Nonprofit HR’s Blog

Nonprofit HR’s Executive Search team places dozens of candidates in positions each year. This story features a recent placement who is making incredible impacts in the social sector.

Krystal Ramseur
Current Organization: National Council of Negro Women
Current Title: Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)

See recent news story on Krystal Ramseur’s new role at NCNW

Nonprofit HR: What led you to a career in the nonprofit sector? What skills do you think you bring to the sector?

Ramseur: I have always wanted to be in the nonprofit sector. My background is in History & Political Science and I’ve always volunteered at camps and schools. When I graduated college, I did a year of service with AmeriCorps and wanted to do that as a gap between whatever was going to be next for me. Through AmeriCorps, I was placed at Academy of Hope, which is an adult school. Before that, I didn’t know anything about adult education, with the exception of community colleges, but I fell in love with this organization and they were a nonprofit, community-based organization. While there, I taught a year of classes and to me, that was everything I wanted to be doing, working with people and helping people to change their lives, that experience definitely got me connected to the nonprofit community. 

While I was still working, I got my Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Policy and Management. So, I bring my skills of organizational strategy and finance to the job but I also bring compassion, I am able to do the work but do it through the lense of making sure we are still able to meet our mission; you know, we are spending money and obtaining vendors and contractors and doing the work in a way that reflects our core values as a nonprofit. I think I am able to combine those things really well, those technical skills and compassion and service.

Nonprofit HR: What drew you to your current organization’s mission? What do you love about it?

Ramseur: I was drawn to what they do. To me, I work at the school for adults and so many adults are here for their own reasons. Maybe they are in their mid 30s and want to go back to school and want to improve their lives and get their high school diploma. There are also people who are retired who come to school and it’s not about their job but they want to participate more in their bible study classes. Just being able to help so many people and have such an impact through education has always been a passion of mine. 

Nonprofit HR: What impact do you wish to have in your new role?

Ramseur: : I’m hoping to be able to bring my skills, particularly my technical skills, and show how it will help others do their job easier or more efficiently. In addition to being able to deliver services more efficiently because of how we smoothed the operation – that is what im hoping to be able to do. I hope that we are able to manage our finances in a way that allows freedom to explore specific areas or invest in certain resources as well. 

Nonprofit HR: What advice would you give jobseekers looking for their next dream role in the sector?

Ramseur: I would say that if that’s what you are looking for, to put it out there. Especially in situations where you are in conversation with employers or colleagues or a professional community. Then, people are seeing that this is the goal you have, to become the project manager or CEO or whatever it may be. Putting it out there and having real conversations with people is what will open up opportunities. 

Nonprofit HR: What was the most valuable part of the direct hire process? What should we keep the same?

Ramseur: I felt like I knew what was happening every step of the way. The entire process was clear to me: what the interview process looked like, what to wear, how it would work and beyond. I felt very comfortable knowing what the next step would be and very prepared for the interview as well. It was very helpful. 

Nonprofit HR: How has the team exceeded your expectations while working with us? 

Ramseur: Just how smooth everything was. Everything was kept very much within the time-frame it was stated it would be, there weren’t any bad surprises. There was no having to reschedule anything or processes taking longer than expected, so that was really good.