About us
Our Purpose And Founding Story
CLBE was created to close a critical gap in the nonprofit sectorthe space between passion and operational preparedness.
We help leaders and organizations build operations and systems fluency so their missions can scale with structure, strategy, and sustainability.
Our approach was born from real experience in nonprofit operations and leadership. Through structured training, consulting, and capacity-building initiatives, CLBE provides the practical tools and frameworks organizations need to strengthen retention, improve alignment, and drive measurable impact.
We developed the Nonprofit 360™ framework to address this challenge. This three-tier pathway, alongside custom consulting, workshops, and organizational strategy support, and strengthens operational understanding as much as leadership skill, equipping professionals and teams with actionable systems that work across departments, cultures, and missions.
At our core, we believe that leadership is learnable, repeatable, and necessary, especially in times of uncertainty and change
What We Stand For
We don't take shortcuts. We don't rely on buzzwords. Every training we deliver is grounded in these core values:
Organizational Foundation
Build essential nonprofit systems for mission-aligned growth.
Equity
We embed DEIB principles into every facet of our work, from language to leadership.
Integrity
We practice what we teach and lead with full transparency and trust.
Empowerment
We believe leadership is for everyone, not just those with titles.
Sustainability
Our goal is long-term change, not one-time inspiration.
Meet the Founder:
Malika Brown-Brothers, M.S.
Malika Brown-Brothers is an operations and strategy executive with more than 20 years of experience strengthening nonprofit systems, aligning cross-department teams, and building the internal clarity organizations need to deliver mission-driven results. As Founder of the Center for Leadership and Business Excellence (CLBE), she helps nonprofits transform the way they operate: moving from burnout and fragmentation to structure, alignment, and sustainable impact.
Malika’s expertise spans organizational strategy, operational design, leadership development, workforce systems, governance, and capacity building. Her work centers on helping teams understand how the organization actually functions—a foundation that improves accountability, collaboration, retention, and mission execution.
Her professional background includes senior leadership roles such as Director of System Programs, Chief Strategy Officer, and Chief of Staff. In these positions, she led large-scale operational improvements, strengthened governance practices, implemented cross-system strategies, advanced DEIB initiatives, and helped secure multi-million-dollar funding streams to support organizational growth.
She holds a Master of Science in Business Management & Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Relations from the City University of New York (CUNY), along with advanced executive training from the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab and Rutgers University in performance leadership, data-driven decision-making, and cultural competence.
At CLBE, Malika leads development of high-impact programs; including Nonprofit 360, Management Mastery, and The Seven Principles of Transformative Leadership, designed to build stronger managers, aligned teams, and resilient organizational systems. She is a trusted advisor to nonprofits across the country, known for her precision, clarity, people-first leadership, and ability to turn complex challenges into actionable strategies.
"I don’t believe in generic workshops. I believe in leadership development that builds real skills, strengthens systems, and stays deeply rooted in your mission."
— Malika Brown-Brothers, M.S.
What Makes CLBE Different
Over two decades of experience in real-world nonprofit operations
Flexible delivery (in-person, virtual, and blended formats)
A proven three-tier training model (Nonprofit 360™) that scales with your growth
A track record of helping organizations retain talent and reduce burnout
DEIB-first facilitation rooted in cultural competence and belonging