Beyond the Numbers: Leadership Lessons from Three-Time Nonprofit CFO, Teri Kozub

Teri Kozub, a three-time CFO with 33 years of nonprofit sector experience, shares her journey and insights on being a CFO in the nonprofit world. She dispels the myth that nonprofit work is easy, recounting experiences from cleaning rat-infested basements to developing audio tours, highlighting the diverse responsibilities CFOs undertake, especially in smaller organizations. Kozub emphasizes that CFOs need to be strategic thinkers and influential leaders, not just number crunchers, and also stresses the importance of communication skills. Addressing challenges, she notes the current uncertainty in government funding and advocates for optimism and preparation. She also underscores the value of building strong teams, open communication, and embracing diversity to foster better ideas and solutions.