Learning for Good | L&D Solutions and Leadership Development for Nonprofits
This podcast is designed for learning and development leaders in the nonprofit sector who want to become true business partners within their organizations. It explores instructional design, leadership development, change management, belonging, and influence, helping listeners build compelling cases for the learning solutions their organizations need. The host, Heather Burright, shares her experience as a consultant and former nonprofit L&D leader, offering practical advice for showing up confidently in conversations with senior leaders, subject matter experts, staff, and partners. Listeners can expect strategies to develop staff effectively and navigate organizational dynamics to drive meaningful results.
Episodes
Why Learning Is Central to Your Nonprofit's Success and Sustainability with Playworks CEO Elizabeth Cushing
How do you get your CEO to see staff development as central to your nonprofit's success rather than something that is nice to have?In this episode of Learning for Good, I sit down with Elizabeth Cushing, CEO of Playworks, to explore how a nonprofit CEO thinks about learning and development and staff training and development.In nonprofits, resources always feel finite, and staff development of
How to Get Leadership Buy-In for Staff Development in Your Nonprofit
How do you get your CEO, COO, executive director, or board to see why investing in staff is not just important, it's mission critical?In this episode of Learning for Good, I break down how to get leadership buy-in for staff development in your nonprofit.The first step is to stop talking about training. Leadership already has a goal in the spotlight, and training isn't it, so pushing it i
How to Build Relationships that Move Work Forward in Your Nonprofit with Morag Barrett
One of the most challenging parts of our jobs as nonprofit learning and development professionals is working with and through other people. This makes our ability to influence critical to our work.In this episode of Learning for Good, I sit down with leadership development consultant and relationship expert Morag Barrett to talk about how nonprofit learning and development professionals can bui
How One Nonprofit Uses On-the-Job Training to Fulfill Its Mission with Amina Mohamed
How do you design training that actually leads to a job, not just a certificate?In this episode of Learning for Good, I sit down with Amina Mohamed, founder and executive director of Cameras for Girls, a Canadian charity advancing gender equality in media across Africa, to talk about designing learning around the change you want to create.So many nonprofits build training programs and hope peopl
3 Small Shifts that Increase Your Credibility as a Learning Designer
In this episode of Learning for Good, I break down three practical shifts nonprofit learning designers can make to build credibility and grow their influence.Many competent learning and development professionals feel like their recommendations don't carry weight. It's frustrating to know you understand a problem and can offer a better solution, only to have that expertise go unheard. Tha
How Nonprofit Leaders Can Lead Under Pressure with Jay Abbasi
What do you do when the pressure at work never seems to let up?In this episode of Learning for Good, I sit down with peak performance coach Jay Abbasi to talk about what it takes to lead under pressure and how nonprofit L&D leaders can build resilience into how they lead themselves and others.Nonprofit leaders carry a heavy load, with tight resources, shifting priorities, and a mission that ne
The Biggest Mistakes We Make When Measuring Learning
Do you actually know if your training worked, or are you just hoping it did?In this episode of Learning for Good, I break down the five biggest mistakes nonprofit learning and development professionals make when measuring training impact.Most of us know we should be measuring our training, and we want to measure it, but somewhere between good intentions and actual practice, we get stuck. We settle
200 Lessons from 200 Episodes. Just Kidding. Here are the Top 5 Ideas that Changed My Career in Learning and Development.
In this episode of Learning for Good, I celebrate 200 episodes and share the five biggest lessons that have shaped my approach to nonprofit learning and development and nonprofit leadership development.Two hundred episodes in, I have interviewed nearly a hundred guests, built a summit, and grown a community, and along the way, my thinking about staff training and development has shifted in ways I
Should You Retire Your Training?
How do you decide which trainings in your library still deserve a spot, and which ones are just taking up space?In this episode of Learning for Good, I walk through five strategic questions nonprofit leaders can use to decide when to retire a training program. Many nonprofits build a training toolbox one request at a time, until the toolbox is packed with tools nobody stops to evaluate. That toolb
The Hidden Cost of Reactive Learning in Nonprofits
Does your learning and development team spend more time responding to requests than shaping where your organization is headed?In this episode of Learning for Good, I sit down with L&D leaders Kamaria Scott, Rachel Platt, and Yogi Mueller for a conversation on why nonprofit learning and development teams stay reactive and what it takes to build stronger learning and development strategies.Too
When to Choose Coaching as Your Leadership Development Solution with Melody Lam
In this episode of Learning for Good, I sit down with nonprofit leader Melody Lam to explore how she built a coaching culture by training first-time managers to coach.Coaching sounds like the obvious solution when new managers struggle to have hard conversations with their teams, but it often gets treated as a perk reserved for executives, and the cost of outside coaches can make the whole idea fe
How to Make Learning Last: Designing for Workplace Behavior Change
Why does your team go right back to their old habits the week after training ends?In this episode of Learning for Good, I break down how nonprofit leaders can design training that leads to lasting workplace behavior change instead of a short-lived bump in knowledge. Most training ends the same way. People show up, they learn something new, and within a few weeks it is like the training never happe
Learning IS Strategy but Some Learning Teams Stay Stuck in Reactive Mode. Here's Why.
Does your L&D team spend most of its time responding to urgent training requests instead of shaping strategy?In this episode of Learning for Good, I sit down with Mark Nilles and Scot Vessell, two experienced learning and development leaders, to discuss what it actually takes for nonprofit L&D to operate as a strategic lever.We argue that becoming a strategic partner starts with an interna
How to Align Learning with Data with Nonprofit HR Leader Wilson Kirkpatrick
Do you have employee engagement data sitting in a survey report with no plan for turning it into action?In this episode of Learning for Good, I sit down with Wilson Kirkpatrick, Director of People Operations at Waterford.org, to talk about how they used employee engagement data to design a coaching program that strengthened leadership trust and psychological safety.Many nonprofit leaders collect e
Trying to Change Behavior? One Missing Element from Your Training
Your staff already know what to do and how to do it. So why are they still not doing it?In this episode of Learning for Good, I break down why explaining the why is one of the simplest and most overlooked workplace behavior change strategies nonprofit leaders have available.Nonprofit leaders pour energy into teaching their teams what to do and how to do it, then feel baffled when the new behavior
10 Questions Every Strategic Learning Leader Should Be Asking
In this episode of Learning for Good, I share 10 questions strategic learning leaders can ask to move beyond content creation and into real organizational impact, using learning and development strategies rooted in behavior change and performance.Most nonprofit L&D professionals know that training alone does not create change. But without the right questions, it is easy to build solutions that
What Strategic Partnerships Look Like in Learning & Development with Mark Nilles
Many nonprofit learning and development professionals know their work matters, but still find themselves executing requests rather than shaping solutions.In this episode of Learning for Good, I sit down with global learning and development leader Mark Nilles to explore what it really means to shift from order taker to strategic partner, and how nonprofit L&D professionals can build the capabil
Why Your Nonprofit Training Isn't Working: 5 Factors Preventing Workplace Behavior Change
You invested time and resources into staff training and development, but your team still isn't applying what they learned. Why? Many nonprofit leaders focus heavily on what employees need to learn and how they should learn it. While those elements are essential, they're only part of the equation.In this episode of Learning for Good, I’m exploring why even well-designed training programs
Learning and Growth for Learning Leaders with Dr. Luke Hobson
What does it really take to grow as a learning leader? In this episode of Learning for Good, I sit down with instructional design expert Dr. Luke Hobson to explore how learning professionals can build confidence, strengthen influence, and develop a clear leadership voice. We reflect on our own career journeys into learning and development and discuss how intentional growth, networking, and relatio
What Proof of Impact Really Looks Like in Training
What does proof of impact really look like in nonprofit learning and development? In this episode of Learning for Good, I break down how nonprofit leaders can measure staff training and development in a way that actually connects learning to organizational performance and mission impact.Many nonprofit organizations focus only on participation numbers or satisfaction surveys when evaluating trainin
A Look at Career Mapping: Who, What, When, and How with Nonprofit Leader Melanie Gonzalez
What does it take to build high-performing nonprofit teams that stay engaged, grow their skills, and strengthen organizational impact? In this episode, I sit down with Melanie Gonzalez, Chief People Officer at the Behavioral Science Research Institute (BSRI), to explore how intentional career pathing supports nonprofit leadership development, staff training and development, and employee retention.
The Mindset that Separates Strategic L&D Leaders from Order Takers
If you want to elevate your learning and development role from an order taker to a strategic partner, it starts with something many leaders overlook: mindset. In this episode, I explore how the way you think about your role in learning and development directly impacts your influence, credibility, and results inside your organization.Too often, nonprofit learning professionals feel stuck reacting t
Mentorship Programs for Nonprofits: How to Develop the Next Generation of Leaders with Larcy Douglas
Mentorship is a powerful yet underutilized tool in nonprofits, and in this episode, we’re diving into how to operationalize it for real organizational impact. I sit down with Larcy Douglas, director at Common Power, to explore how mentorship can transform both individuals and organizations. From designing collaborative mentor-mentee relationships to embedding mentorship into broader learning and d
Why Good Training Takes Time
Good training takes time, and in a world where AI can generate content in seconds, that truth is more important than ever. In this episode, we unpack why effective learning and development strategies in nonprofits can’t be rushed, even when tools promise speed and efficiency. Because training isn’t just about content creation. It’s about behavior change and performance improvement. We break down w
How One Nonprofit Trains Its Volunteer Workforce with Jim Farmer
Training volunteers is one of the most complex and overlooked areas of nonprofit training and development. In this episode, I had the privilege of talking with the VP of Training at For the Children, Jim Farmer, to unpack how organizations can design training experiences that actually prepare volunteers to succeed without overwhelming them or driving them away. Jim shares how his organization has
5 Common Concerns About Training (and How to Address Them)
If you’ve ever struggled to gain buy-in for nonprofit leadership development, you’re not alone. Many nonprofit leaders hesitate to invest in training, not because they don’t care, but because they have real concerns about time, cost, and impact.In this episode, we break down the most common objections to staff training and development and show you how to address them in a way that builds trust, cr
Custom AI Agents for Learning? A Look at One Nonprofit's Innovative Approach with Jorge Perez
AI is rapidly reshaping nonprofit leadership development, and organizations that embrace it now will be better positioned to build stronger teams, scale impact, and drive consistent performance. In this episode, I sit down with the president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, Jorge Perez, to explore how AI is transforming learning and development strategies and what that means for nonprofi
5 Practical Post-Training Strategies to Make Learning Stick
Too often, staff training and development ends when the workshop does. But as I share in this episode of Learning for Good, training alone rarely leads to lasting results. Without the right systems in place, even the most engaging learning experience will fade as staff return to their daily demands. If you’ve ever struggled with creating impactful training programs that last, this episode gives yo
Nonprofit L&D Leaders: Your Role is Much Bigger Than Delivering Training
In this episode of Learning for Good, I’m sharing a heartfelt message for nonprofit learning and development professionals who want their work to drive real impact, not just course completions. If you’ve ever felt like a “training factory” instead of a strategic partner, this episode will remind you why your work matters and how to step into your identity as a change agent.▶️ Nonprofit L&D Lea
Inside Look: How One Nonprofit Is Building Its Leadership Development Pipeline with Jeremy Bouman
While leadership transitions are inevitable, there are too many organizations that aren’t prepared for this eventuality. In this episode, I’ve got Jeremy Bouman with me to explore how nonprofit leadership development and intentional succession planning can protect your mission and ensure your organization continues to thrive long after a founder or executive leader steps away.Jeremy is the founder
The Value of Executive Coaching in Nonprofits with Chris Wong
As learning and development leaders, we have lots of tools in our toolkit, and when others in our organization come to us with a challenge or an opportunity, we don't always have to point to training.Coaching is one alternative option that can help us and our nonprofits achieve our goals. While I've talked about coaching on the podcast before, I've never really explored executive c
What Happens When L&D Stops Being Reactive and Starts Driving Strategy
As nonprofit L&D leaders, we often sit and wait for our stakeholders to approach us with their demands, and only then react to their needs. Unfortunately, this isn't always conducive to creating change.But what would happen if we shifted from being reactive to proactive? What if we go to the stakeholders first, rather than the other way around? What if we drive the learning strategy?In th
How One Nonprofit Used Habit Stacking to Improve Feedback Skills with Amy Glover
Motivation is fickle. At the end of the day, even with the best learning experience and high motivation, people are going back into their workplace, and when you're back in your day-to-day, it's easy to fall back on a habit. So, how do you actually change behavior within your nonprofit?In this episode, I'm joined by Amy Glover from the British Red Cross, who has found a great solu
Why It's Your Nonprofit's Culture (Not Compliance) That Drives Consistent Performance
In your experience as a nonprofit L&D leader, has telling people what to do and forcing them to comply ever led to the behavior change you were looking for? Unfortunately, this doesn't work for two-year-olds, 52-year-olds, or those who work at your nonprofit.In this episode, I talk about how it's culture, not compliance, that drives consistent performance, and that if we want to cre
How to Build Your Personal Brand as a Nonprofit L&D Leader with Andy Storch
I'm a big believer in the personal brand and how it can impact you and your career. I've seen it in my own life, both internally at organizations and as a consultant and a community builder. How others perceive us matters. In this episode, I'm doing something unique, and I'm bringing you one of our sessions from the recent Nonprofit L&D Collective Career Week. This is a co
You're Not a Training Factory. You are a Change Agent.
When our stakeholders come to us asking for training, they are usually thinking of traditional training. So, they treat us, nonprofit L&D pros, like training factories that can easily produce a new training in a day. But we are here to create behavior change, and that takes time.In this episode, I'm sharing four recommendations that will help you embody the change agent you already are
The Real ROI of Reducing Turnover (and How Training Helps) with Rachel Platt
It's estimated that organizations spend somewhere between 50% to 200% of an employee's annual salary to replace them, depending on the level and complexity of their role.Not only that, when someone leaves, it impacts morale, our organization, and ultimately our mission. So, it benefits nonprofits to keep our employees.In this episode, we talk to Rachel Platt, an HR leader and people stra
How Most Nonprofits Approach Women's Leadership Development (and What You Should Do Instead) with Marisa Ciesluk
Recent data shows that more than half of all nonprofit leaders in the US are women. Unfortunately, we also know that many nonprofit leaders are on the brink of burnout.This calls into question what we are doing to support these female leaders and prompts us to consider how we can give them the support they truly need.In this episode, I'm joined by Marisa Ciesluk, a women's leadership de
Is This a Training Problem? A Quick Diagnostic Tool for Nonprofit Learning & Development Leaders
It can be frustrating when nonprofit leaders and other stakeholders approach us demanding training to solve a problem. However, it's important to remember that people outside of learning and development don't always know which tools are available or which one is right for each situation, so they stick to the familiar. But it's our job as nonprofit L&D pros to diagnose the proble
Create Environments Where People Stay, Grow, and Thrive with Julie Winkle Giulioni
Nonprofit leadership development is about far more than offering training. It’s about creating an environment where people want to stay, grow, and contribute meaningfully to your mission. In this episode, I’m joined by bestselling author and workplace growth champion Julie Winkle Giulioni, who challenges nonprofits to rethink how they approach staff development and build truly supportive cultures
3 Skills Your Nonprofit Needs in 2026
As nonprofit leaders look ahead to the new year, it’s essential to understand which capabilities will matter most. In this episode, I’m breaking down the top skills nonprofits will need in 2026 so teams can stay resilient, adaptive, and mission-focused. Plus, I’m sharing a simple three-step process to help you identify the specific skills your organization should prioritize this year.If you’re pla
2025 Was a Wild Ride. Here's What We Have Planned for 2026
We are already at the end of 2025. This is a time of reflection, goal setting, and a renewed commitment to being our best selves. I love this time of year, and each year I like to spend some time reflecting on my goals, what I've been able to accomplish, and where I missed a little bit.So, in this episode, I'm going to share some details about what's going on inside Skill Masters Ma
How to Position Training as an Investment (from the Perspective of a CFO) with Rick Dahlseid
As learning and development leaders, it feels like we're always trying to get a seat at the table, but are we truly prepared to have effective conversations with our nonprofit's executives when we get there?To get you ready, in this episode, I invited Rick Dahlseid to help us position training as a worthwhile investment. He is a nonprofit CFO with over 20 years in the sector, with expert
Your Brand Is Your Influence: Building Credibility Inside Your Nonprofit with Lauren Davis
Are you an HR leader or L&D pro who finds themselves having to prove themselves to everyone over and over again, or being brought to the table too late?If you want that to change, you have to build your influence in the organization. You can do it by strengthening your personal brand, which will help you build credibility inside your nonprofit and be seen as a valuable strategic partner. In th
How to Spot a Mindset or Motivation Problem (Not a Skill One)
It's very common for leaders to throw training at every performance problem we see. Yet not all performance problems result from a skill gap. In fact, many are due to other factors, such as mindset or motivation. The problem with this is that performance won't change if you offer training in these cases.So, in this episode, I'm breaking down how to determine if something is a minds
From Burnout to Breakthrough: Tools to Restore Yourself in Times of Change and Disruption with Dr. Reggie Thomas
In times of change and disruption, burnout has become a major epidemic. In fact, according to statistics, over half of the workforce is burnt out, with the nonprofit sector being hit the hardest.Because we must address this issue, I have Dr. Reggie Thomas with me today. He is the founder of PeakePotential, Inc., and a professional speaker who gives keynote talks and teaches workshops on burnout p
Training Isn't a Cost: Here's How Nonprofits Actually Save Money through Learning and Development with Nancy Bacon
Nonprofits often view training as a cost. I've heard it, and I'm sure you've heard it as well. However, it's actually an investment in the very thing that moves your mission forward: your people.That's why, in this episode, I'm sitting down with Nancy Bacon to debunk the idea that training is a cost and highlight all the value it brings when done right. She is a teac
Build Teams that Don't Need Babysitting
Do you ever feel like you have to constantly babysit your team instead of focusing on your own job? It's like you can't take your eyes off them, so you always find yourself in their work and in their decisions, double-checking everything.If that's your case, then this episode is for nonprofit leaders like yourself. I'm bringing five lessons from past clients and past podcast ep
Five Steps to Align Your People Development Efforts with Your Nonprofit Strategy
Your nonprofit has a strong 2026 strategy. But is your team ready to bring it to life? If your team isn't fully equipped to deliver on your goals, you could be missing the bridge between strategy and success.That's why, in this episode, I'm sharing a little of what it takes to align your L&D efforts and your nonprofit strategy by breaking down the five steps you can take to buil
How to Handle Stakeholder Conflict Without Burning Bridges
We have all disagreed with our nonprofit stakeholders at some point in our careers, but speaking up and sharing that disagreement can feel hard because we tend to want to avoid conflict and not burn any bridges.However, there are times when voicing your disagreement is necessary because it's what's best for the organization and the mission.That's why, in this episode, I'm shar
How to Market Your Training So People Want to Take it with Hannah Clark
Have you ever created a training only to launch it into the world and be met with crickets?I see this happen often in learning and development. However, I know how hard you work, and I know you're doing good, meaningful work in the nonprofit sector, so I don't want you to release a learning experience and be met with silence.That's why, in this episode, I'm joined by Hannah Cl
The Cost of Building the Wrong Training: How Nonprofits Can Avoid Wasting Resources
Creating impactful training programs for nonprofit teams takes more than good intentions; it takes strategy. In this episode of Learning for Good, we’re diving deep into the hidden and high costs of getting training wrong. From budget overruns to burnout, I’m breaking down what nonprofit leaders risk when they don’t start with the right diagnosis—and how to get it right.This conversation is especi
What Executives Really Want from L&D with Danika Mitcham
Sometimes, when we work with nonprofit executive leaders, it's easy to jump to an assumption about what they thought or what they wanted. The problem is that when we act on that, things don't turn out the way either of us expects.I don't want that to be you, so in this episode, I'm having a chat with Danika Mitcham, the Vice President of Supporter Operations at Compassion Inter
Why So Many Trainings Fail
If you are a nonprofit L&D pro, you know how to design learning experiences. You've got the experience. Yet, sometimes the trainings we spend time and money creating don't work.And if you are a nonprofit leader, you want to ensure that what you spend valuable time and resources on works.Over the years, I've spent a lot of time thinking about this issue, and that's why in t
3 Design Thinking Principles for Learning & Development Pros with Sheryl Cababa
Empathy might be one of the most essential skills for learning designers, and there's no better place to learn it than design thinking. That's why, in this episode, I am joined by Sheryl Cababa, a design researcher and strategist, and the Chief Strategy Officer at Optimistic Design, to give us some insight into her process.She clarifies what design thinking is and what it entails, how it
When Training Works and When It Doesn't
Training is often the go-to solution in our nonprofits. But what if I told you that training isn't always the right solution?In this episode, I discuss why jumping to solutions without first diagnosing the problem can be a bad idea, and I share some situations where training works well and others where a different solution is necessary.▶️ When Training Works and When It Doesn't ▶️ Key Po
Team Struggling to Meet Expectations? THIS is the Missing Piece with Ashley Cox
When we think of a high-performance team, we usually think of things like productivity, how much effort people are putting in, accountability, and higher outputs and profits. All that is important, but there is one other thing without which a team will never be high-performing.In this episode, I sit down with Ashley Cox, a leadership mentor who equips women to build high-performance teams they tru
Celebrating the Valuable Nonprofit L&D Insights From 150 Episodes: Tasha Van Vlack Interviews Learning for Good Host Heather Burright
Welcome to episode 150 of the Learning For Good podcast! Thank you, dear listener. This podcast has grown so much since 2022, and it's all because of you.In this special episode, we are doing something a little different to celebrate: I'm going to be on the other side of the mic as my friend, fellow nonprofit consultant and community builder, Tasha Van Vlack, interviews me.You'll g
Key Ingredients in a High-Performance Culture with Brett Myles
How can we create a high-performance culture that benefits not just the organization, but also the individuals in it? In this episode, I sit down with Brett Myles, leadership coach and Founder of LeadWell, and we dive deep into how to create a culture that will support all parts of the organization.By the end of this episode, you'll have new tools to help you navigate conflict, help leaders a
8 Major Accessibility Insights for Your Nonprofit Learning Strategy with Nicole L'Etoile
Designing a learning experience for the average learner is a thing of the past, we must now design for everyone. So, in this episode of Learning for Good, I am joined by accessibility expert Dr. Nicole L'Etoile. We're diving deep into how we can design learning strategies in our organizations that work for ALL learners.You'll understand why accessibility is a foundational part of L&
Stretched Thin? Three Capacity Building Strategies Every Nonprofit Leader Can Use Today
In this episode of Learning for Good, we’re exploring how nonprofit leaders can take actionable steps to maintain performance and build capacity even during stressful seasons. If your team is feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or stuck in reactive mode, this episode offers timely advice rooted in real-world nonprofit experience.▶️ Stretched Thin? Three Capacity Building Strategies Every Nonprofi
How to Design Realistic Training Scenarios that Actually Work with Srividya Kumar
Get ready to change the way you think about designing training scenarios in this episode of Learning for Good. I have used scenarios myself, and I really do think this is a skillset that we all need to get better at because scenarios are such a helpful tool in learning. That's why today I'm talking to Srividya Kumar, a learning design leader and co-founder of Learnnovators.She makes desi
How to Make Learning Part of Your Nonprofit's DNA with Yogi Mueller
Creating a strong learning culture is no longer a luxury - it's a necessity for nonprofit leadership development and sustainable mission impact. In this episode, I sit down with leadership coach and author Yogi Mueller to explore how nonprofits can foster curiosity, promote vulnerability, and embed learning into their everyday operations.Whether you're facing high turnover, stagnant perf
From Manager to Leader: Nonprofit Leadership Development Strategies
Are your nonprofit’s people managers equipped to lead with clarity and confidence, or just left to figure it out on their own?In this episode, I take a deep dive into how to develop nonprofit people managers using proven learning and development strategies. With a focus on building leadership through competency models, coaching, enablement, and accountability, you’ll discover how to build confiden
Leading Across Borders? How to Build High-Performing Nonprofit Teams Anywhere in the World with Dr. Lori Beyar
In this episode of Learning for Good, we explore how nonprofit leaders can navigate the complexities of global teams with guest Dr. Lori Beyar, Global VP of Strategy & Organizational Development at Cru. If your nonprofit is scaling across borders, or even just managing diverse teams, you’ll want to hear this conversation on nonprofit leadership development, building trust, and creating high-pe
Collaboration Without Chaos: 10 Inclusive Decision Making Practices for Nonprofit Leaders
Nonprofit leadership development hinges on the ability to bring people together while still moving projects forward. In this episode of Learning for Good, I dive into how inclusive decision making can elevate your training and leadership initiatives without stalling progress.Using real-life examples, I share ten practical strategies to lead collaborative projects while staying focused on outcomes.
Scale Smarter, Not Harder: A Better Way to Grow Nonprofit Programs
When nonprofits scale programs too quickly without the right foundation, teams experience burnout, confusion, and inconsistent outcomes. In this episode of Learning for Good, I unpack the role of learning and development strategies in sustainable growth - and why scaling success starts with your people, not just your program.You’ll learn how to build infrastructure and clarity, develop staff capac
Not Just an HR Problem: The Role of L&D in Succession Planning
Succession planning may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about nonprofit leadership development, but it should be. In this episode, I sit down with transition strategist Naomi Hattaway to explore what it really takes to ensure leadership continuity and why it's a core part of any learning and development strategy.With executive turnover on the rise and funding environm
Stop (only) Training. Start Coaching. How to Improve Staff Performance
If training alone isn't moving the needle, it’s time to bring coaching into the equation. In this episode, I share how nonprofit leaders can use three simple yet powerful coaching questions to drive behavior change and improve staff performance, without micromanaging.You’ll discover why traditional training isn’t always enough and how coaching can help build autonomy and accountability. These
Nonprofit L&D Pro Explains How to Create Meaningful Change and Drive Learning Strategy, an Interview with Jamie Bussey
Creating meaningful change through staff training and development in a nonprofit can feel overwhelming, especially when you're the only one driving it. In this episode, I talk with Jamie Bussey, Senior Director of Learning and Development at the National Audubon Society.Jamie joined Audubon as a team of one, inheriting a blank slate and a whole lot of opportunity. She shares how she used a ne
Three Non-Training Solutions that Improve Staff Accountability
Improving staff accountability doesn’t always require a training program. In fact, some of the most effective strategies for nonprofit leadership development and team performance don’t involve training at all. In this episode of Learning for Good, I share three powerful non-training solutions to boost accountability, enhance team culture, and drive consistent performance across teams.Whether you&a
Want to Work in Nonprofit L&D? Here’s What You Should Know
Are you curious about what a career in nonprofit Learning and Development looks like across different types of organizations? In this episode of Learning for Good, we explore the real-life journeys of two nonprofit L&D leaders - Eric Wu, formerly of Northwestern University, and Matt Tod of Plan International Canada.You’ll get an inside look at what Learning and Development roles actually look
Can Training Improve Collaboration in Nonprofits? A Practical Guide to Building Team Skills
Employees spend 42% of their time collaborating with others. That’s almost half of their time. But are they any good at it? Or are there challenges around collaboration? And if there are challenges, what can we do about them?Most people would say collaboration is important for their work, but we're less likely to do it when it feels challenging. And when there's conflict, we're less
Being a Strategic Learning Partner & The Biggest Mistake You're Making
What does it mean to be a good partner in Learning and Development? That’s what we’re exploring in this episode, but we’re doing it from the truest sense of the word partner. I think one of the biggest mistakes we make is that we focus on the actions we need to take to be a good partner. And while actions are important, I don't want a list of actions today. I want us to look at the attributes
Cross-Sector Coaching: Enhancing Nonprofit Leadership Development Strategies
All too often, new managers have no training, peer group, or support. Then, when they fail or burnout, we say they weren’t management material. We can and we should do more to support new managers.When Cru, a faith-based nonprofit, faced this exact challenge, they decided to offer a coaching program to their emerging leaders. This coaching program would bring in business leaders from outside their
Translating Behavior Science into L&D Strategy: Lessons from Top Experts
When we create learning solutions, what we really want is to create a new behavior or change behavior in some way. So, what does it take to create a new behavior? On this episode of Learning for Good, I’m sharing lessons from behavior change experts Charles Duhigg, James Clear, and BJ Fogg. Then, I’m going to take those behavior change lessons and translate them into workplace learning.▶️ Transla
Working across Generations? Three Things L&D Needs to Know with Kat Landa
Our world is constantly evolving, and because of that, our experiences across generations are different. Because our experiences are different, our perspectives are different, and because our perspectives are different, our actions are also different. All of those experiences, perspectives, and actions impact our workplaces, which is why L&D needs to get to know our audiences.In this episode,
Curious about Working in Nonprofit? Get an Inside Look from These Nonprofit L&D Pros
I often get questions about working in nonprofit, so I launched Career Conversations - a series of LinkedIn Live conversations with people currently in nonprofit L&D roles. We are talking about their organizations, teams, and personal career journeys.Today, I’m bringing two of these conversations to you. We’re hearing from Nadra Dennis, the learning and talent development director at the Cente
How to Conduct a Training Needs Analysis for Nonprofit Staff Development
Understanding your training audience may be the best thing you can do as an instructional designer. Yet, many of us have never been taught how to conduct a training needs analysis.On this episode of Learning for Good, I want to talk about what you should be learning about your audience. What do you actually need to know? Tune in to find out.▶️ If You've Never Conducted a Training Needs Analys
Identifying Nonprofit Training Audience Needs: 3 Effective Strategies
In L&D, when we are approached with a training request, it's our job to do a little research for ourselves about training audience needs.Often, the time you have to do this research is limited. Your capacity and the capacity of your subject matter expert is limited, and you may not even feel like you have the expertise to do the analysis. So how can you validate the audience's needs
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Becoming: HER with Nikki Spoelstra
Booked, Blonde & Busy w/ Olivia Ponton
McKinsey on Consumer and Retail
