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CEO Forum
January 8 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
CEO Forum
January 8 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Navigating Burnout, Boundary Setting, and Sustainability Practices within the El Sistema Field
As CEOs and Executive Directors of El Sistema-inspired organizations, we are well-acquainted with the demands of wearing multiple hats—managing stakeholders, recruiting and retaining staff, cultivating donor relationships, overseeing grant activities, leading board initiatives, and more—all while advancing our mission. Our deep commitment to this work often drives us, yet it can also lead to challenges in setting firm boundaries, managing burnout, and balancing personal well-being with professional responsibilities.
In this off-the-record session, we will engage in a candid and confidential discussion, sharing practical strategies for managing burnout, establishing sustainable boundaries, and creating a healthier approach to leadership. This is an opportunity for us to collectively reflect on how we can protect our well-being while ensuring the long-term success of our organizations. Join your peers in this honest conversation, as we seek to refine our leadership practices and foster sustainability within both ourselves and the El Sistema field.
Facilitated by Gabrielle Molina
Executive Director, Project Music
Gabrielle Molina (she, ella, siya) is currently the Executive Director of Project Music, a youth development and El Sistema-inspired music nonprofit located in Stamford, CT. In addition to her work at Project Music, Gabrielle is on the coaching faculty of AIM, the Academy for Impact through Music, where she coaches and mentors teachers from around the world working in ‘music for social action’ organizations. From 2019-2023, she was a faculty member and career coach at the Longy School of Music of Bard College. Prior to joining the leadership team at Project Music, Gabrielle founded Teaching Artists International, a music nonprofit that creates teaching artist exchanges spanning 4 continents. She is the winner of the 2020 Sphinx Tank, awarded to the “Next Great Cultural Entrepreneur.” In 2022, she was named one of Yamaha’s “40 Under 40” — Celebrating Excellence in Music Education. Gabrielle has held fellowships with the National Arts Strategies, the Global Leaders Program, Mass Challenge, and the Harvard Innovation Labs. Gabrielle holds K-12 teaching credentials in CA and CT and began her career at YOLA (Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles) and at iCAN (The Incredible Children’s Art Network), two El Sistema-inspired programs in Southern California. Gabrielle holds a Master’s in International Education Policy from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.
