Coaches’ Corner: Terry Baugh

Terry Baugh joined our team in 2024 and, as an Idealist Action Incubator Sessions Coach, has provided sound guidance to over 140 participants looking to start an initiative or venture to help their community. She brings over 20+ years of experience in global nonprofit startup and management, and a strong desire to encourage and support people in their pursuit of making a positive change in their part of the world. 

Terry began her career working at a firm to apply marketing strategies to nonprofit and government health and social issues. Throughout her career, she has worked on major public health campaigns, such as breast cancer and high blood pressure education. She eventually started a small firm focusing on marketing research, completing projects for organizations like AARP and USAID. She traveled internationally to support family planning and contraceptive marketing programs and worked with health and aging-related organizations.

After a life-changing trip to a Russian orphanage in 1993, Terry was inspired to co-found Kidsave with her friend, Randy Thompson. Terry was deeply troubled by the conditions in which she found children and babies. Her friend, Randy, similarly went to an orphanage for older children in Kazakhstan and was equally dismayed by the conditions and lack of support given to the children once they aged out.

“We just felt it wasn't okay for children not to have a family. We were foolish enough to think we were smart enough to solve this problem, but I guess it gave us the courage to go ahead, so we started Kidsave because we wanted to create change,” Terry shared. Since then, Kidsave has helped to place thousands of globally-displaced children with adoptive families and provide life-long mentorship.

After years of service at Kidsave, Terry retired, although she continues to consult others in their startups. She joined our team last year, determined to play it forward. When asked about her motivation for becoming a coach, Terry said, “I really like working and loved what I was doing, so I signed up to coach. [The opportunity] resonated with me. I was at a stage in my life where I had enough experience that I felt I could give back. It just seemed like a good fit.”

Over the past year, we’ve received overwhelmingly positive responses from participants who have worked with Terry. According to one participant, “Terry offers excellent advice and is an amazing listener. She provides practical steps to help you move forward, and it’s clear she genuinely cares about human values. I can’t thank her enough.” 

What’s one key tip Terry has for moving forward with your initiative and idea for change? “If you feel inspired, it's that passion that you really need to listen to, because it's really a gift that you've been given to have a passion that you want to go after. So I encourage people to chase that dream and explore what they can do to make a difference. Follow your dreams. And if you’re undecided, let it simmer. Talk to people, and volunteer in an area that you think you might be interested in. Get your feet wet in some way. Don't just sit there and think; take some action. There are a lot of nonprofit organizations that you can volunteer for in areas you’re interested in. Dive in and build your own path.”

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Have a great idea you want to move forward with, but don’t know where to start? Sign up for a free one-on-one session with our expert Idealist Action Sessions coaches, like Terry.