Our WellSpring

In this episode, Uva sits down with Peter Gonzales, Esq., a visionary social entrepreneur, attorney, and strategic consultant, for a powerful conversation on navigating transitions. Peter shares invaluable insights into the dynamic interplay of governance and stewardship during pivotal moments of organizational change. He also shares his experiences and learnings on leadership reinvention as careers evolve,  and opens up about the importance of prioritizing self-care (something he’s still learning as a leader) and  finding inspiration in new experiences.

The discussion sheds light on  the importance of initiating transition processes–both organizational and personal– early on, and how genuine collaboration with board members and staff can forge a stronger, more resilient outcome.  

Whether you're embarking on a personal career shift or guiding your organization through a period of evolution, Peter's wisdom offers practical strategies for embracing change, fostering innovation, ensuring organizational and personal well-being, and ultimately, helping individuals and institutions flourish.

Guest/s
Peter Gonzales, Esq. is a social entrepreneur, attorney, and strategic consultant with more than 30 years of professional experience in the nonprofit, public and private sectors in the U.S. and abroad. He believes in the power of people from diverse backgrounds coming together to share their skills, knowledge, and networks to achieve equitable growth.

After serving as President and CEO of the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians from 2012 to 2023, Peter partnered with Dafan Zhang to launch ShopPhilly, a hyperlocal, community-based, eCommerce platform that enables business owners to

increase sales and participate in the economic growth of the city, regardless of their location, language proficiency, or digital literacy.

In addition to launching ShopPhilly, most recently Peter helped develop a strategic plan for the Greater Cleveland Area to grow their economy by attracting and retaining more immigrants, refugees and secondary migrants. He also helped launch AccessoCare, a for-profit workforce development initiative designed to improve immigrant integration into healthcare jobs, and he taught an Intro to the U.S. Legal System course for foreign- trained lawyers at his alma mater, Temple University Law School.

Peter is board chair of The Merchants Fund, a 170-year-old charitable organization that provides grants and technical assistance to small businesses in underserved communities in Philadelphia. He is also a founding board member of Greenline Access Capital, which specializes in character-based micro-lending to BIPOC and immigrant- owned businesses.

Our WellSpring Host
Uva Coles, Chief Learning Officer

Uva Coles serves as Chief Learning Officer for Spring Point Partners. As the organization's external communications and  learning steward, Uva’s leadership ensures that inclusion, human-centered leadership, and narrative change are woven through every aspect of SPP’s partner-based learning deliveries. A writer, speaker, inclusive organizational strategist, and lifelong learner, Uva believes every room we step into is a classroom. Sometimes we are teachers; but always, we are students. 

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