Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynn Conlin.
Hi Lynn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story is about building connection and purpose, whether in workplaces or communities. Through years of leading employee engagement initiatives, I learned how recognition, storytelling, and shared experiences transform culture. That same passion, and inspiration from my mom, led me into volunteer leadership and fundraising, especially with the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, where I’ve helped engage communities, design events, and inspire people to give and participate. At the heart of it all, I believe engagement is about making people feel seen and valued.
I still remember the call I got from my dad that started with, “You need to talk to your mom, she doesn’t know what day it is, even looking at today’s paper.” We didn’t know it at the time, but our family was beginning a journey with Alzheimer’s. The official diagnosis came later, and living in another state from my parents, I needed to find a way to learn more and to make a difference.
In 2015, I joined the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Denver. Volunteering was something my mom always loved, from schools and Girl Scouts to church and the local hospital, she instilled in me the impact of service. Her influence made it an easy decision to get involved with the Walk committee. That team quickly became like a second family. My first year, I co‑chaired the wrap‑around events committee; the next year, I was honored to co‑chair the walk itself. Between the 2017 walk season and my co‑chairing in 2018, we lost my mom to Alzheimer’s.
When I later moved to Tennessee, I knew joining the Nashville Walk committee would be a way to honor her and stay engaged in the fight to #ENDALZ. Since then, I’ve chaired the committee and led our Paint the Town Purple campaign to spread awareness and raise funds. I never saw myself as a fundraiser when I first started volunteering, but planning events, and hosting bake sales and silent auctions inspired by the baking my mom and I loved to do together, became a perfect way to carry her legacy forward.
Whether in workplaces or communities, my passion has been creating connection and purpose.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A couple of the hardest challenges have been balancing grief with action and navigating change and uncertainty.
First, losing my mom to Alzheimer’s was devastating, but it also fueled my determination to keep going. I always say that my mom was a fighter, and I will continue to fight in her memory and honor. Fundraising can be daunting, especially when starting from scratch or rallying support with limited resources. I’ve learned to transform those moments into opportunities by leaning on creativity, community, and the sense of purpose my mom instilled in me.
Second, navigating change and uncertainty has been its own challenge. In fundraising, the hard part isn’t shifting priorities, it is keeping momentum alive when the work felt daunting and the finish line seemed far away. In employee engagement, the challenge was working with cultures that weren’t always ready to embrace new approaches. In both, the real work was helping people stay motivated and connected while moving forward together. What I’ve learned is that uncertainty doesn’t have to stop progress, with listening, creativity, and a clear sense of purpose, it can become the spark for transformation.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work blends strategy and heart. In the workplace, I design employee experience and engagement programs that connect people to purpose, strengthen performance, and build cultures where employees feel seen and valued. In the community, I’ve led awareness campaigns, coordinated walk‑day logistics, and built partnerships that expand reach and impact. I’ve discovered that whether it’s fundraising or employee engagement, it’s never just about numbers, it’s about telling stories, creating experiences, and inspiring people to act. From Paint the Town Purple to recognition programs, I focus on building connection and belonging, and that’s what I’m most proud of.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
For me, risk taking has meant stepping into leadership roles I didn’t initially see myself in. I never thought of myself as a fundraiser, but I leaned into event planning and creative campaigns, trusting that my skills could make a difference. I’ve said yes to opportunities that stretched me, from co‑chairing committees to leading major awareness efforts, even when I wasn’t sure how it would all come together. In my professional life, I’ve taken similar risks by guiding enterprise‑wide change and designing employee experience programs in cultures that weren’t always ready for something new or different. Each risk carried uncertainty, but also the chance to honor my mom or make a bigger impact, and prove that connection can drive transformation.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynn.conlin.7
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnconlin/
