From Nonprofit CEO to Success Coach: Faith, Leadership & Legacy | Marcus Allen | EP 113
Wed Feb 04 2026
What does it really mean to live with purpose—and how do you turn that purpose into lasting impact?
In this powerful episode of Magic in the Cloud, host Joe sits down with Marcus Allen, former President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence, leadership coach, speaker, and founder of Allen Global Consulting Group.
Marcus shares his journey from growing up in poverty and homelessness to leading one of the region’s most impactful nonprofits for nearly two decades. Now stepping into a new chapter as a consultant, coach, and radio host, Marcus opens up about leadership, faith, trust, resilience, legacy, and the lessons learned from both success and loss.
This conversation goes deep—covering purpose, EOS leadership, compassion in business, building trust, overcoming adversity, and honoring the life and impact of Marcus’s late daughter, Natasha Allen.
If you’re a leader, founder, executive, or anyone searching for meaning beyond metrics—this episode is for you.
⏱️ Timestamps / Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction: Welcome to Magic in the Cloud
01:15 – Who is Marcus Allen? From nonprofit CEO to coach & consultant
04:10 – What wakes you up without an alarm clock
07:45 – Defining purpose and accepting the life that comes with it
12:30 – Faith, focus, and going “vertical” vs. horizontal validation
18:40 – Lessons from 17+ years leading Big Brothers Big Sisters
25:10 – Why Marcus knew it was time to leave his CEO role
31:20 – Launching Allen Global Consulting Group & new ventures
36:50 – EOS, leadership coaching, and helping executives break through
43:15 – How to build trust quickly and authentically
50:30 – Compassion as a leadership superpower
58:40 – Growing up in poverty and overcoming the odds
1:07:20 – Basketball, discipline, and lessons from sports
1:12:30 – Honoring the life and legacy of Natasha Allen
1:22:10 – Grief, meaning, and choosing purpose after loss
1:30:40 – Pushing limits: Kilimanjaro, endurance, and personal growth
1:36:20 – Final thoughts: living a whole, integrated life
1:39:00 – How to connect with Marcus Allen
🔗 Connect with Marcus Allen:
🌐 Website: https://themarcusallen.com
📧 Email: marcus@allenglobalconsultinggroup.com
👍 If this episode inspired you:
• Like the episode
• Subscribe for more leadership conversations
• Share with someone who needs this message
#Leadership #Purpose #FaithAndBusiness #ExecutiveCoaching #EOS #NonprofitLeadership #MagicInTheCloud
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What does it really mean to live with purpose—and how do you turn that purpose into lasting impact? In this powerful episode of Magic in the Cloud, host Joe sits down with Marcus Allen, former President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence, leadership coach, speaker, and founder of Allen Global Consulting Group. Marcus shares his journey from growing up in poverty and homelessness to leading one of the region’s most impactful nonprofits for nearly two decades. Now stepping into a new chapter as a consultant, coach, and radio host, Marcus opens up about leadership, faith, trust, resilience, legacy, and the lessons learned from both success and loss. This conversation goes deep—covering purpose, EOS leadership, compassion in business, building trust, overcoming adversity, and honoring the life and impact of Marcus’s late daughter, Natasha Allen. If you’re a leader, founder, executive, or anyone searching for meaning beyond metrics—this episode is for you. ⏱️ Timestamps / Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: Welcome to Magic in the Cloud 01:15 – Who is Marcus Allen? From nonprofit CEO to coach & consultant 04:10 – What wakes you up without an alarm clock 07:45 – Defining purpose and accepting the life that comes with it 12:30 – Faith, focus, and going “vertical” vs. horizontal validation 18:40 – Lessons from 17+ years leading Big Brothers Big Sisters 25:10 – Why Marcus knew it was time to leave his CEO role 31:20 – Launching Allen Global Consulting Group & new ventures 36:50 – EOS, leadership coaching, and helping executives break through 43:15 – How to build trust quickly and authentically 50:30 – Compassion as a leadership superpower 58:40 – Growing up in poverty and overcoming the odds 1:07:20 – Basketball, discipline, and lessons from sports 1:12:30 – Honoring the life and legacy of Natasha Allen 1:22:10 – Grief, meaning, and choosing purpose after loss 1:30:40 – Pushing limits: Kilimanjaro, endurance, and personal growth 1:36:20 – Final thoughts: living a whole, integrated life 1:39:00 – How to connect with Marcus Allen 🔗 Connect with Marcus Allen: 🌐 Website: https://themarcusallen.com 📧 Email: marcus@allenglobalconsultinggroup.com 👍 If this episode inspired you: • Like the episode • Subscribe for more leadership conversations • Share with someone who needs this message #Leadership #Purpose #FaithAndBusiness #ExecutiveCoaching #EOS #NonprofitLeadership #MagicInTheCloud