Megan O'Bryan

As executive director of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Megan O'Bryan is passionate about helping people succeed and meet their potential.

"As a woman in the working world, I think it's our responsibility to reach out and [offer] support," she says. "It's something that I seek out by just giving someone a chance to be able to prove their abilities or by opening a door."

O'Bryan began her career in fundraising as a member of the development team at WCPN 90.3, where she was responsible for raising 20 percent of a $2.4 million budget. She went on to serve as director of development at three other agencies: Central School of Practical Nursing, Young Audiences of Greater Cleveland and the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, where she's been since 2001.

"I came in as development director at a time when funding was very precarious and the organization was facing a deficit," explains O'Bryan. "It was through a lot of people working on the funding issues that we were able to move beyond [financial restraints] and develop a solid foundation for the organization."

Because of her dedication, O'Bryan was encouraged by the board president to take over the top post of the Rape Crisis Center. Today, she oversees a $1.1 million budget, 16 full-time staff members and hundreds of volunteers. She is focused on building strong collaborations both in and outside the center. One example is the formation of the Cuyahoga County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), a consortium of organizations and law enforcement that provides services to victims of sexual assault.

O'Bryan's passion for the Rape Crisis Center comes from a direct connection with the clients it serves. "The mission of this organization is clearly to empower survivors of sexual violence — 90 percent of whom are girls and women. The mission is really to help these women achieve their fullest life whatever that means to them," says O'Bryan, who also balances her role as wife and mother of two children, Dinah and Tobias.

O'Bryan earned a master's degree in nonprofit organizations from the Weatherhead School of Management, Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Case Western Reserve University. She still serves as a mentor for women enrolled in the same program, sharing her time and expertise in the community.

Whether sharing her experiences with future nonprofit leaders or helping a crime victim get back on her feet, O'Bryan strives to lead by example. "I want to be able to be there for my family and still be successful in my job — and I think that's possible," she says. "I want to create an environment for women who want both."