The Interview: Changing Lives Inside the Y

Even to the casual observer, it’s easy to see there’s yin-yang dynamic between Anne N. Brigis and the nonprofit organization she runs, the YMCA of Long Island.

After more than 30 years working for the Y, Brigis assumed the organization’s top post of president and CEO in 2012. Hers is a mission-driven love for a cause that has changed lives, and she well knows it, because she’s the first to credit the Y with changing her own life.

Today, the YMCA of Long Island has six locations ranging from East Hampton to Glen Cove, and caters to all ages. Its boss is totally absorbed in letting everyone know there’s a welcome mat out, at each of the Y’s front doors, and she wants more of those front doors in other areas of the Long Island community. And she’s happy to talk about what all that means, either over coffee or a well-chilled Pinot Grigio. Find out more…

FMC: What are the 3 best things you’ve done in your life?

ANB: Marrying Tony, and having my two incredible children, Joy and Nick, are at the top of the list. I love them all to the moon and back.

Second, volunteering at the Y when I was 14 years old, and doing absolutely everything that was asked of me to keep the fitness department (now healthy living dept.) successful. That experience taught me how many things have to go right for an organization to succeed, and how important it is for everyone to pull in the same direction. A YMCA fitness department was the perfect place to learn these vital early lessons.

And third, after college graduation and taking a position on Madison Avenue, I answered a New York Times advertisement for a Special Events/Executive Assistant position at the Flushing Y. I was 27. I was the only person who responded. And it was the start of an incredible career.

FMC: What mistake did you make that turned out to be your best learning experience? 

ANB: As a manager, I said yes to fulfilling an immediate programmatic need at the expense of long-term viability. It was a hard and painful lesson. I learned the hard way was that you can only afford to do as much good as you can afford to do. Non-profits are a business. They have to meet budgets to be sustainable, to keep doing good.

FMC: When you were 5 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up, and why?

ANB: I always wanted to save the world!  I am the oldest child and grandchild.  I wanted to be a lawyer because that was one way I thought I could make a difference. In a way, I am who I wanted to be at age five, although life looks much different than I expected it would.

FMC: Why do you do what you do?

ANB: The Y transforms lives. I’ve witnessed it time and again. And I’ve personally experienced the incredible impact and magic of the YMCA.

FMC: What’s your guilty pleasure?

ANB: Coffee.

FMC: What gives you hope for the future? 

ANB: Being around children, and seeing them in action fills me with joy and hope. They fill my heart with the passionate belief me that the best is yet to come.

FMC: What’s your idea of a great day off from work?

ANB: Spending time with my family at the beach.

FMC: Coke or Pepsi?

ANB: Neither! I have given up soda for my favorite healthy alternative, sparkling water.

FMC: Who was/is the most influential person in your life?

ANB: My Father. He had the most unbelievable work ethic and taught me soft skills.  He was a great people person, and he loved making people happy. He came to America with nothing, and he worked hard his whole life. His faith sustained and grounded him.  He always took on a leadership role in his church, and the church infused every aspect of his life.  And he centered everything around our family. His confidence in me and his lifelong example have been a foundation for any personal and business success I’ve experienced.  Everything I know about faith, family, strength and kindness I learned from my Dad and Mom.

FMC: Favorite restaurant (anywhere)?

ANB: Ruth Chris, Cancun.

FMC: Last book read?

ANB: I just finished a memoir called When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. He was a very talented doctor, in training to become a neurosurgeon. At age 37, he discovered that he had inoperable lung cancer and had maybe a year left to live. He died before the book was published. It sounds like a depressing read, but it’s one of those books that centers and lifts you. It made me think so much about what really matters in life.

FMC: Where do you get your news?

ANB: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsday, and a variety of internet sources.

FMC: What five people, living or dead, would you want to have dinner with?

ANB: It’s tough to limit myself to five, so I will prioritize the first five I would invite to dinner. You should know my list is much longer: MLK, Tina Fey, Sheryl Sandberg, Mother Teresa, and Jackie Onassis. Can you imagine those five in a room? I would lock the doors!

FMC: Favorite drink?

ANB: A well-chilled glass of Pinot Grigio.

FMC: What’s the biggest misconception people have about you?

ANB: That I’m unapproachable. I love being approached! When I zero in on a task, I do tend to shut out the world. But that’s about me, not the world.

FMC: What is the biggest hurdle you face at work?

ANB: I see how great the needs are across Long Island, and how finite our resources are – even though we are working so hard to grow them. I know how much we have to accomplish to meet those needs. My personal and professional challenge is taking our YMCAs from good to great. We can’t serve all the people that need us by being good. We have to be great. That means tough choices.

FMC: Define leadership and tell us, who is your favorite leader and why?

ANB: My definition of leadership is twofold: On the personnel side, it’s about putting the right people on the bus, and committing to the work. And on the strategic side, it’s about remembering that there is no quick fix, and almost never one right answer to a genuine problem.

My favorite local leader is Michael Dowling, of Northwell Health. I am so impressed by how he has grown and rebranded North Shore-LIJ Health System. It’s the largest private employer in New York State and a first-class hospital system. Michael has helped focus the Governor’s attention on the needs of Long Island, and the tremendous resources that can be capitalized on in our region with the right support. He’s a committed leader who sees innovative solutions and goes after them.

As far as a business leader from history, I love Walt Disney. He took an idea and from it created a magic that is enjoyed by young and old alike every single day. Disney inspired so much creativity and problem-solving, not only in entertainment but across many industries. He seemed to love being around creative, driven, smart people.  My favorite Disney quote: “All our dreams can come true –if we have the courage to pursue them.”

FMC: What’s your idea of success? 

ANB: A YMCA in every community that needs one.

FMC: What’s the best business advice anyone ever gave you?

ANB: Never, ever give up.