The Servant Leader's Playbook: Quincy Dunlap on the ROI of Expanding Workforce Access

What might be possible for Austin’s workforce if every employer saw talent the way the Urban League does?

Tamara Atkinson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, hosts Quincy Dunlap, President and CEO of the Austin Area Urban League (AAUL), on the Austin Hires Local podcast. Dunlap shares his remarkable journey from working the McDonald's fry station to working in the manufacturing and aviation industries, before finding his purpose in nonprofit leadership. Through these experiences and roles with the New York and National Urban League, Dunlap developed the servant leadership approach that eventually brought him to Austin, where he now leads AAUL in impacting over 30,000 local people annually.

The conversation explores Dunlap's entrepreneurial approach to navigating Austin's booming economy and affordability challenges while maintaining organizational integrity. Listeners gain insights into AAUL's comprehensive job-readiness programs, which provide business partners with measurable ROI through well-prepared employees. Dunlap shares powerful stories like Luke's transformation from homelessness to managing an AAUL resource center, and discusses the importance of "code-switching" to meet clients where they are. Looking ahead, Dunlap emphasizes his commitment to elevating vulnerable populations through collaborative partnerships with other service-oriented nonprofits.

Quincy Dunlap has spent the last 20-plus years working for the advancement of underserved, underrepresented and under resourced communities. Through various leadership roles at renowned non-profits, developing and implementing strategic programming, and partnering with entities in the public and private sectors, Quincy has proven a dynamic and inspirational leader with an unwavering commitment and passion for service and impact. Quincy earned his B.A. in political science from Lincoln University of Missouri and his Master of Education degree from William Woods University.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Quincy's career journey from McDonald's fry cook to airlines, building his foundation for leadership

• (14:35) From running a nonprofit on campus to serving in the New York and National Urban League

• (20:33) The pivotal moment: sitting at "the right hand of power" and asking for access to leadership opportunities

• (27:38) Leading the Austin Area Urban League and impacting 30,000 local people annually through five empowerment areas

• (32:24) Luke's success story: from experiencing homelessness to managing an AAUL resource center

• (35:46) Creating ROI for AAUL business partners through comprehensive job-readiness programs

• (38:52) Building soft skills and the importance of "code-switching" to meet clients where they are

• (41:04) Navigating Austin's booming economy, affordability challenges, and changing federal landscape with an entrepreneurial mindset

• (44:32) Looking ahead: Quincy's vision for the resource center while staying collaborative with other service-oriented nonprofits

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About the show:

Austin Hires Local, powered by Workforce Solutions Capital Area and hosted by WFS CEO Tamara Atkinson, dives deep with the trailblazers who are shaping the future of jobs in our ci...