The Rosie in Action series shares the stories of women in our community, making a difference in their organizations, serving on boards, living into their passions, and positively impacting the world around them. Brandy Harris is the CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield and a passionate advocate for this community and the people who make it what it is. Keep reading to hear what Brandy shared about leading a nonprofit, inspiration for fellow women leaders, and how Rosies can get involved in the BGCS movement!
Who is Brandy Harris?
My name is Brandy Harris, and I am a proud Springfield native, nonprofit CEO, advocate for youth, artist, and speaker who believes deeply in the power of belonging and opportunity. I have the honor of serving as the CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield, where I get to pour into young people and help create spaces where they feel seen, supported, and inspired to chase possibility.
Community has been at the core of who I am and how I lead. I have served on boards, volunteered with organizations across the region, and partnered with countless community groups to uplift families, elevate youth voice, and strengthen access to opportunity. In every space I enter, my goal is to hopefully open doors wider than they were for me and to ensure that every child, especially those from under-resourced backgrounds, knows they belong and can make their mark on the world.
What was your journey to your current role like? What influenced you to pursue a career in nonprofit?
My path to nonprofit leadership was not linear, it was personal. Growing up, I experienced firsthand the power of caring adults and institutions (mostly public schools) that wrapped around kids who needed more than the world often gave them. I knew early on that I wanted to make the world a better, lighter place for kids.
When I joined Boys & Girls Clubs, I knew that my passion and my work were the same thing. But purpose isn’t always easy. Six months into becoming the first female and first person of color to lead the organization, I faced intense criticism, pressure, and doubt. Donors pulled support. People questioned my right to lead before I ever had the chance to lead, and the weight felt crushing. I wrote a resignation letter. I was ready to hand it in.
Then, one day in the Club surrounded by kids, everything shifted. I realized that if I left, the kids who looked like me would lose an example of what leadership could look like for them. You can only be what you see. This job was never about my comfort, it was about expanding possibility for those who would come after me. Staying wasn’t just a professional decision, it was a declaration of purpose, resilience, and a hopefully good legacy. That moment changed my life and it allowed everything else to unfold.
How has your leadership style been influenced by your experiences at the local, regional, and national levels?
Leading at the local, regional, and national levels has stretched and shaped me in many ways. Locally, I learned the power of relationships. Leadership is personal, rooted in trust, community connection, and a willingness to show up with authenticity. Springfield is home, and leading here taught me to honor our community’s unique heartbeat while challenging systems that no longer serve our kids.
Regionally, I learned the value of collaboration and shared wisdom. Being in rooms with other leaders across Missouri showed me that our challenges are often similar. And so is our determination to build better futures for kids. It pushed me to think bigger, to innovate, and to understand that leadership is not about having all the answers, but creating space where others can bring solutions.
On the national stage, I learned courage. I saw powerful women in leadership, and far more often, I didn’t. Sitting at tables where decisions were made, I understood that my presence mattered, but so did my voice. My voice could be used to advocate for those not at the table. These experiences taught me to lead boldly, advocate fiercely, and remember that representation isn’t about ego, it’s about access. When I lead with authenticity, I’m not just leading for myself; I’m hopefully widening the path for those who will come next.
How has your involvement with local organizations impacted your career?
My involvement with local organizations has been an incredible gift during my career. Springfield has a collaborative spirit, and being engaged across various boards, initiatives, and community groups allowed me to learn from incredible leaders, build meaningful partnerships, and deepen my understanding of what families in our city truly need.
Serving locally kept me grounded and connected. It expanded my perspective beyond the Boys & Girls Club walls and helped me see the bigger ecosystem of support that surrounds our kids. Those relationships have strengthened our mission, opened doors for collaboration, and reminded me that change doesn’t have to be big. Keeping our world small and focusing on the things we can change is incredibly important.
Why do you believe it’s important for women to get involved in leadership roles in their communities and industries?
Women often lead with strength, intuition, compassion, and a courage that comes from lived experience and our communities need that. When women step into leadership, we shift cultures, elevate voices that have been ignored, and create environments where more people feel seen and valued.
But here’s the truth: many of us were taught to shrink, to wait to be invited, or to feel like we need to “be ready” before stepping in. I believe women must lead not despite our stories, but because of them. Our voices change rooms, tables, and whatever house-related furniture there is.
Representation matters to me. Young people deserve to see women leading boldly. Women need to be at tables where decisions are made, not just where work is carried out.
What is an accomplishment or milestone of your career that you are most proud of?
The accomplishment I am most proud of isn’t a single event, it’s the journey of becoming the leader I once needed.
Opening the Fremont and O’Reilly Units and the Risdal Family Teen Center was important. Growing our impact to reach more kids was important. Changing legislation so more kids could access our services was important. Creating meaningful partnerships was important. Shifting our operations to meet the most urgent needs of families during a global pandemic was important.
But what fills me with the most pride is not one headline moment. It is the commitment to stay close to the heartbeat of our families, to listen when their needs change, and to be willing to evolve, pivot, and rebuild when necessary. It’s choosing innovation over comfort, relevance over tradition, and impact over ego. It’s leading with humility, curiosity, and a mindset that says, “Whatever our kids and families need, we will figure it out.”
A piece of advice or inspiration for fellow Rosies:
Your voice is needed…not when you feel “ready,” and not when you feel like you have shrunk enough to fit whatever lies you’ve unintentionally told yourself, but right now. Too many brilliant people, especially women, sit on the sidelines waiting for permission, perfection, or the right timing. Here’s the truth: the right time is the moment you feel that tug on your heart.
Start where you are. Say yes before you talk yourself out of it. Join the board. Bring a folding chair to the table. And remember this: you don’t have to know everything to make a difference. You just have to care enough to begin.
How can Rosies get involved in the BGCS movement?
There are so many powerful ways Rosies can make an impact with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield, and we welcome every woman who wants to help shape the future of our kids.
You can join a board or committee, volunteer in our Clubs, or become a mentor, especially for our teen girls who need strong women in their corner. You can attend events, support fundraising efforts, connect us with companies or partners, or lend your voice to advocate for youth in our community. And if you have a skill, passion, or story…from arts and STEM to entrepreneurship, wellness, leadership, or personal growth…you can share your expertise directly with teens who are eager to learn from you.
Whether you give time, talent, resources, or heart…there is a place for you in this movement. And our kids are watching, so let’s show them what’s possible.
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Thank you for your leadership and advocacy in our community, Brandy!
Do you have a story you’d like to share? A woman you’d like to celebrate? A recent accomplishment, board appointment, or career milestone you or someone you know has experienced? Let us know by submitting an Empowered Women Empower Women celebration. She might be featured in an upcoming Rosie in Action profile!
