How SixDegrees.org Executive Director Stacy Huston Pivoted from a Sales Career to Nonprofit Management

Back in the 90s, three college students invented the game that became known as “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” after seeing two subsequent movies on television that featured Bacon: Footloose followed by The Air Up There. While watching the second film, they speculated on how many movies Bacon had appeared in, and with which other actors. This was in the pre-Internet days, so they couldn’t just Google it. They created the Six Degrees game, and it went viral, with college students playing the game on nearly every campus, it seemed.

Fast forward to 2007 when Kevin Bacon decided to launch a Northern Virginia-based nonprofit organization supporting impactful initiatives to sustain and enrich local communities. With a tip of the hat to the game founders and wanting to highlight human connection, Bacon named the organization “SixDegrees.org.”

Now at the helm of SixDegrees.org is Stacy Huston, Executive Director. Huston made a major career pivot from business development and sales to heading the nonprofit. Wondering how? She sat down with the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority to tell us how she made the transition.

FFX NOVA: Provide us with a brief overview of what SixDegrees does.

Stacy Huston: SixDegrees supports youth empowerment, equity and justice, building sustainable living environments, and what we call emerging crisis. 

FFX NOVA: Tell us about your background.

Stacy Huston: Most of my career was spent in business development and sales. About 11 years ago, I moved to the Northern Virginia area from Southern California, where I had spent most of my life. At that time, I had to start networking, starting over and deciding who I wanted to be when I grew up. I continued sales for a while, and I started getting involved in the Chamber and business community. I sat on the board for Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce and started the Emerging Leaders Council at that time, creating networking events for young professionals to begin conversations about the things that were central to their careers at the time.

During my time at the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce, I also launched TEDx Tysons with a couple co-founders, which was the first independently organized TEDx event in the Tysons region. We carried that on for about eight years and presented more than 50 TED talks that have gone on to see millions of views. It became a way to build community, to have thought leadership, to collaborate, and it was also a nonprofit.

So not knowing it, I was working in the nonprofit world leading teams, leading volunteer staff. And when this opportunity arose where a friend said hey, I think you could be a great fit for this new opportunity to run SixDegrees.org, I had to believe that I had the experience to do it, although it took a little nudging.

FFX NOVA: What is it like to be featured as a trailblazer?

Stacy Huston: It was flattering to hear that I would be considered a trailblazer. When I first moved here when I was 28 years old, I mentioned that I had to start over in a lot of ways, and what I believe has set me apart from maybe others that haven’t yet found that thing that drives them is that I decided that I was going to say yes. I was going to say yes to opportunities to network, to help, to roll my sleeves up, to volunteer my time. And through that, I made great relationships along the way.

I made my work about connecting other people, helping them to find the things that they needed to be successful and happy, and I just believed that when my time came that those people would be there for me as well. Through that, I was able to build a career that doesn’t just align with my values, but it aligns with my purpose.

FFX NOVA: Do you have advice for those hoping to work in your field?

Stacy Huston: What I would tell those that are looking to work in this sector is start volunteering. There’s a lot of opportunities to work with organizations all over Fairfax County that have tremendous need, and the work is inspiring. I would say be open to some of the different organizations that you may not, at this point, have an interest in because it’s about seeing how they run, how they operate, the things that are happening day to day that you may not even be clued in on.

Lastly, I would say look for junior boards. That’s a great opportunity to help with event specific needs for organizations so that you’re able to pull a lot of energy to one specific event. Really seeing that come to fruition and kind of culminate in this end piece is a big driver and what keeps us going in the nonprofit world. It’s important to be able to see the impact that’s made with our work. So I would encourage just getting involved, pouring into your community and seeing what happens.

FFX NOVA: Just for fun, what are some of your favorite places to go in Northern Virginia?

Stacy Huston: There are so many places. I love living in Fairfax County. I have a three-year-old and a five-year-old, so we spend a lot of time at outdoor festivals during the summer, including Friday Night Live in Herndon and Fairfax City Rock the Block.

Frying Pan Farm is another typical thing. We’ll often pick up our girls from school and then they want to pet the animals or see some of the horses before heading home. We also love Burke Lake. We like to be outside. Like I said, we have two toddlers, so lots of energy to burn. I just love that Fairfax has so many things that are in nature.

Another place that we love to go is The Perch at Capital One Hall. They have so many festivals that happen all year long, and they have this component that you can donate to the charity that they’re supporting, which I think is powerful, so we try to support what they do as well.

FFX NOVA: Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

Stacy Huston: I’m just grateful for the opportunity to shine a light on our work. I think that to be called a trailblazer is extremely humbling, but it is my life’s mission to inspire others because whether you’re in the nonprofit sector or the public sector or you’re working for a Fortune 500 company, you have the ability to make an impact in your community. If you’re interested in volunteering with us or learning more, please head to SixDegrees.org. You can also follow us on all our social media on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.