Gustavson learned critical thinking, problem-solving in winding career path to nonprofit sector

Gustavson learned critical thinking, problem-solving in winding career path to nonprofit sector

SHREVEPORT - Kristina Gustavson's career may appear to jut in different directions, but there are common themes to her work with the law, in banking and now in nonprofit as the CEO of the Community Foundation of North Louisiana.

Gustavson will draw those lines for LSUS summer graduates in her commencement speech Friday at Brookshire Grocery Arena.

"Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are the most valuable in the workplace," Gustavson said. "If you can master these two things, you can literally do anything you want as a career.

"Listen, learn, work hard and do something you feel passionate about."

Gustavson yearned to return to the court room after serving as a vice president and trust advisor for Region's Bank for four years, but the CFNLA scooped her up in 2017, where she'd assume the head role in 2018.

"Each career path I have taken has had many similar elements," Gustavson said. "Perhaps the most valuable is the ability to problem solve.

"Early in my legal career, a mentor attorney told me 'Clients don't want possibilities and options, they want you to give them a definitive answer.' There is great responsibility in making decisions, so I try to make the most educated decisions by way of thorough research and preparation. This carried over from litigation to managing trusts to managing the community's philanthropic endowment."

After graduating cum laude from the Tulane University School of Law and practicing insurance coverage and defense at Phelps Dunbar LLP in New Orleans, Gustavson made her way back to her native Shreveport to work for Cook, Yancey, King & Galloway in 2007.

Gustavson primarily focused on commercial litigation, where she established a relationship with Regions.

"Nearly all my clients were local business owners that provided unique products and services to our community," Gustavson said. "Each client I worked with exposed me to new industries and legal questions.

"Just as I do now in community work, I learned something new almost daily. While it came with a lot of pressure, I loved litigating."

Now Gustavson fights for nonprofits as the leader of the largest public foundation in North Louisiana.

"CFNLA provides millions of dollars in funding each year to our nonprofit partners," Gustavson said. "One of our roles is to ensure that nonprofit organizations are using donor dollars they receive through grants in the most efficient and effective way possible."

That's where LSUS and its Institute of Nonprofit Administration and Research enter the picture.

In addition to its bachelor's and master's programs, INAR offers extensive resources and professional development to nonprofit leaders across the state.

CFNLA financially backs one of INAR's capacity building cohorts, which guides nonprofit leaders through an intensive six-month series of professional development and projects to improve their organization.

"The stronger our nonprofits are, the better off our community is," Gustavson said.

While nonprofits typically operate in challenging environments, cuts to federal funding and grants could threaten the viability of many nonprofits across the state.

But Gustavson touts nonprofits' agility to find paths forward.

"Nonprofits are used to working in an environment with tight budgets, and the current landscape is no exception," Gustavson said. "Nonprofits are typically far more agile than government, and this agility allows them to make changes quickly to ensure the needs of our community and its most vulnerable members are being addressed.

"Change is inevitable, and great nonprofit leaders are resilient and able respond to ebbs and flows in funding."

Be assured that Gustavson is using every ounce of critical thinking and problem-solving developed in various careers to support the region's nonprofit organizations as well as its community.