Kathy Alm served as Executive Director of Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in WA for 15 years. Under her leadership, Little Bit grew to be one of the largest organizations in the industry across the world. She grew the previously grassroots organization from a $280,000 annual operating budget to a professional $2.1 million organization, leading a staff of 23 full-time employees and building and operating a new $11 million facility. Today, she is the CEO of PATH Intl. and she leads the professional membership association representing close to 900 therapeutic horsemanship centers and more than 8,000 individual members. In our conversation today, Kathy shares sage advice on leadership and growth.
Episode 2
Two Bottom Lines
With Guest Kathy Alm
, CEO
PATH International
Today's Guest
Kathy Alm
Kathy Alm served as Executive Director of Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in WA for 15 years. Under her leadership, Little Bit grew to be one of the largest organizations in the industry across the world. She grew the previously grassroots organization from a $280,000 annual operating budget to a professional $2.1 million organization, leading a staff of 23 full-time employees and building and operating a new $11 million facility. In this capacity Kathy also served on several community boards and volunteered on many committees at then NARHA, including as a member of the region leadership council. Later Kathy served as a member of the board of trustees for Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) which eventually led to her term as Board President. Today, Kathy is the CEO of PATH Intl. and she leads the professional membership association representing close to 900 therapeutic horsemanship centers and more than 8,000 individual members. As a voice and advocate for members and centers of all sizes, she has also led important industry-wide initiatives such as the current EAAT industry terminology definitions consensus work group.
What We Talked About
How Kathy went from a career in theater management to the equine assisted activities and therapies industry. The importance of relationships and knowing your people when you are leading. How the art of active listening can lead to financial growth. The practice of matching people’s skills to the needs of your organization. The challenge of growing and how to do that mindfully. The problem some leaders have of being too good. Wrestling with the staffing needs of individuals and the needs of the organization as a whole. Keeping your eyes on the prize to get through the most difficult times. If services are valuable, then value them. What most people get wrong about the Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies industry. Defining success through goal-setting, but rethinking beliefs about failure. The importance of having two bottom lines: your mission and your business.About the Show
Listen to conversations with leaders and entrepreneurs who have built organizations making a positive impact on the world so you can discover how to expand your impact.
Are you trying to make a difference in this world? On the show, Amanda and guests reveal the path from purpose to impact and all the risks, bumps, and bruises that came along the way so you can be ahead of the curve with your purpose-driven business or organization.
Amanda is a wife, mother, entrepreneur, Partner at Evergreen Results and a founding member of the Built for Impact podcast team. She enjoys spending time with her family, serving others, horseback riding, and spending time in the mountains.