Sponsorship as a Leadership Strategy | Taletha Best, YMCA

Sponsorship as a Leadership Strategy | Taletha Best, YMCA

From Elevating Enterprise with Jazzy T by Jazzy T + RJ Williams

April 2, 2026 · 11 min · Episode 18

About this episode

Taletha Best discusses how the YMCA uses sponsorship as a leadership strategy to foster employee engagement and community connection.

Ep. 18 Event sponsorship can be transactional or transformational. At the Women Empowering Women Conference, the presenting sponsor the YMCA did more than put their name on the event. They brought their team, created space for growth, and treated this experience as an extension of their leadership development strategy. In this live conversation, Chief People & Culture Officer Taletha Best breaks down how the Y builds culture from the inside out—through employee engagement, leadership development, and real community connection. Because strong organizations don’t just invest in marketing, they invest in their people. 🎯 Key Takeaways: The difference between sponsorship and active investment The evolution of the YMCA—from the Young Men’s Christian Association to an inclusive organization serving the unique needs of each community. Why putting your team in the right rooms accelerates growth How culture drives long-term impact Hear more from our Women's Empowerment Series 5-Step Cycle for Organizational Change Management | Jacqueline Phichith | Podcasts Why 45% More Women Work in Construction | Jenna Tatar, Riedman | Podcasts Soundbites + Highlights | Media Training from Women…

People in this episode

Guest: Taletha Best

Topics covered

  • sponsorship
  • leadership strategy
  • employee engagement
  • organizational culture
  • community connection

Keywords

  • Women Empowering Women Conference
  • YMCA
  • leadership development
  • organizational change

More episodes of Elevating Enterprise with Jazzy T

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Elevating Enterprise with Jazzy T podcast page.