You Don't Have a Funding Problem—You Have a Strategy Problem | Dr. Rebecca Sutherns
Download MP3What if your leadership team isn’t actually aligned, even though everyone thinks they are?
In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Rebecca Sutherns, an imagination strategist who has spent nearly three decades working with non-profit leaders, boards, and mission-driven organizations navigating complexity, constraint, and constant change.
Rebecca challenges a deeply ingrained assumption in leadership: that strategy is about analyzing the past. Instead, she makes the case that many leadership breakdowns are actually a failure of imagination, where teams rely on shared language but hold completely different visions of success.
Through real-world examples, including a non-profit board divided over what “success” actually looked like, Rebecca breaks down how hidden misalignment quietly derails decision-making, slows progress, and limits impact.
This conversation explores how leaders can define what “winning” really means in mission-driven work, move from scarcity thinking to possibility thinking, and lead through uncertainty without burning out their teams.
Learn More About Dr. Rebecca Sutherns:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccasutherns/
- Website: https://rebeccasutherns.com/
- Book: https://rebeccasutherns.com/learn-from-me/#books
- Podcast: https://rebeccasutherns.com/podcast/
Mentioned in this Episode:
- Daniel Steere’s episode: https://youtu.be/3ony669Dmy4?si=3bJgC4vveyz1jgDV
Production
Produced by: The AGN Group
Host: Angela Gill Nelms
Producer: Katie Hart
Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.
Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com
About The AGN Group:
At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.
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Want to be a Podcast Guest?
If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email brave@angelagillnelms.com.
The discussion also tackles questions…
- Why do leadership teams think they’re aligned when they’re actually not?
- How can non-profit leaders clearly define what “success” or “winning” really means?
- What does it look like when a board is unintentionally limiting an organization’s impact?
- How do you lead effectively when resources are constrained and uncertainty is constant?
- What’s the difference between strategy that works and strategy that becomes irrelevant?
- How can leaders distinguish what’s fixed versus what’s flexible in their organization?
- Why does scarcity thinking lead to overly cautious decision-making?
- How do you re-engage teams that are exhausted by constant change?
- What role do curiosity and imagination play in real-world strategic decision-making?
- How can leaders use strategy as a decision-making filter instead of a static document?
Themes:
- Leadership alignment and hidden misalignment
- Non-profit leadership and board dynamics
- Strategy as a living decision-making tool
- Defining “what winning looks like” in mission-driven work
- Scarcity vs. possibility thinking
- Imagination as a strategic leadership skill
- Adaptability and leading through uncertainty
- Change fatigue and re-engaging teams
- Values alignment and meaningful work
- Collective decision-making and shared vision
Creators and Guests
Host
Angela Gill Nelms
Angela Gill Nelms is a founder, board leader, podcaster, and award-winning entrepreneur with a career spanning SaaS, medical devices, biotech, and clinical research. She builds high-impact teams and organizations rooted in culture, resilience, and strategic execution—helping innovators move ideas from lab to market and leaders grow with intention. She hosts three podcasts that reflect her mission to elevate leadership and accelerate biomedical innovation: Badass Leaders Podcast, Holy Shift! Biomedical Breakthroughs Shaping Tomorrow, and Recovery Advocate Network: Coffee & Conversation. Across each show, Angela creates space for honest conversations that drive impact, reduce stigma, and shape the future of leadership and health. A Georgia Tech Academy of Distinguished Alumni honoree and INC 500 award recipient, Angela serves on multiple boards across innovation and mental health ecosystems. Outside of work, she’s beekeeping, blacksmithing, turning wood, or training—6× IRONMAN and lifelong advocate for humans being human.
Producer
Katie Hart
Katie Hart is the Senior Client Relations Manager and Executive Podcast Producer at The AGN Group, where she leads podcast production, brand strategy, and client experience from concept to launch. Equal parts creative and operational powerhouse, she guides clients through branding, recording, and distribution while ensuring every detail runs seamlessly. Known as a customer experience magician, Katie is passionate about making every client and guest feel seen, supported, and celebrated—delivering a five-star experience that amplifies bold stories and builds meaningful impact.
