MAHONEY’S MOMENTS
Jim has written regular leadership-related blog posts, along with other several other leaders, for Ohio University’s Voinovich Academy. On this page, you can read his monthly blog posts, Mahoney’s Moments. These moments are aimed at a variety of topics and the content is designed for the moment and intended to cause you to reflect, perhaps consider an approach, or entertain a new idea in your life or work. Enjoy!
July 2025: Battelle for Kids - A Toast to Togetherness
“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and achieving together is success.” —Japanese proverb
Nearly 25 years ago, I interviewed and was selected to become the first Executive Director of a new organization funded with a gift of $10 million to improve education in Ohio. The gift was from the organization’s sponsor, Battelle Memorial Institute, then reportedly the world’s largest non-profit organization. The new organization, a partnership of Battelle and the Ohio Business Roundtable was named Battelle for Kids. On July 1 earlier this month, the organization was acquired by the American Association of School Administrators.
In late June, many current and previous members of that staff met to celebrate their accomplishments, camaraderie, and the joy of true friendships at work. After all, how many people show up for a reunion of a former workplace anywhere? During that 24-year run, Battelle for Kids employed nearly 200 people, had three CEOs, and generated over $300 million in fees for services, philanthropic grants, government funds, etc. to create and sustain impactful work in the k-12 sector in Ohio and multiple states across the US.
This moment is a tribute to the people who turned an idea into real work that benefited teachers and students. I’m not sure how you really thank people who had the creativity to develop unique approaches to solving challenges, found ways to fund their implementation, and garnered field partners to demonstrate success. Along the way, people worked tirelessly, laughed, and found ways to be successful with others. I could point to hard results, but this piece is about the people both young and older who joined hands to learn from each other while helping others. Folks who contributed for years, who later started their own innovative companies, and came back to celebrate, not the ending but the season of such a unique organization.
What was the magic sauce? People committed to a purpose. Talent combined with autonomy and accountability. Leadership across the entire organization. High tech, high touch, and high fun. Celebrations of results. Love and relationships. The journey we collectively shared was meaningful. Battelle for Kids was a profound experience, building block, and season of joy for so many. With this group, there are no goodbyes, just untils….Thank you.
