Career Journey
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When Two Heads Are Better Than One
An Interview with The Co-Executive Directors of Her International, Kate Phelps and Tamara McLellan March 2020 
Kate Phelps (left) & Tamara McLellan
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About Kate:
Kate Phelps comes to nonprofits after over a decade working in the business, banking and government sectors. While Kate loved the creativity and ingenuity needed in business as well as the logic and structure of banking, she knew she had found her calling in the development sector when she accepted the position at the US State Department as Country Director for the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) in Oman. Kate worked with nonprofit organizations in Indonesia and Austria before joining Her International in 2011.
Kate has a B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies & Arabic from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in public administration/international development from the University of York. She has certificates in nonprofit management from the University of Illinois Chicago and business administration from the University of California San Diego.
About Tamara:
Tamara McLellan has been falling in love with causes and companies since 2005. She worked her way up in the marketing field, ultimately becoming vice president of a marketing agency. Unable to ignore the call of her heart, she was simultaneously a serial volunteer for many nonprofits. Ultimately, Tamara made the career shift when she became a co-executive director of Her International.
Tamara has a business management degree and a diploma in international development from the University of British Columbia.
Kate Phelps comes to nonprofits after over a decade working in the business, banking and government sectors. While Kate loved the creativity and ingenuity needed in business as well as the logic and structure of banking, she knew she had found her calling in the development sector when she accepted the position at the US State Department as Country Director for the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) in Oman. Kate worked with nonprofit organizations in Indonesia and Austria before joining Her International in 2011.
Kate has a B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies & Arabic from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in public administration/international development from the University of York. She has certificates in nonprofit management from the University of Illinois Chicago and business administration from the University of California San Diego.
About Tamara:
Tamara McLellan has been falling in love with causes and companies since 2005. She worked her way up in the marketing field, ultimately becoming vice president of a marketing agency. Unable to ignore the call of her heart, she was simultaneously a serial volunteer for many nonprofits. Ultimately, Tamara made the career shift when she became a co-executive director of Her International.
Tamara has a business management degree and a diploma in international development from the University of British Columbia.
About Her International:
In 2005, Her International, a Canadian-based nonprofit organization, was founded to respond to the need for more educational opportunities for females across the globe. Her International seeks to reach marginalized populations with grassroots approaches that focus on self-reliance and sustainability.
In Nepal, Her International offers scholarships to help girls pursue basic education. The organization also supports mothers and women in the community through microfinance and life skills groups. In Canada, the organization works with partners in the community to reach underserved women and girls in a variety of ways, such as employment training, literacy and leadership.
After 15 years of working in Nepal and Canada, the organization is excited to be expanding to new countries within the next two years.
Better Together...
Tamara and Kate are thrilled to be part of a growing movement of co-creation. Tamara’s marketing expertise and Kate’s organizational skills, combined with their shared passion, spark the magic at Her International. As co-executive directors, they feel that their individual strengths blend perfectly, enabling them to execute more than they could strictly on their own. Their shared role creates a foundation of support and collaboration that extends throughout the organization’s staff, volunteers and program participants.
In 2005, Her International, a Canadian-based nonprofit organization, was founded to respond to the need for more educational opportunities for females across the globe. Her International seeks to reach marginalized populations with grassroots approaches that focus on self-reliance and sustainability.
In Nepal, Her International offers scholarships to help girls pursue basic education. The organization also supports mothers and women in the community through microfinance and life skills groups. In Canada, the organization works with partners in the community to reach underserved women and girls in a variety of ways, such as employment training, literacy and leadership.
After 15 years of working in Nepal and Canada, the organization is excited to be expanding to new countries within the next two years.
Better Together...
Tamara and Kate are thrilled to be part of a growing movement of co-creation. Tamara’s marketing expertise and Kate’s organizational skills, combined with their shared passion, spark the magic at Her International. As co-executive directors, they feel that their individual strengths blend perfectly, enabling them to execute more than they could strictly on their own. Their shared role creates a foundation of support and collaboration that extends throughout the organization’s staff, volunteers and program participants.
Carol Lippert Gray, a regular contributor for Sanctuary, spoke with Tamara and Kate about Her International’s goals and what it’s like to share an executive position.
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What’s it like for two people to share one job? Tamara: That we’re co-executive directors speaks volumes as to who we are for the organization. The two of us felt very inspired to propose to the board that we co-manage it. [Before taking on this role], we had never met in person, only over Zoom and Skype. We left the board together and became co-executive directors together. We share a special connection. We’re finding our own empowerment through this path. What drew you to Her International? Kate: I’ve known [for quite some time] that international development is what I wanted to do. My husband works for the Department of State, and I’ve had to find jobs all over the world. I looked at various organizations and nonprofits and felt an immediate connection to Her International. Its programs aren’t coming from the West and being imposed on the developing world. [Rather], we’re pooling experience. It’s a little organization effecting mighty change for its participants. |
Scholarship recipients at Unako (meaning “Her” in Nepali)
community centre to pick up school supplies Photo Courtesy: Her International |
What are the positives of sharing this position? Any negatives?
T: It’s a global organization based in North America, and whenever Kate and I come together, there’s magic for the organization. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Something internally has changed within each of us - the yin and yang - and that we need each other to survive. We give each other permission to shine. We’re doing things that feel really good to us, and it's comforting to know someone always has your back. It’s a beautiful internal process.
K: We each have specific duties based on our strengths. Tamara oversees business and marketing, and I handle overseas programs. We’re able to support each other - give each other help and ideas. We also take a more feminine approach - a more collaborative approach. There’s a huge growth and forward momentum.
T: This model is uniquely successful for us. There are moments when it’s not all roses, but we call each other our web of support. It starts with us but emulates out in the whole world. We hope for a world where girls can grow up without the limiting belief that you have to do it all alone. We’re learning to be more like the people we work for and with. We had to be in discomfort for a while to see how this would work.
K: There’s not a downside. Just a growth side. There was a change in mentality at the beginning. [It’s imperative] to shift mentally from [the mindset of] compare and compete to support. I thought I had to prove my value and compete. Now we strive to support each other.
There’s a tide of women around the world standing up and waking up. There’s an old Chinese proverb: When sleeping women wake, mountains move.
T: It’s a global organization based in North America, and whenever Kate and I come together, there’s magic for the organization. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Something internally has changed within each of us - the yin and yang - and that we need each other to survive. We give each other permission to shine. We’re doing things that feel really good to us, and it's comforting to know someone always has your back. It’s a beautiful internal process.
K: We each have specific duties based on our strengths. Tamara oversees business and marketing, and I handle overseas programs. We’re able to support each other - give each other help and ideas. We also take a more feminine approach - a more collaborative approach. There’s a huge growth and forward momentum.
T: This model is uniquely successful for us. There are moments when it’s not all roses, but we call each other our web of support. It starts with us but emulates out in the whole world. We hope for a world where girls can grow up without the limiting belief that you have to do it all alone. We’re learning to be more like the people we work for and with. We had to be in discomfort for a while to see how this would work.
K: There’s not a downside. Just a growth side. There was a change in mentality at the beginning. [It’s imperative] to shift mentally from [the mindset of] compare and compete to support. I thought I had to prove my value and compete. Now we strive to support each other.
There’s a tide of women around the world standing up and waking up. There’s an old Chinese proverb: When sleeping women wake, mountains move.
Mamata (left) with her mother, Laxmi:
Girls receive scholarships for school and mothers/women can join the microfinance groups. This approach offers both immediate and longterm education and economic advancement to break the cycle of poverty and create lasting change. Photo Courtesy: Her International |
What do you provide the girls in Nepal?
Both: We take a three-pronged approach: She learns, she thrives, she creates. We offer scholarships from K to 12 for girls whose families can’t afford school. We have some college scholarships, too. We tackle barriers to entry. We provide menstrual supplies. Otherwise the girls miss one week of school a month and fall behind. We offer tutoring, counseling, and bicycles. We provide peer support for adolescent girls to help them build confidence and communication skills. They’re taught through learning entrepreneurship to set goals, follow a business plan, and solve problems. Then we move to the mothers, and the idea of giving back. It’s not a handout, but a 'hand up.' They partner with us in developing their world. The parents give us back a small amount of money each month, about 10 rupees. We use it to form a pot for micro-credit loans. We use the loans to start businesses and offer peer-support, micro-finance groups. We also offer peer support on trauma issues and leadership training. We’ve distributed nearly 11,000 scholarships and have started 42 micro-finance groups for over 1,300 women. |
What does your work in Canada involve?
K: Our approach in Canada is a little different. We didn’t want to duplicate efforts [of other groups]. We’ve identified niches where needs aren’t being met and collaborate with other organizations: community centers; literacy and language training for immigrants; an organization that works with at-risk women living on the streets. They’re not the same clear programs as in Nepal, but they’re filling gaps.
K: Our approach in Canada is a little different. We didn’t want to duplicate efforts [of other groups]. We’ve identified niches where needs aren’t being met and collaborate with other organizations: community centers; literacy and language training for immigrants; an organization that works with at-risk women living on the streets. They’re not the same clear programs as in Nepal, but they’re filling gaps.
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How is Her International funded?
T: We have a mix of funders, but private donors are the soul of the organization. In the last five years, we’ve started to work with corporate partners who want to make a real impact with their fundraising dollars. We provide them with branding and marketing materials. And we receive legacy giving and grants. We have a small social enterprise (UNACO) where the women in Nepal make scarves and recycled glass jewelry. People take on personal fundraising efforts. We have one woman known as the scarf lady. Others take our lake dip challenge.* Those ambassadors create huge change – this is everyday people making extraordinary change in the world. And people enrich their own lives in the process of enriching others. *The #LakeDipChallenge is a movement created to encourage, empower and push past limiting comfort zones by dipping or jumping into the nearest body of cold water. |
Nirma started her livestock business with an initial loan of $100
and mentoring from a local HER microfinance group. Photo Courtesy: Her International |
What’s your vision for the future?
T: Although we work in the female sector, we envision a world where everyone has access to education. We want to grow our numbers to 5,000 women who have access to education and have programming to support that. We would love to move to matched scholarships, where the women take their own earnings and apply them to scholarships.
We also want to try to reach more marginalized girls in our own backyard, giving them lessons on self-worth and collaborating with others.
K: We want to expand within Nepal and reach more places around the world within the next five years. We believe we have something that’s tested and works and is ready to be shared with other countries.
T: Although we work in the female sector, we envision a world where everyone has access to education. We want to grow our numbers to 5,000 women who have access to education and have programming to support that. We would love to move to matched scholarships, where the women take their own earnings and apply them to scholarships.
We also want to try to reach more marginalized girls in our own backyard, giving them lessons on self-worth and collaborating with others.
K: We want to expand within Nepal and reach more places around the world within the next five years. We believe we have something that’s tested and works and is ready to be shared with other countries.
Where do you find sanctuary?
T: We both have an innate connection to the natural world and trees in particular. I find sanctuary walking through any natural environment. I try to walk through the trees every day for advice and clarity. It’s an ancient ancestry I feel connected to.
K: My sanctuary is connection and community, specifically sisterhood. I can find that relief, reprieve and support.
T: We both have an innate connection to the natural world and trees in particular. I find sanctuary walking through any natural environment. I try to walk through the trees every day for advice and clarity. It’s an ancient ancestry I feel connected to.
K: My sanctuary is connection and community, specifically sisterhood. I can find that relief, reprieve and support.
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"It is easy to start something, but a different story to keep it going.” ~ Michelle Bonneau, founder |
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Celebrating Her Voice Kelowna, Canada April 1 - 6:00pm to 9pm Intimate dinner with storytelling, song, and dance. Raising funds to support the global education of women. May 29: Celebrating Her Voice Vancouver, Canada May 29 Intimate dinner with storytelling, song, and dance. Raising funds to support the global education of women. Hope in Her Eyes Kelowna, Canada June 18 Networking, inspiring art, delicious food and community. HOPE Okanagan, an organization supporting homeless women with supplies and outreach support services, joins Her International to create awareness of the trials of being an impoverished woman in today’s world. |
