Tia Newcomer CEO of CaringBridge Episode 297
Tia Newcomer is the CEO of CaringBridge, a nonprofit providing a vital digital platform where families can communicate, receive support, and rally their communities during health journeys. With a career that spans Revlon, PepsiCo., Hewlett-Packard, and multiple health tech ventures, Tia brings a rich background from the for-profit world into the heart of the nonprofit sector, or as she prefers to call it, the for-impact space.
In this episode of The Wow Factor, Brad sits down with Tia to unpack her career journey across four pivotal pillars, from consumer goods to tech, healthcare, and now mission-driven leadership. She shares how personal experiences, including her husband’s fight with cancer and her own sense of purpose, led her to take a surprising leap into nonprofit leadership. Tia discusses the real-world impact of CaringBridge on hundreds of thousands of families every day, the technology powering it, and how “ministry pace” just won’t cut it when the stakes are this high. She also dives deep into why entrepreneurial thinking, business rigor, and cross-sector collaboration are essential in the nonprofit space.
“The difference between nonprofit and for-profit is a tax status. The skillset? It’s the same.” – Tia Newcomer
“In moments of crisis, people don’t need ‘let me know how I can help.’ They need tangible action.” – Tia Newcomer
“If I’m spending the majority of my time working, it better be fulfilling. That’s the leap I made.” – Tia Newcomer
This Week on The Wow Factor:
Tia’s four career pillars: Consumer Goods, Technology, Women’s Health, and Nonprofit
Why leaving HP was her wake-up call to find purpose in her work
Her perspective on for-impact vs. nonprofit leadership
How CaringBridge grew to 300,000 daily users with only 40 employees
The real story behind the CaringBridge platform and its founder
Why technology for good is more essential than ever
The burden of “just let me know how I can help” and what to say instead
The power of one person raising their hand to share updates and mobilize care
Partnering with GoFundMe to raise over $10M directly for patients and families
The role of generosity, from emotional support to meals, transportation, and funds
Tia Newcomer’s Word of Wisdom:
Leadership is about building something that matters and having the courage to follow the nudge, even when it’s outside your comfort zone.
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