Mission Metamorphosis: Leadership for a Humane World

by Robin R. Ganzert

Innovative advice for leading with grit and humanity

This inspirational guide by Robin R. Ganzert, PhD, president and CEO of one of the most renowned charities in America, will equip you with the leadership tools you need to increase your business revenue and efficiency dramatically, all while effecting positive change in the world.

When Dr. Ganzert took over the struggling animal safety and welfare non-profit American Humane, she performed a fiscal and brand rescue, and the organization was reborn. In Mission Metamorphosis, Dr. Ganzert presents the inventive techniques she employed to revamp American Humane, turning it into a top-rated charity and honoring its historic legacy. She also offers concrete information for creating your own success story, including how to: 

• Be a moral and ethical leader

• Achieve programmatic success 

• Keep a brand fresh and relevant 

• Promote constructive change in the community

• Tackle new problems with new solutions

• Bring in revenue every single day

By mixing engaging stories of animal rescue with prescriptive methods for growing and maintaining your business, Dr. Ganzert provides the motivation and tools required for you and your organization to survive and thrive. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Leadership, Self Help, Animals, Business

176 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 20, 2020

Reviews

[Aisling]

Aside from being inspiring --and it really is remarkable how this organization went from serious debt to having surplus for its budgets--it is really interesting to read how this CEO made some incredibly bold choices about this organization's need to essentially sacrifice half it's historical mission (children) to focus solely on animal welfare. The book combines personal anecdotes along with bold advice for leadership and is highly readable. The most exciting thing is the company's vision for the future. I was cheering as I read ! Five stars.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book on the Goodreads giveaway and it was not a book I would normally pick up to read. But I did and I'm glad I did. This was a really cool read on leadership and taking a struggling corporation into something successful. She had some great ideas, some obvious, some I would have never thought of to perform to right the ship. I loved the things that she did and how she did it. I loved bringing the stories to life of how they helped. I especially teared up with the military dogs and of course, anything with Hurricane Harvey.

Some of the way the chapters were organized, with repeated information, and not always consistent rubbed me the wrong way. The last chapter of their future started off good and then went on a tangent about marketing American Humane, which read more like their website material than the theme of the book. I don't necessarily agree with her opinions on the zoos/aquariums, which also went on a political tangent that didn't go with the theme of the book. But I do love that she took on the certification programs for this industry.

If you are looking to start your own company or about to accept a job that will turn a company around from death, I think you should read this book. It's an easy read and definitely brings you to real life situations.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a Kindle copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways. I have spent many years working in the non-profit sector with animals and also intend to start my own educational non-profit within the next 2 years, which is what drew me into entering the giveaway. I found the book easy to read, enjoyable, and relevant. Dr. Ganzert speaks so much truth to the problems many non-profits face and helped me reshape my thinking process for the front end of my own planning. As the title suggests, she explains the importance of a non-profit's mission and how to recognize and stop "mission drift." She also drills in fundamentals regarding sound financial planning and work culture that seem obvious, but are often neglected.

Dr. Ganzert takes us through the journey of American Humane's transformation from a sinking non-profit about to shutter its doors to a sweeping recovery by explaining many of the hard choices she had to make to keep the organization afloat. It involved a major culture shift that was resisted by many, but necessary and ultimately successful. Along the way, she shares short pieces written by other voices within the organization to add perspective. She also has included different talks, articles, op-eds, etc. that demonstrate the organization carrying out its mission.

Since the mission of American Humane is being first to serve animals in need, we get an in-depth view of the work American Humane has done (which I personally find super inspiring and impressive. Their ethics are aligned with my own regarding animals). If you didn't know much about the work American Humane did before this book, you certainly will after! However, the lessons provided in the book are transferable to any non-profit or business, and I hope this will influence more people along with myself to create a positive culture within their organizations as well as rethink their missions and finances for a successful future.

[Kaytlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book looks at the rebirth of the non-profit organization through the lens of American Humane. The writing was straight-forward, easy to read, short and well organized. It is packed with guidance for non-profits, case studies and vignettes of the author's experiences. I think this book would greatly assist any non-profit leader, especially those new to a company and looking to make major cultural and organizational shifts. As someone who knows little about American Humane, the Humane Society and other animal groups, I found the details about American Humane itself fascinating.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been working in the nonprofit field for more than 30 years and wish I'd been able to read this book at the beginning of my career. It gives readers an insider look at how a famous charity came back better than ever following the Great Recession. With the whole world in a new economic slump, I'd recommend this extremely well-written and helpful book to any mission-driven leader who wants his/her org to not only survive but thrive. Five stars.

[christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read numerous books on leadership and a couple about nonprofits. This reads in line with those and further validates successful leadership styles. There's lots of great stuff in here. The book is written well and very easily digested. It is a relatively short read also. Although this is heavily leaned toward running a nonprofit, the lessons learned here can be applied anywhere.

[Pastel]

I won a copy in a Goodreads giveaway.

This is a cover letter followed by references for the author, and then finally gets to using Ganzert's experience taking the helm of a failing nonprofit to point out some really obvious common sense. Hire people who are good at their jobs! SWOT! Ok! This is a DNF for me.

[L E · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it was interesting to read about the work of the author and her organization and I am grateful for the work they do, this book was billed more as a leadership book and I felt it was really light on the actionable takeaways.

[Kristy Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both inspiring and educational! I have experienced some of the steps taken within the organization I work for, but there were new concepts as well. I learned a great deal about American Humane as well. Honestly,I had it confused with another organization before this. Excellent read!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read for lovers of animals and those looking to up their leadership game. Solid, quick read that provides practical lessons and thoughts on re-orging for success.

[Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book really opened my eyes to the scope of the humane movement and the business of running an non-profit.

[John]

Super, I won the book, really excited to start reading this one

[Apurva · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little generic but warm

Disclaimer: this book was won through a Goodreads giveaway.

This book had somewhat generic advice about how to transform and turn around an organization, which I found to be ok. Where it really shined is when she brought concrete story-telling to bring those transformations to light. I learned a lot about the American Humane society and their programs and that I found really interesting.

[txncupcake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this copy in the Goodreads Giveaway. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book on the inner workings of how animals are rescued and sheltered by a non-profit organization. This is an ideal read for animal lovers.