There is a new face at the Nonprofit Leadership Center! Please join us in welcoming Isabella Perello Khalili as our new program operations manager. In this role, Isabella will help manage many of our learning experiences, including classes, custom solutions, cohorts and our annual conference. She will also oversee participant feedback to enhance program offerings and ensure nonprofit training and development events meet the sector’s needs.
"As a nonprofit leader, I know firsthand how important it is for us to be the best versions of ourselves for the organizations we lead and the communities we serve. I am grateful to have the opportunity to impact our community from this new perspective."
Isabella says her passion to serve vulnerable children and help them reach their potential in life is what initially drove her to work in the nonprofit sector. Originally from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Isabella came to the United States to pursue higher education at the University of South Florida. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree, she spent nearly five years at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, most recently as their program manager overseeing the enrollment and matching of mentors and mentees.
Isabella says this experience ignited her passion for nonprofit work and brought a sense of optimism and hopefulness. “I am excited to continue this vision with the Nonprofit Leadership Center, serving the Tampa Bay community and connecting with wonderful nonprofit leaders,” Isabella said.
Leading (and Learning) by Example
Consistent with the insatiable curiosity, drive for excellence and commitment to continuous learning that are hallmarks of the Nonprofit Leadership Center, Isabella is also a self-proclaimed lifelong learner. When Isabella transitioned into her first managerial role several years ago, she turned to the Nonprofit Leadership Center to expand her knowledge and gain skills to prepare her for her new responsibilities. Not only is Isabella now helping manage programs at NLC; she has participated in and benefited from many of the organization’s programs as an emerging leader herself.
"I signed up for several trainings at the Nonprofit Leadership Center that met my educational needs, and it was thanks to these classes that I was able to learn and develop the skills I needed to successfully perform in my role. When I saw there was an opening for a program operations manager at NLC, I knew I had to pursue it. It aligned perfectly with my desire to continue serving our community while supporting the career growth and education of other nonprofit professionals in the same way NLC positively impacted me."
So far, Isabella says her favorite classes at the Nonprofit Leadership Center are:
- Performance Management: Communicating Expectations and Gaining Commitment;
- Navigating Team Dynamics to Communicate with Confidence; and
- Dare to Lead™ 2.0: Taking Your Courage & Authenticity to Your Arena.
“These classes taught me the importance of being an active listener, tapping into the potential of those we lead by encouraging their growth, working on achieving goals together, communicating effectively, and creating an environment and work culture built on trust and positivity,” said Isabella.
When Isabella is not in the office, you can find her drinking coffee, listening to music, working out, bike riding, traveling or spending time with her family and friends. She is deeply passionate about causes that work to preserve the safety and wellbeing of youth and provide assistance to families or individuals to meet their essential needs.
Please join us in welcoming Isabella Perello Khalili to the Nonprofit Leadership Center. You can connect with Isabella on LinkedIn or via email: