988: Loren Mayor: How to Build a Non-Linear Career with Impact and Integrity | Leadership Stories

Shameless Leadership

Sara Dean

Self-improvement, How To, Business, Management, Education

4.7 • 800 Ratings

🗓️ 21 April 2026

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

When Loren Mayor’s team reached out to me about Loren guesting on Shameless Leadership, it was a quick and easy YES! For decades, Loren’s work and legacy have been guided by her values of impact, strategic problem solving, and connection. Her secret leadership sauce will help you think more deeply and intentionally about what it means to show up in your gifts and in the service of meaningful work. As Chief Operating Officer of World Wildlife Fund (WWF-US), Loren ensures the organization delivers on its strategy to create a world where people and nature live in harmony. She oversees strategic partnerships, operational functions, and resource mobilization teams while strengthening workplace culture and advancing WWF’s mission with external stakeholders. Prior to WWF, Loren was President of Operations at National Public Radio (NPR), where she oversaw the full suite of organizational operations and identified new business opportunities, developing NPR’s strategic plan, and building a strong, empowering culture. Before NPR, Loren held leadership roles at PBS and worked with clients in the non-profit and media sectors during her tenure at McKinsey & Company. Loren has an undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in theater from Northwestern University, where she also served as a visiting assistant professor. Listen in to hear Loren share: How she is leaning into connection in this season of chaos and uncertainty Her journey from a PhD in theater to becoming the COO of one of the largest environmental organizations globally The value of building a non-linear career focused on impact, strategy, problem-solving, and connection What it really means to be “smart” - that doesn’t necessarily relate to expertise How strong leaders balance priorities in professional environments - and in the overlap of personal and professional realms 3 key steps to take when leading through a crisis How to stay humble and open as you grow in leadership Links Mentioned: Connect with Loren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenmayor/ World Wildlife Fund website: https://www.worldwildlife.org/ Give an Hour for Earth: A WWF campaign to take action for nature at a time when it needs us most. (The campaign runs from March 23-April 30.): https://www.worldwildlife.org/support/campaigns/gah/give-an-hour-for-earth/ Poem: We Are Nature, Nature Is Us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qeEcxCUEAM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to shameless leadership. I'm your host, Sarah Dean. This show is for women, transgender people, non-binary folks, as well as allies, who are committed to advancing their leadership while also advancing the leadership of those around them. In each episode, we will offer practical tips, leadership strategies, and inspiring
0:21.9	stories to help you become a more confident, compassionate, and inclusive leader. The truth is,
0:27.5	you were born to lead. What might happen for you if you were to wholeheartedly embrace that
0:32.2	part of yourself? So let's start now, together. Hello, shameless leaders. I'm so excited to
0:37.4	introduce you to today's guest, Lauren Mayer.
0:39.8	When Lauren's team reached out about Lauren guesting on the show, it was a very quick and very easy, yes.
0:44.6	For decades, Lauren's work and her legacy have been guided by her values of impact, strategic problem solving, and connection.
0:51.5	Her secret leadership sauce will help you think more deeply and intentionally about what it means to show up in your gifts and in service of meaningful work.
0:58.9	As the chief operating officer of the World Wildlife Fund, Lauren ensures the organization
1:03.7	delivers on its strategy to create a world where people and nature live in harmony. She oversees
1:09.4	strategic partnerships, operational functions, and resource
1:12.3	mobilization teams while strengthening workplace culture in advancing the World Wildlife Fund's mission
1:17.7	with external stakeholders. Prior to her time at WWF, Lauren was the president of operations
1:23.3	at National Public Radio, yes, NPR, where she oversaw the full suite of organizational operations
1:29.4	and identified new business opportunities, developing NPR strategic plan and building a strong
1:34.6	empowering culture. Before NPR, Lauren held leadership roles at PBS and worked with clients in
1:39.7	the nonprofit and media sectors during her tenure at McKinsey and Company. Lauren is a graduate of University of Chicago and has a PhD in theater, yes, theater,
1:50.0	which we talk about from Northwestern University, where she also serves as a visiting assistant professor.
1:56.0	Listen in to hear Lauren share how she is leaning into connection in this season of chaos and uncertainty,
2:01.9	this endless season, I should say, of chaos and uncertainty. She then shares her journey from a PhD
2:07.0	in theater to becoming the COO of one of the world's largest environmental organizations.
2:12.9	She talks about the value of building a nonlinear career that focuses on impact strategy,
	...

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