growth, highlighting the importance of flexibility and continuous evolution. They stress the significance of embracing change, structuring organizations effectively, and avoiding the pitfalls of 'startup culture.' Furthermore, the guest underscores the value of prioritizing joy and happiness alongside impactful work to foster genuine, long-term leadership success.
Today, we speak with Monica Chen, the Executive Director of New Roots Institute, formerly Factory Farming Awareness Coalition. We speak about several big topics:
Theories of change for the animal advocacy movement
Why collaboration between organisations isn’t always easy,
The importance of focusing on changing culture and social norms
The difficulties around management and organisational leadership, as well as some lessons Monica learnt along the way
Monica is an inspiring organisational leader who spends lots of her time thinking about what can benefit the movement as a whole so it was a real pleasure to speak with her about these topics.
If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating and review us - we would really appreciate it! Likewise, feel free to share it with anyone who you think might enjoy it. You can send us feedback and guest recommendations via Twitter or email us at hello@howilearnedtoloveshrimp.com. Enjoy!
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