Establishing a Culture of Service in Relief Society | A How I Lead Interview with Kathy Santiago Allen

Kathy Santiago Allen grew up in Provo and received a degree in nursing from Brigham Young University. She loved working in women's health and in the medical spa industry in Southern California before shifting her focus to raising five kids. Her husband's educational pursuits took them to San Diego and Los Angeles, then to St Louis, before they settled in North Phoenix. This past June they relocated to Mapleton, Utah. Kathy has loved serving in Primary presidencies, Relief Society presidencies, as Relief Society president, and most recently as a stake Relief Society president. She currently loves serving as a Young Women advisor, and her favorite calling will always be as a ministering sister. Kathy and her husband Jared have been married for 27 years. They enjoy hiking and traveling together, and have found that counseling with one another in their callings helps them serve with an even greater capacity. Links Share your thoughts in the Leading Saints community Read the transcript of this podcast Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights Kathy shares valuable insights on effective leadership principles, including the significance of ministering as a way of life rather than just an assignment. She discusses the dynamics of her ward in Phoenix, characterized by a smaller membership and the need for unity and collaboration among members. Kathy recounts her efforts to foster a culture of service within her stake, utilizing the JustServe program to connect with local nonprofits and encourage members to engage in community service. She highlights the importance of expanding the circle of help, recognizing that leaders cannot do everything alone and must delegate responsibilities to others. Kathy also shares inspiring stories of service projects that brought members together, emphasizing how serving alongside one another fosters unity and strengthens relationships. She concludes with a reminder of the importance of setting boundaries to avoid burnout and the need for leaders to discern what is truly necessary in their service. 05:27 - Moving from Phoenix to Utah: A Personal Transition 06:29 - Dynamics of a North Phoenix Ward: Challenges and Community 09:50 - Advice for Stake Relief Society Presidents During Realignment 12:46 - Training and Supporting New Relief Society Presidents 14:22 - Spiritual Preparedness: The Foundation of Leadership 24:22 - Ministering as the Answer to Challenges 30:30 - Expanding the Circle: Avoiding Burnout in Service 34:23 - Service Promotes Unity: Building a Culture of Service 42:00 - Collaborating with Nonprofits: The Joy of Service 46:52 - Balancing Service and Boundaries: Insights from President Nelson 48:06 - The Importance of Female Leadership in the Church The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints' mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.