Leadership Philosophy:

With a strong love for animals and a commitment to the people who love them, I help people connect with animals for a stronger future! I believe in the concept of leading from YOUR strength and helping others find theirs.

The idea of benevolent leadership fits with the mission of most non-profits, but these concepts are not learned by students in business schools or in HR coursework. This philosophy comes from the heart and meshes well with the mission of non-profits. It is important to remember that non-profits are still businesses and need to respond to economic trends and utilize sound business principles; however, leading with heart and remaining mission-focused will lend credibility to your organization.

Lynn Connell Olenik

Lynn spent over 25 years in the animal welfare field, serving 20 years as an executive director of the Humane Animal Welfare Society before retiring. Her hallmark energetic, positive, and strategic leadership style not only drove the growth of her organization but also made her loved and respected by her employees and community. Her career left her with many stories to share. With humor and compassion, she led others through the often-emotional world of animal welfare, believing that through humane education, we could change the mindset of our electronically focused youth and build a stronger, more compassionate community.

Her life has always been full of animals. She has taught and participated in a variety of dog training sports and disciplines. With her K9 partner Mason, she was a search and rescue dog handler. As an avid recreational dog musher, she explored trails and woods with her dog teams for many years. The teams were mainly comprised of rescued Siberian Huskies, with a few Malamutes thrown into the mix.

Lynn now shares her life with two German Shepherds and her spouse in a semi-rural community in Wisconsin. She enjoys the outdoors, nature, and visiting their cabin in the north woods where "life is simpler, and the beer is cold".