My Values
Community Listening
I believe there’s deep wisdom in your community—through their experiences, perspectives, and stories. My work is rooted in listening to what’s said (and unsaid), lifting up voices that are too often overlooked, and translating those insights into shared understanding. True listening helps us find common ground and meaningful direction—not just echo the loudest voices in the room.
Respectful Communication
We all process the world differently. That’s why clarity and thoughtful communication matter. I prioritize language that bridges differences—in neurodiversity, in culture, and in power. That means naming assumptions, avoiding jargon, and making sure everyone in the room understands what’s being said and why it matters.
Lead with Authenticity
I don’t believe in polishing a story until it loses its truth. I’ll never pretend to be someone I’m not, and I won’t ask you to either. I help organizations uncover the real impact they’re making—and share it in a way that feels honest, not manufactured. Because your best story is the one that’s already true.
Co-creation
Expertise matters—but so does collaboration. I bring experience, tools, and insight around listening, research, and defining impact. But the process isn’t static. We shape it together. As we work, we refine the approach to fit your unique organization, making sure the solutions are not only meaningful but practical for your staff and grounded in your day-to-day reality. Because real impact doesn’t come from a one-size-fits-all answer. It comes from co-creating something that truly works for you.
Emily Taylor
Emily Taylor has over 20 years of experience in qualitative research, collaboration, and problem-solving. She works with nonprofit leaders whose organizations need to fully show their impact to gain the funding they need for their next stage of growth.
To achieve this, Emily applies her individualized listening methodology to an organization's community, allowing leaders to see the impact through meaningful patterns, measurable shifts, and first-hand quotes. She helps them tell this impact story through the eyes of those the organization serves and builds clear language around it. As a result of this process, Emily's clients are able to paint a solid picture of their impact for funders - one that tells the full story of how people’s lives are changed for the better and what more can be done with appropriate funding.
Emily’s clients span a wide variety of sectors, supporting the objectivity she brings to her work. While she works with clients of all sizes, some of her past clients include American Academy of Pediatrics, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, ACTION Housing, American Marketing Association, and Feeding America’s National Office.
Emily lives in Chicago with her husband and daughter. She serves on the board of Onward Neighborhood House - supporting low-income and migrant families in her local area, is on the Membership Committee for Chicago Women in Philanthropy, and serves on the Local School Council of her neighborhood school. She attributes her success to her unique ability to balance left and right brain thinking - to make sense of people’s emotions and motivations and apply them to strategic thinking, including all the perspectives that make us human.
Emily is proud to give back 5-10% of teenyBIG’s business hours to BIPOC led nonprofits supporting communities.
Being intentional about big decisions with Lena Andrews
The impact of listening to your community with Jan Combopiano
Defining impact for a unique mission with Guy Ben-Aharon
