Becker Business Podcast: CEO of the Month — Stacy DiStefano, Consulting for Human Services
Host: Scott Becker
Guest: Stacy DiStefano, CEO of Consulting for Human Services
Date: December 9, 2025
Overview
In this episode, Scott Becker features Stacy DiStefano as “CEO of the Month.” Stacy, CEO of Consulting for Human Services, shares the story behind her company, her journey from clinician to executive, and her approach to leadership. The conversation deeply explores the themes of organizational culture, nonprofit and for-profit sector trends, AI and data in human services, board governance, talent management, and personal resilience. Stacy blends business insights with transformative personal experiences, offering strategic frameworks for leaders navigating change and growth.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Stacy’s Background and Consulting for Human Services (01:15)
- Stacy introduces herself as a “solution-focused clinician by training,” and highlights her unique perspective as an executive with both clinical expertise and entrepreneurial passion.
- Personal experience as a parent of an adult child with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and the addiction system gave her a mission-driven approach to leadership.
- “We see ourselves as champions for provider sustainability…coming to that work through the lens of being a therapist, a problem solver, an executive and an entrepreneur.” [01:36]
2. The Real Differentiator in Organizational Scaling: Culture (02:51)
- Scaling is about culture, not just financials.
- Successful teams exhibit:
- Shared vision and agency
- Psychological safety
- Clear, empowered decision-making
- Engagement with change as an opportunity
- Struggling teams “see change or growth as something that is happening to them rather than something that they can impact.”
- Memorable Quote:
“We can either shape the future versus the future is happening to us mentality. So to me, it’s all the culture forward.” — Stacy DiStefano [03:38]
3. Balancing Visionary Leadership with Day-to-Day Realities (04:22)
- Leaders must juggle future-oriented strategy and immediate operational needs.
- Stacy’s three key practices for high-performance leadership:
- Ruthless clarity on priorities: “If everything is urgent, nothing is strategic.”
- Delegation and structure: Empower others, don’t micromanage.
- Operating cadence: Use metrics, dashboards, and rituals to turn action into outcomes.
- Memorable Quote:
“If the CEO is running the day to day, your strategy is just unattended.” [05:18]
4. Nonprofit vs. For-Profit M&A Trends (06:56)
- Nonprofit mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are increasing in volume and sophistication, rivaling the traditional for-profit sector.
- “Nonprofit doesn’t mean charity…nonprofits now…are really approaching growth and…the integration of merger and acquisition with a level of discipline that has historically lived just on the private equity side.” [08:28]
- While private equity operates on quick cycles, nonprofits focus on long-term compatibility, making cultural/mission fit crucial in transactions.
- Memorable Quote:
“Leading nonprofits are really becoming more business savvy…and I think they’re setting the new bar for more strategic expansion.” — Stacy DiStefano [08:54]
5. The Must-Have Role of Data, Tech & AI (09:35)
- Data and technology have shifted from “nice to have” to “must have.”
- AI is now table stakes for compliance, operations, clinical innovation, and more.
- Regulatory forces (like new CPT codes) make adoption mandatory for providers.
- Leaders must be agile given uncontrollable external pressures: workforce issues, political changes, reimbursement, etc.
- Memorable Quote:
“You’ve really got to be at the table here. It’s quietly weaving itself into the day to day…and none of this is slowing down.” — Stacy DiStefano [10:15]
6. Essential Leadership Habits in High-Pressure Environments (11:17)
- Board management is a critical, often overlooked leadership skill.
- Composition, education, and alignment of the board directly impact organizational trajectory, especially across sectors.
- “Without that board support…that is something that could really anchor you in a negative way and sort of drown the organization.” — Stacy DiStefano [12:15]
7. The Challenge of Talent & Building the Next Generation of Leaders (13:12)
- Leadership pipelines and talent retention are urgent challenges.
- Average job tenure for mid- to executive-level roles is now just 2.5 years.
- Leaders must rethink engagement, mentorship, and excitement for new generations.
- Personal anecdote about her father’s long-standing career vs. today’s shifting expectations.
8. Building and Sustaining a Healthy Organizational Culture (15:02)
- Culture must accelerate the mission, not serve as window dressing.
- Elements of strong culture: communication, rituals, psychological safety, accountability, and celebration of values.
- Memorable Quote:
“Culture should make your goals easier to achieve, not harder.” — Stacy DiStefano [15:45] - Stacy references her grandmother:
“You get what you tolerate…as a leader, because it all stems from the top.” [16:33]
9. Defining Challenge & Leadership Through Adversity (17:01)
- Stacy shares the profound personal loss of her young daughter to brain cancer, which transformed her leadership approach.
- Lessons learned:
- Perspective on crisis: “It really redefines…what’s a crisis.”
- Resilience: “No matter what hard thing is, that you can’t control, you can control what you do next and how you show up.”
- Compassion: “Give people a little extra grace because I don’t know what’s going on for them.”
- Memorable Quote:
“That experience really helped me redefine what’s urgent, what’s important, and not to sweat the small stuff.” — Stacy DiStefano [18:06]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On culture and agency:
“We can either shape the future versus the future is happening to us mentality. So to me, it’s all the culture forward.” [03:38] -
On leadership clarity:
“If everything is urgent, nothing is strategic.” [04:59] -
On nonprofit sophistication:
“Your tax status is not your business model. Nonprofit doesn’t mean charity.” [07:55] -
On AI becoming standard:
“AI certainly is all over our sector…now it’s just table stakes.” [09:49] -
On board management:
“Board management is just one of those things not talked about enough that is so critically important.” [12:30] -
On legacy and resilience:
“No matter what hard thing is…you can control what you do next and how you show up.” [18:45] -
On culture from grandma:
“You get what you tolerate…because it all stems from the top.” [16:33]
Key Timestamps
- 01:15: Stacy introduces herself and the founding story of Consulting for Human Services
- 02:51: What differentiates organizations that scale — culture and agency
- 04:22: How to balance vision with day-to-day realities — three leadership practices
- 06:56: Trends in nonprofit vs. for-profit mergers and acquisitions
- 09:35: The critical role of data, technology, and AI in healthcare and human services
- 11:17: Leadership habits for high-pressure, high-growth periods; importance of board governance
- 13:12: The urgent challenge of talent recruitment, retention, and next-generation leadership
- 15:02: Building cultures that foster accountability and accelerate mission
- 17:01: Stacy’s defining personal and professional turning point; lessons in resilience and compassion
Conclusion
This episode provides a nuanced view into Stacy DiStefano’s leadership philosophy, shaped by both her professional path and transformative personal experiences. Listeners are treated to actionable insights on culture, strategy, and change management, along with heartfelt wisdom on resilience and the human side of executive leadership. Stacy’s candid stories and frameworks are invaluable for leaders across nonprofit and for-profit landscapes, particularly in mission-driven and healthcare spaces.