Financial Executives International (FEI)

Title: Building Resilience and Relevance: Brenda Zamzow on Leadership and Relationships

In this episode of the FEI Icons podcast, Heather Cole interviews Brenda Zamzow, the chief financial and administrative officer of Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles. Zamzow outlines how she oversees finance, risk, IT, people, culture and facilities while partnering with a colleague who leads mission delivery, illustrating the dual engine that keeps a century‑old nonprofit thriving in a fast‑changing world. Zamzow emphasizes three strategic pillars: refocusing programming on girls’ mental‑health needs, cultivating a culture where feedback is treated as a gift, and positioning the finance function as a trusted partner rather than a gatekeeper. She recounts launching an internal customer‑satisfaction survey that initially shocked the team but ultimately transformed finance into a service‑oriented hub, and she describes how the organization continuously scans social‑media trends to keep the Girl Scout brand relevant. Memorable moments include Zamzow’s mentor’s mantra—"feedback is a gift"—which she now models with her staff, and her personal entrepreneurial leap when she founded the Zamzo Group after a contract firm renegotiated her compensation. She recalls the anxiety of her first paycheck loss, the rapid rise to a top women‑owned business, and the lesson that a strong network can turn risk into opportunity. For leaders across sectors, Zamzow’s story underscores that resilience hinges on proactive mental‑health initiatives, transparent feedback loops, cross‑functional trust, and the willingness to take calculated risks. By leveraging relationships and viewing finance as an enabler, organizations can stay agile, maintain relevance, and drive mission‑centric growth.