Name: Nadia Shirin Moffett
Age: 27
Job Title and Description: Executive Director of The Queen’s Foundation, Inc. (Former Miss North Carolina USA 2010)
The Queen’s Foundation is a statewide nonprofit organization in North Carolina that teaches young women (middle and high school) to be queens in life and leaders in their communities.
College/Major: University of North Carolina Greensboro/Marketing & Information Technology Degree (Undergraduate); High Point University/Masters of Nonprofit Management (Graduate)
Website: www.thequeensfoundation.org
Twitter Handle: @MissNCusa2010
What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?
Nadia Shirin Moffett: My role is a blend of business and pleasure. As Executive Director, I am responsible for seeing that all the goals of the organization are achieved on an annual basis. We have a Five-Year Plan with five key areas that I focus on annually: program, partnerships, capital, talent and branding. Everything that I do is focused on developing all of these key areas. I present to hundreds of leaders and potential stakeholders each year to gain support for our mission.
I work long days (weekends too) with little down time unless I literally say to myself, “ Nadia, take a day off, it just is not going to get done today.” A typical day includes a 5am wake up alarm. I pray, workout for 30 minutes on my treadmill as well as practice Pilates in my living room and to the office before 8am. Some days I am in the office by myself. Other days, I have three to four staff/volunteers/interns with me in the office.
Every day is different. Some days I work all day in the office, where I make calls, set up meetings with leaders across the state to solicit their support and work on sponsorship packets, program plans or financial planning. I’m often making calls back to mentors or parents that have called with questions, concerns or to update us on their child. Other days, I never go to the office: I am on the road first thing in the morning to meet with community partners for program expansion efforts and back to the middle of the state by the evening or next morning. The best days are when we are doing programs and we are with the girls for our weekend retreats or week-long leadership academy. As I said, my role is a blend of business (office work) and pleasure (being with the girls we serve).
What is the best part of your job?
NSM: The best part of my job is seeing our girls develop. Our girls come into our program as young as the sixth grade and can continue with us through college. To see the impact we have made on who she chooses to be as an adult and the impact she decides to make on the world is what makes what we do worth it.
What inspired you to create The Queen’s Foundation, Inc.?
NSM: I was a Resident’s Assistant for an all girls dorm in college. As an RA, I became the “big sister,” the “mom,” the “best friend” and the “confidant.” It was the first time that I was really exposed, at a concentrated level, to young women who did not understand the power of being a woman. I saw promiscuity, alcohol and drug abuse as well as lack of vision in several of the girls I worked with on my floor. I saw that there were a lot of girl-serving organizations in our community addressing these issues, but I believed in a different approach: one that did not cost money, did not discriminate [based] on color and REQUIRED that girls be accountable to what we teach them in the program. They were highly rewarded, but had responsibility that came along with that. I wanted to see this kind of organization. This is what inspired me to create TQF.
What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now?
NSM: I would have developed a stronger branding plan that highlighted differentiation of our organization before launching in 2010. There are so many organizations serving the same purpose, which makes it redundant or inefficient from a donor’s perspective to give to two of the “same serving organizations.” What TQF does is so unique for girls, but we were not communicating that very well in the beginning. We are about to launch a brand new marketing campaign for TQF that will focus on differentiation. It includes social media, traditional media and billboards that focus on what makes us unique and the impact we make.
How do you think your Miss North Carolina USA title has helped you in your road to success?
NSM: I believe that everything happens for a reason. I was not one of those girls who wanted to be Miss North Carolina USA her entire life. I actually stumbled upon the idea one day after college at my girlfriend’s house. It was a “whim” idea that then provided me the recognition, resources and networks needed to launch TQF in late 2010 after winning the title. By the time my reign ended, I had traveled all over North Carolina and served over 500 girls with the premise that all girls were queens. By the time I had done this, I knew a corporate career was no longer my path. Instead, I used my business skills and experiences to build TQF into what it is today.
Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?
NSM: My mentor, Janet Graves. She is over 60-years young and my best friend. She was a mentor to me when I got my first corporate role after college. She taught me lessons on life, love, people and faith. Her lessons still resonate with me today even though I am in a different career than I thought I would be in. She told me to think with my head and my heart. Her advice was sometimes brutal, but real and filled with love. She was the first to always believe in me and helped others to believe in my vision. When I told her I was running for Miss North Carolina USA, she went down to the ATM on the first floor of the building we worked in, handed me a bundle of hundred dollar bills and said, “Here. Take it and I don’t want to hear any lip. Just remember me when you get big and famous.” That money was used towards the dress I was crowned in. She exemplifies living your life with a purpose.
What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?
NSM: Here’s a list of some:
“When people disappoint you, your expectations were just too high.”
“Put me in a hole, and I’ll dig or crawl my way out.”
“Strive for perfect and you’ll fall on excellence.”
“If it’s worth having, you must be willing to pay what it costs.”
“No excuses, just go for it.”
“Seek to understand before being understood.”
“You get what you tolerate.”
What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?
NSM: We had began a partnership with a hotel in the area that our community partner had suggested, only to find out that our contract was exceedingly more expensive than what they had offered other nonprofits in the area. Instead of exploring other options for facilities or negotiating the contract price, we just signed the contract and assumed everything would work out as planned, putting us in a place of liability if (for any reason) the program did not launch exactly how and when we had planned. In conclusion, we ended up losing money and resources on this contract when our community partner had not communicated changes to us upfront. Because of my eagerness to sign and get things rolling on our expansion as well as not thinking through the risks, we lost money. Later, we ended up having a local college donate facility space for us without the costs and liability. Looking back, I would have explored all facility options in the area and ask other nonprofits about the pricing they had been offered prior to signing a contract. I learned that when you are working on a new project, you must expect the unexpected and protect your organization from liability as much as possible. Lesson learned.
Where do you see the foundation in 5 years?
NSM: I see us continuing to enhance the experiences offered to our girls. Right now, The Queen’s Foundation serves 154 girls in six counties. In five years, we plan to serve 10% of North Carolina counties while continuing to enhance the benefits offered to our girls.
What do you look for when considering hiring someone?
NSM: When hiring someone, I look for someone who aligns with our organization and its six values. We are an organization that is out in the public and in front of our girl, so we have to be examples of what we teach girls to be—leaders. This includes health, presence, education, skills and passion.
The ideal person is an independent quick-thinker who is resourceful, direct and will get the job done by any means necessary. The person is dependable and takes pride in quality work. The person thinks synthetically, not just about their role, but how their role contributes to the bigger vision of the organization.
In summary, a hard and smart worker!
What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?
NSM: My advice is to first select an organization you have passion for. The mission of the organization at times may be the only thing that brings you joy on a given day. If you don’t believe in it, your work will never be at its best.
Secondly, select an organization you align with its brand and values. You may love the organization, but the role may not be the right fit.
In your early 20s, it is more about gaining broad experiences that help you identify what you want to do—you don’t have to have it all figured out yet. I remember one of my first leaders told me, “Your 20s are for exploration, your 30s are for execution.” Explore now, find your niche and then execute!