Meet Jill Dyche | Independent Strategy Consultant & Executive Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jill Dyche and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jill, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’ve spent my career as a management consultant in high tech. I ran my own firm for 25 years. We were in a hot space–data and analytics–and I swore that if my company was ever acquired I’d give back, with only a vague notion of what that really meant. When a large software firm made us an offer, it was a sudden invitation for me to consider my next chapter. That’s when I decided to give time to a lifelong passion of mine–helping animals out of crowded shelters. That’s when I started Outta the Cage.  

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Outta the Cage began when my tech-savvy friends and I started throwing ideas around about applying marketing principles to shelter dogs.

We visited some high-kill shelters, videoing dogs needing homes, and then using data to track their outcomes. Our analysis of that data taught us what worked in showcasing animals during a time when every shelter we were worked with killed perfectly healthy dogs and cats for space. We began focusing on urgent dogs–seniors, medical cases, and those with special needs.

But we weren’t always welcome. We’d trot into shelters and introduce ourselves, hoping to establish partnerships with shelter managers who were surely as dedicated to saving dogs as we were! We found that some shelters feared that we would expose how many animals were being euthanized. There was an aversion to transparency.

Thankfully, those cultures are changing. Why? For the same reason that cultures change in large companies: because when being open to change drives better outcomes, everyone wins. The goal is to get dogs “outta the cage” and into loving homes. Hence, our name.  

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
That’s a bit more of a challenge during a pandemic!

If it’s sunny and cool, we’d take the dogs for a morning hike up Runyon Canyon and have a late breakfast at Amara Kitchen (I love their pancakes!). We’d probably spend at least one day at the beach and drive up the coast to Neptune’s Net (I know it’s a cliche, but try the fried calamari before you finger-wag!) for a late lunch and, ideally, a dolphin sighting! Since outdoor dining and take-out are so crucial right now, we’d probably fit in trips to Sagebrush Cantina, The Rose cafe, Republique, and Salazar. And then we could just hang by the pool with the dog and drink rosé.

I realize that’s a lot of dining and drinking. Because COVID. 

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Never thought I’d say this, but my experience working with business leaders in Fortune 500 companies taught me a lot about running a non-profit.

People in animal rescue are good-hearted and smart, but it can be an echo-chamber. Digital transformation, data-driven, target marketing, and change management–terms that are commonplace in companies worldwide–don’t roll off the tongue as easily in the non-profit space. But I’d argue they’re just as relevant. Being a management consultant exposed me to top business leaders with their own best practices and success stories. Some amazing executives from large corporate clients and startups alike shared their leadership principles, and I’ve carried them forward into my non-profit work.

But as far as an actual dedication, I’d dedicate my shout-out to anyone who’s adopted a shelter pet and watched it blossom. Those are the real heroes.

Website: www.outtathecage.org
Instagram: @OuttatheCage
Linkedin: @JillDyche
Twitter: @GetEmOTC
Facebook: @OuttatheCage