Brittany North: Her Authenticity Provides Women with a Values Compass and a Mirror
- Opeyemi Oladosu
- Oct 22
- 3 min read
Brittany North has been a fundraising volunteer for Her Nexx Chapter (HNC) since 2022 and recently transitioned into a consultant role at HNC. With nearly a decade in nonprofit service, Brittany has brought in more than $300 million and forged many partnerships for mission-driven nonprofits. But ask her what it's all about, and she will explain that the numbers only matter when they revert to people. “Even on days with tough deadlines or a long project ahead,” she says, “I remember the end beneficiary and how I am lucky that my work aligns with my values.”
Her approach is a reminder that there is a pulse behind each grant, campaign, or fundraising success. And that is the pulse that keeps her grounded in her values.
Lessons From the Work
Brittany's insight was shaped by experiences that revealed how unseen boundaries can hinder the path of life-changing opportunities. Through her work at a public charter school in DC toward the beginning of her nonprofit career, she saw how something as ordinary as not having a government ID could keep young adults from voting, getting jobs, or opening bank accounts.
“Having someone help you along the way to reach imperative adult milestones was a privilege,” she reminisces.
For Brittany, that experience was a turning point. She started seeing nonprofits as lifelines, entering where no one else would. And it's that mindset she has carried with her into every position since.
The Causes That Ground Her
Two causes are still very close to her heart: financial literacy and women's health.
The first dates back to childhood, when her family did not have access to wealth-generating services and resources. The second goes back to being a chronically ill patient, in which, despite having insurance, the journey to diagnosis and treatment was so lengthy and exhaustive.
A Message for Women
Brittany’s starting point is her values and knowing “that you can align your work with your values and your lifestyle,” she says. “It all starts with naming your values and naming the lifestyle you want. Then, finding a path is not so daunting because you have these pillars of self to look back to.”
Brittany is also realistic about the reality of not knowing. “Imposter syndrome is a thing. I've felt it too. But I tell myself: I'm at the table because I have the knowledge and skills that it takes to be here.”
Her authenticity provides women with a mirror; a reminder that we don't have to have it all together to take the next step, and that we can stand in our own power even when self-doubt tells us otherwise.
Breaking Out of Myths
An essential component is not living by myths that keep women small. Brittany pushes against the cultural myth that women are meant to “do it all”: excel in work, excel at home, and be effortless in the doing.
She pushes against the unspoken rule that women's energy should conform to men's daily cycles. She instead advocates for monthly energy rhythms that honor women's bodies and prevent burnout.
It's a vision that asks women to redefine success on their own terms, not balance or perfection, but alignment and wholeness.
Carrying the Theme Forward
Brittany's story isn't in the shape of a straight line; it's in the shape of a compass. Time and again, she has chosen values as her compass, allowing them to guide both her now and her next.
Her words bring an invitation to stop, to identify your values, and to consider what it would be like to allow them to steer. Because in Brittany's own words, “You can align your work with your values and your lifestyle. It may take many years to build this for yourself, but it all starts with answering questions you ask yourself: What are tenets about humanity that are at the core of my beliefs? What skills do I have that can uphold those tenets for all?”
And when women are working in the now and dreaming about the next, that compass can swing not only careers, but entire communities.
Her Nexx Chapter invites you to join our Community where women from around the world are connecting, exploring, and transforming lives.
The Future of Connection for Women
I am a dedicated educator with 6 years of experience in the classroom. Passionate about inspiring young minds and fostering a love of learning, I’m presently working as an international student recruiter for universities in the USA and across the world.
