In today’s Opportunity Spotlight, we look at positions that are available within our sector that you probably want to pay attention to. Our guest, Moira Gookstetter, recently joined Vancouver Community College as their Executive Director of their Foundation and Director of College Advancement. She dives into everything the college and foundation provides, from professional development to learning opportunities and growth. If you’re interested and curious, we’re encouraging candidates to come forward and reach out. This may be the opportunity you’re looking for!
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Opportunity Spotlight: Vancouver Community College With Moira Gookstetter
In this episode, we have a very special new feature on the show, our opportunity spotlight where we look at positions that are available within our sector that you probably want to pay attention to. These conversations are led by my colleague, Christoff Gladius. In this episode, he speaks with Moira Gookstetter, Executive Director of the Vancouver Community College Foundation. Over to you, Christoff.
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Moira, thanks for joining me. I’m looking forward to our conversation about the two new Associate Director of Advancement roles that you’ve created to work with you at the Vancouver Community College Foundation. Before we get started formally in our conversation, on behalf of the VCC Foundation and the show, I want to recognize and acknowledge the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples in whose traditional and unsuited territories we live, learn and work. I want to turn things over to you. Before we talk about the roles, I want you to think a little bit about yourself and what brought you to join Vancouver Community College and the foundation itself.
Thanks, Christoff. It’s a pleasure to be here. My career has been a journey. I had the opportunity to spend a good chunk of my career working in sports. I’d have to say that joining VCC is my Olympics. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to be an organizational leader who fundraised. I’ve also had the opportunity to be a funder and worked also within the setting of college advancement as well. In this particular role at this particular time, there are all of those passions of leading an organization, fundraising for students and also granting.
Thanks for that summary. That’s a very compelling organization. Speaking of compelling, there’s certainly a lot that’s happening at the college and the foundation. Can you tell me a bit more about that?
VCC launched its new campus plan for the next years. We’re leading for a vision of the future in what education and spaces are going to be needed and looking at all the phases of development that we have at our campuses. We have two campuses in Vancouver. One is located in Broadway and Clark area. The other one is in Downtown Vancouver. Maybe to back up the bus a little bit, VCC concentrates on trades and does some university transfer but we prepare students to enter the workforce.
When we look at the planning of a new campus plan and what we need to prepare our students to enter the changing landscape of the workforce, this plan is positioning us well. One of the key projects in that would be the construction of a new building called the Center for Clean Air and Automotive Innovation. This is a concept that has been put in a submission to the government and awaiting a decision to see if there’s funding support for the project. If I go back to why VCC, this is an Olympic size project and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Speaking of skills and abilities, how will the new associate directors use their skills and abilities? How are they going to contribute to this exciting plan and initiatives?
With the Center for Clean Air and Automotive in Innovation, we will be hopefully into a capital campaign. It will be the first one in VCC’s history since 2006. That would be the main focus of these roles but we all know in fundraising, we can’t stop fundraising for the capital project. It would also be working on our other programs and projects.
In the last couple of years, we’ve started to develop our prospect pipeline and working with several key funders on projects throughout campus that we need to grow and expand on. The third piece with that is students always still need support. We have a pretty large investment in scholarshipversarries and awards. It will be major gift-focused in all of the areas that we touch.
People like to know what’s it like to work at this particular organization. What’s the culture like at the foundation and the college?
I’ve only been here for months so this is a new environment. Taking that into account, it’s an inclusive, warm, inviting workspace with the opportunity to work with some skilled leaders and colleagues whom all have one thing in common. We’re all here to support the students. There’s a lot of extra care and attention that our teams provide to make sure that students get what they need. VCC is an open-access institution. We have some of the lowest tuition rates in British Columbia. Naturally, we are attracting a lot of low-income students. We do a lot of programs to support refugees and new Canadians. With that comes other supports and things. One of the things I’ve been most impressed with is how everybody pulls together to make sure that students are supported.
Tell me a bit more about your leadership style specifically. You’re going to be working closely with the associate directors. Tell me about how you like to lead and manage others.
Coming from the sports sector, my natural leadership style is being a sports coach. It’s part of my DNA. I love to ensure that I’m setting our team members up for success, whether it’s the small things and making sure that they’ve got the tools or having the bigger longer-term career growth discussions. It’s about the people first and making sure that everyone has what they need. I’m a true believer that we have to get in and know each other. One of the things I like to do with bringing a new team together is map art our communication styles. I use a great tool called StrengthsFinder.
Many people that are probably out there know about that well. It helps to provide a common language and an understanding between each other. You come out of an exercise like that, know each other differently and have a deeper respect for how different working styles can come together, collaborate and do great things. I like to get in deep there and invest that time because if we do that well, then we can do anything together.
Invest time in providing a common language and an understanding between your team members. If they can know each other in a different way and have a deeper respect for how different working styles can come together and collaborate, then we can do… Click To TweetWhy would someone want to join you at the foundation at VCC? There are a few different threads that I’m picking together here or pulling together regarding the future and the excitement of the campaign. Tell me a bit more about, in your view, what’s the opportunity here.
If I had to summarize it, there are three things. It’s the cause, the project and the people. If you’re passionate about working to support students in their post-secondary journey, VCC is one of the neatest places to do that. We have historical roots here that lead back to the creation of other post-secondary institutions in British Columbia. I had no idea about any of that before I got here but at the end of the day, it’s about creating community.
When we talk about Vancouver Community College, the community of Vancouver Community College is what we’re about. Making sure that we’ve got whatever we need for students and their families. We do a lot of community outreach as well. That would be number one. The second one is this little campus plan project that’s there and the ability to enhance the educational opportunities by creating that cutting-edge facility and putting the latest in technology out there.
Whether it’s automotive, healthcare, culinary or some of the key flagship trades programs that we have that are there. It’s about creating that environment. Finally, the people, working with the talented leadership team here and our colleagues. Anything is possible when you have great people to work with and I certainly have found great people to work with here. I’d love to be able to share that with others.
It’s a great team that’s for sure. What struck me about the group is the enthusiasm, the team and the collaborative style that everybody brings to the table. If someone is reading and they might be on the fence about reaching out and applying, what would you say to them besides, “Join us?”
Take a leap. It’s not a well-known institution. We’re not EBC or Langara. We are VCC and we have our nation in the market. The discovery process of what VCC has to offer to students in the community is captivating. One thing that we need to do a better job of is telling our story out in the community and showing that. It’s great to know and understand that because of the programs and the types of educational opportunities, we have stuff here that no other institution has. As a result of that, we have a very inclusive and diverse community that we serve and work with.
I do want to pick up that inclusive thread in a second but certainly, my encouragement as well for possible candidates is I always air on the side of reaching out, getting more information and making a decision. It’s better to have more information than less in any case. If you’ve got questions uninsured, it’s always worth having the conversation. The thread I wanted to pick up on was a little bit around open access. Inclusivity is certainly so important to social justice, causes and fundraising. What is the college and the foundation doing in terms of creating that inclusive, diverse workforce?
First of all, I’m going to start by sharing a story. I was at the open doors UnTapped BC Workplace Inclusion Awards event. VCC was a finalist in one of the categories. Being a part of a group of peer organizations that embrace inclusivity and openness is super important here. It’s about providing that space where people can shine and not have barriers, reducing those barriers and creating that open opportunity where people can progress and realize their goals.
Embracing inclusivity and openness is super important. It’s about providing that space where people can shine, reducing those barriers, and creating opportunities where people can progress and realize their goals. Click To TweetOne of my learning certainly as well is the support and the various access supports that the college provides, the investment and staff as well, everything from professional development to learning opportunities and growth. It’s compelling and exciting. In closing for that matter, we’re encouraging interested candidates or people that know potential candidates to come forward.
If anybody is interested, please reach out to me. I’m at [email protected] or you can call me at (604) 836-1972. I’m delighted to be your search partner here, working with you and the team, Moira. We’re going to be looking at candidates, making some assessments and giving candidates lots of opportunities to do their deep dives and due diligence as well. I’m encouraging and want to support people to come forward. Thank you again for your time.
Thanks, Christoff and thanks, everyone, for considering VCC.
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About Moira Gookstetter
Moira is an accomplished relationship manager, change agent and facilitator, with over 20 years of leading, supporting and serving the not for profit and public sectors in BC. Moira recently joined Vancouver Community College as their Executive Director of their Foundation and Director of College Advancement (June 2022).
Professionally, Moira has worked as a fundraising and organizational leader, holding positions such as the Executive Director of the Langara College Foundation and Director of College Advancement, Vice President of ViaSport British Columbia, and CEO of Gymnastics BC, and as the Sport BC’s first Director, Development to promote sport as a philanthropic cause.
As a consultant, Moira has also worked with several organizations, to increase their organizational capacity and reach their fundraising goals on specific projects, including: ISPARC (Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity Recreation Council, The BC Professional Firefighters Burn Fund, Phoenix Gymnastics Club, and Recycling Council of BC. She is also an active instructor at BCIT, teaching in the Fundraising Certificate Program; imparting her lived experience in grant and proposal writing.
Moira has also always been an active volunteer giving back to her community; currently serving on boards such as Canadian Association of Gift Planners Vancouver Chapter and was the Chair of the BC College’s Advancement Leads from 2019-2022. She has also served as a Board of Governor for Southpointe Academy and as a CABRO appointment to the BC Games Society.
Moira holds a Masters of Leadership from Royal Roads University and the designation as a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).
Moira is a retired national team track and field athlete. She was a nominee for the 2010 YWCA Women of Distinction Awards for her philanthropic work with sport organizations.
Moira is an accomplished relationship manager, change agent and facilitator, with over 20 years of leading, supporting and serving the not for profit and public sectors in BC. Moira recently joined Vancouver Community College as their Executive Director of their Foundation and Director of College Advancement (June 2022).
Professionally, Moira has worked as a fundraising and organizational leader, holding positions such as the Executive Director of the Langara College Foundation and Director of College Advancement, Vice President of ViaSport British Columbia, and CEO of Gymnastics BC, and as the Sport BC’s first Director, Development to promote sport as a philanthropic cause.
As a consultant, Moira has also worked with several organizations, to increase their organizational capacity and reach their fundraising goals on specific projects, including: ISPARC (Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity Recreation Council, The BC Professional Firefighters Burn Fund, Phoenix Gymnastics Club, and Recycling Council of BC. She is also an active instructor at BCIT, teaching in the Fundraising Certificate Program; imparting her lived experience in grant and proposal writing.
Moira has also always been an active volunteer giving back to her community; currently serving on boards such as Canadian Association of Gift Planners Vancouver Chapter and was the Chair of the BC College’s Advancement Leads from 2019-2022. She has also served as a Board of Governor for Southpointe Academy and as a CABRO appointment to the BC Games Society.
Moira holds a Masters of Leadership from Royal Roads University and the designation as a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).
Moira is a retired national team track and field athlete. She was a nominee for the 2010 YWCA Women of Distinction Awards for her philanthropic work with sport organizations.