When Gail McGovern became CEO of the American Red Cross in 2008, the organization was reeling from repeated turnover in leadership, a $209 million operation deficit coupled with significant debt, outdated IT systems, an unworkable organizational structure, challenges in the Red Cross Blood Services operation, and a dated fundraising strategy. Even for a seasoned corporate executive like Gail, it was daunting. Now, 10 years later, she’s the longest serving CEO at the 186 year old organization. She has transformed the Red Cross, reducing its debt, and refocusing its mission on strengthening service delivery to meet increasing and evolving needs. We sat down with Gail at her office in Washington, D.C.  She shared tremendous leadership lessons gleaned from both the corporate and non-profit sectors. But most importantly, she shared the value she sees in learning to lead from the heart.

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