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 environments shifting, organizations can’t afford to leave leadership transitions to chance. Succession planning supports not only operational stability but also employee trust, team morale, and long-term mission impact.

▶️ Not Just an HR Problem: The Role of L&D in Succession Planning

▶️ Key Points:

01:20 Why turnover hurts mission impact

03:20 Naomi’s background, career journey, and how she got into succession planning

09:05 What succession planning really means for nonprofits

11:27 How succession planning aligns with learning and development

15:00 Tips for integrating L&D with your succession plan

17:03 Questions L&D leaders can ask to influence succession conversations

21:28 Proactive steps and final advice for nonprofit teams

Resources from this episode:

Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective

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Connect with Naomi

LinkedIn: Naomi Hattaway

Website: naomihattaway.com

Connect with Heather

LinkedIn: Heather Burright

Website: skillmastersmarket.com

Book an interest call with Heather here.

🎙️This podcast is proudly produced by Ideablossoms — the mighty team behind some of the best mission-driven podcasts out there. If you're looking to launch a podcast or get help managing, editing, and repurposing your episodes, listen up:

🌟 Go to ideablossoms.com or reach out to Rosa at rosa@ideablossoms.com to grab an exclusive 30% off your first invoice!

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Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms

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 coaching questions are rooted in the Situation-Behavior-Impact framework for feedback and can be taught to people managers or used with external partners.

▶️ Stop (only) Training. Start Coaching. How to Improve Staff Performance

▶️ Key Points:

00:58 Coaching vs. directive management

02:35 Why training alone isn't enough

03:47 Three coaching questions to improve staff performance

06:55 The bonus question that unlocks ownership

Resources from this episode:

Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective

Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review! 👇👇👇

Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends. 🔗

Connect with Heather

Linkedin: Heather Burright

Website: skillmastersmarket.com

Book an interest call with Heather here.

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Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms

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 needs assessment to guide her strategy, implemented scalable solutions like a learning management system and coaching programs, and launched a comprehensive people manager training called "Leading the Flock."

▶️ Leading Change and Navigating Challenges as a New L&D Leader with Jamie Bussey

▶️ Key Points:

03:14 Jamie's career journey from journalism to nonprofit L&D

05:19 Starting L&D from scratch: challenges and early wins

09:56 Designing “Leading the Flock” for people managers

14:46 Creating a robust training program

17:02 Overcoming resistance and building credibility

21:54 Advice for L&D leaders starting from scratch in a nonprofit

Resources from this episode:

Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective

Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review! 👇👇👇

Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends. 🔗

Connect with Jamie

Linkedin: Jamie Bussey

Connect with Heather

Linkedin: Heather Burright

Website: skillmastersmarket.com

Book an interest call with Heather here.

🎙️This podcast is proudly produced by Ideablossoms — the mighty team behind some of the best mission-driven podcasts out there. If you're looking to launch a podcast or get help managing, editing, and repurposing your episodes, listen up:

🌟 Go to ideablossoms.com or reach out to Rosa at rosa@ideablossoms.com to grab an exclusive 30% off your first invoice!

--

Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms