Encouraging Team Input with Rod Kempkes
In this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast, Andrea interviews Rod Kempkes, President and CEO of Boys Town, an organization dedicated to supporting at-risk children and families since 1917. Rod discusses Boys Town’s comprehensive approach to care, from their innovative child and family care to their compassionate healthcare and ground-breaking research. He elaborates on their extensive impact, with over 192,000 children and families served in the U.S. in 2024 alone.
Rod also shares a heartfelt personal journey of how he was drawn to the mission, his leadership philosophy emphasizing transparency and collaboration, and the importance of meeting people where they are. Listeners will gain insights into Boys Town’s historic and ongoing commitment to changing lives, leadership development within the organization, and ways to get involved in making a meaningful impact.
Boys Town: Saving Children – Healing Families – Building Communities
Mentorship Guide – This VOI guide and journal for mentors and mentees includes 12 sessions covering key topics young professionals need to set themselves up for success at work.
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Summary
What happens when a corporate leader steps into the heart of a mission-driven organization? For Rod Kempkes, President and CEO of Boys Town, the shift became a profound personal and professional calling. With over 100 years of history, Boys Town isn’t just a residential program—it’s a nationwide ecosystem delivering preventative care, behavioral health services, education initiatives, and crisis support to nearly 200,000 youth and families every year.
Rod’s leadership blends strategic innovation with a deep respect for legacy. 🎙️ Hear the full story on this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast.
Grounded in Purpose, Driven by Humility
Rod Kempkes didn’t grow up dreaming of running a nonprofit. In fact, when first approached about the opportunity, he admits he knew little about Boys Town. But a single tour—meeting kids in acute psychiatric care and sitting down for dinner with youth in a family-style home—changed everything.
“I left that first visit in tears,” he said. “And my wife told me, ‘Maybe this is a place where you can help.’”
That sense of humility has shaped his leadership. Rather than entering with assumptions, Rod chose to listen first, engaging with staff across levels and making it clear that transparency, collaboration, and service were core to his approach.
Scaling What Works Without Compromising Mission
At Boys Town, effectiveness is non-negotiable. Every program is backed by evidence, and outcomes are meticulously measured. Under Rod’s leadership, strategic growth means finding ways to deliver more—without losing what makes the programs work.
One key initiative: digitizing the “Well-Managed Schools” program. Now used in over 280 schools nationwide, it has reached more than 150,000 students and trained over 11,000 educators—an example of how scaling can stay true to mission when done with care.
“We meet people where they are, not where we are,” Rod explained, emphasizing accessibility and responsiveness as critical to expanding impact.
Building Culture Through Trust and Accountability
Rod’s vision for leadership at Boys Town is rooted in empowerment. That means publishing his own goals, hosting regular town halls, and creating space for honest dialogue—even when it challenges the status quo.
“Transparency starts with me,” he shared. “And if someone brings me better information, I’ll change my mind. That’s not weakness—it’s leadership.”
By modeling open communication and insisting on inclusive decision-making, Rod has helped shift Boys Town’s internal culture to one of shared ownership, where staff feel seen, heard, and supported.
Conclusion
Rod Kempkes didn’t just join a legacy—he’s stewarding it into the future. His story is a reminder that leadership grounded in humility, driven by data, and shaped by purpose can transform lives at scale.