Learning for Good | L&D Solutions and Leadership Development for Nonprofits

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 never feels like it can wait. That pressure builds and shapes how people think, communicate, and lead, often without them realizing it. This can push even strong leaders into constant reaction mode instead of intentional leadership. ▶️ How Nonprofit Leaders Can Lead Under Pressure with Jay Abbasi ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 How Pressure Shapes Nonprofit Leaders 00:03:10 Jay's Path From Personal Loss to Peak Performance Coaching 00:08:51 How L&D Leaders Can Stay Effective Under Pressure 00:13:32 What Pressure Does to the Brain 00:18:51 Building Clarity and Intention as a Learning Leader 00:22:46 Balancing Organizational Urgency With the Patience Behavior Change Requires 00:28:19 One Shift Nonprofit Leaders Can Make to Lead Under Pressure Resources from this episode: Join the next Learning for Good Summit in October: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/influence-to-action Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Jay LinkedIn: Jay Abbasi Website: jayabbasi.me Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 for data that is easy to collect instead of data that tells us the truth. Good measurement isn't about checking a box, it's about using what you learn to make real decisions and show that the work actually matters. ▶️ The Biggest Mistakes We Make When Measuring Learning ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Why Measuring Training Matters 00:03:00 The Kirkpatrick Model of Training Evaluation 00:04:23 The 5 Biggest Mistakes L&D Professionals Make When Measuring Learning 00:17:17 Turning Your Learning Dashboard into a Strategic Tool Resources from this episode: ATD Research: https://www.td.org/content/press-release/atd-research-measuring-learning-program-effectiveness-is-challenging Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 did not expect. This episode is a chance to pause and look back at what has actually changed my career. ▶️ 200 Lessons from 200 Episodes. Just Kidding. Here are the Top 5 Ideas that Changed My Career in Learning and Development. ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 200 Episodes of Learning for Good 00:02:33 Thank You to the Nonprofit L&D Community 00:03:44 Top Five Episodes: A Look Back at Nonprofit Learning and Development Highlights 00:05:09 5 Ideas that Changed My Career in Learning and Development Resources from this episode: Top 5 Learning for Good Episodes: E135: Want to Work in Nonprofit Learning and Development? What You Should Know E132: Translating Behavior Science into L&D Strategy: Lessons from Top Experts E71: Are Your Nonprofit Leaders The Best They Can Be? Your Leadership Skills Might Be Lagging And THIS Is Why E116: Using a Blended, Cohort Training Model to Create Behavior Change E129: How to Conduct a Training Needs Analysis for Nonprofit Staff Development Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 toolbox turns into an endless menu instead of a strategy, and it gets harder to tell which trainings are still earning their place. Keeping a training isn't about whether people liked it or whether it's always been offered, it's about whether it's still moving the mission forward. ▶️ Should You Retire Your Training? ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 When Should You Retire a Nonprofit Training Program? 00:03:15 How the Nonprofit Training Toolbox Fills Up Over Time 00:05:32 Five Questions to Decide Whether to Retire a Nonprofit Training Program 00:08:19 Building a Curated Nonprofit Training Toolbox Resources from this episode: Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 many L&D functions have been reduced to a training factory instead of shaping where the organization is headed. We talk about why this happens even to skilled, well-intentioned professionals and the real cost of staying reactive instead of strategic. ▶️ The Hidden Cost of Reactive Learning in Nonprofits ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Reactive vs Strategic Learning and Development 00:04:05 Understanding Reactive Learning 00:06:31 How the L&D Business Partner Role Got Lost 00:15:25 Learning Becomes Strategic When... 00:23:06 The Real Cost of Staying Reactive 00:25:25 One Shift Every L&D Professional Can Make Today Resources from this episode: Past episodes on strategic learning: E195: Learning IS Strategy but Some Learning Teams Stay Stuck in Reactive Mode. Here's Why. E192: 10 Questions Strategic Learning Leaders Ask E191: How Nonprofit Learning Leaders Can Show Up as a Strategic Partner E186: The Mindset that Separates Strategic L&D Leaders from Order Takers E134: Being a Strategic Learning Partner & The Biggest Mistake You’re Making Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with guests from this episode: Yogi Meuller Kamaria Scott Rachel Platt Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 feel out of reach. Melody's experience shows that coaching does not have to start big or expensive, it can start with a simple model, a willing pilot group, and two minutes of practice at a time. ▶️ When to Choose Coaching as Your Leadership Development Solution with Melody Lam ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Why Nonprofits Need Coaches, Not Just Training 00:03:50 Melody's Path into Nonprofit Leadership Development 00:07:39 The Benefits of Coaching Across Organizations 00:11:45 Building Emotional Buy-In for Coaching 00:14:39 Making Coaching Accessible with a Limited Budget 00:19:13 Piloting and Scaling Coaching Across the Organization 00:21:01 Coaching Results: From Technical Skills to Coaching Culture 00:23:42 Where to Start with Coaching (Even with Limited Time or Budget) Resources from this episode: E175: How One Nonprofit Used Habit Stacking to Improve Feedback Skills with Amy Glover The Extraordinary Coach: How the Best Leaders Help Others Grow by John Zenger and Kathleen Stinnett Join us for our next Nonprofit L&D Collective networking event on August 19: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/join-the-nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Melody LinkedIn: Melody L. Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 happened. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone, and it is not because your training was bad. What matters is designing for what happens after training ends, so the learning people carry with them actually changes what they do on the job. ▶️ How to Make Learning Last: Designing for Workplace Behavior Change ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 How to Make Learning Last 00:05:03 The Real Goal of Nonprofit Staff Training and Development 00:05:36 The Four Gears of Lasting Behavior Change Resources from this episode: Episode mentioned: E193: Why Staff Need a Reason to Change Behavior Join the free, virtual Nonprofit L&D Collective networking event: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/join-the-nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 internal shift, from seeing yourself as a learning designer who produces training to seeing yourself as a change agent who helps solve organizational problems. ▶️ Learning IS Strategy but Some Learning Teams Stay Stuck in Reactive Mode. Here's Why. ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Becoming a Strategic Partner in Nonprofit L&D 00:04:25 Meet the Panel: Nonprofit L&D Leaders on Strategic Partnership 00:08:05 Why Nonprofit L&D Teams Get Stuck in Reactive Mode 00:14:24 The Risk of L&D Staying a Reactive Training Factory 00:18:03 What Strategic Learning and Development Looks Like 00:22:30 Reframing the Conversation Around Nonprofit Training and Behavior Change 00:29:46 Practical Advice for Becoming a More Strategic Nonprofit L&D Partner Resources from this episode: Past strategic partnership episodes: E192: 10 Questions Strategic Learning Leaders Ask E191: How Nonprofit Learning Leaders Can Show Up as a Strategic Partner E186: The Mindset that Separates Strategic L&D Leaders from Order Takers E134: Being a Strategic Learning Partner & The Biggest Mistake You're Making Join the next Learning for Good Summit on July 22nd: https://collective.skillmastersmarket.com/invitation?code=9A6625 Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Mark LinkedIn: Mark Nilles Connect with Scot LinkedIn: Scot Vessell Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 engagement survey data every year, but once the report comes back, it often sits untouched. That data only becomes valuable when you pair it with a deliberate cycle of listening, understanding, and acting, turning a single survey into an ongoing system for organizational growth. ▶️ How to Align Learning with Data with Nonprofit HR Leader Wilson Kirkpatrick ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Wilson's Path Into HR and People Operations 00:05:21 Inside Waterford.org's Mission and Team 00:06:16 Turning Employee Engagement Data Into a Business Case for Coaching 00:11:31 Prioritizing Quick Wins When Rolling Out Coaching 00:15:23 Measuring the Results: Engagement Score Improvements 00:17:18 Advice for Leaders Who Feel Intimidated by Data 00:19:02 Where to Find the Data Already Inside Your Organization Resources from this episode: Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Wilson LinkedIn: Wilson Kirkpatrick Website: waterford.org Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 never sticks. It is easy to assume the problem is the training itself, when the real gap might be something far simpler and far easier to fix. ▶️ Trying to Change Behavior? One Missing Element from Your Training ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 How an Explanation Can Change Behavior 00:05:11 Ellen Langer's Research on Behavior Change and Compliance 00:08:38 Closing the Gap Between Staff Training and Behavior Change Resources from this episode: The Power of the Word Because Study by Ellen Langer: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-wise/201310/the-power-of-the-word-because-to-get-people-to-do-stuff Join the Learning for Good Summit in July: https://collective.skillmastersmarket.com/invitation?code=9A6625 Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 miss the mark, overlook the real barriers, or fail to connect to organizational strategy. The gap between a training that checks a box and one that actually shifts behavior often comes down to what you asked, and what you did not. ▶️ 10 Questions Strategic Learning Leaders Ask ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Why the Best L&D Tool You Have Is a Question 00:04:07 10 Questions Strategic Learning Leaders Ask 00:12:29 Why Questions Alone Are Not Enough Resources from this episode: Join the Learning for Good Summit in July: https://collective.skillmastersmarket.com/invitation?code=9A6625 Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 capability, opportunity, and motivation to lead with influence. Strategic partnership is not a personality type or a seniority level. It is a set of skills any L&D professional can develop, one small step at a time. ▶️ What Strategic Partnerships Look Like in Learning & Development with Mark Nilles ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Mark's Origin Story in L&D 00:08:23 The Three Cs of Strategic Partnership 00:13:12 Can Anyone Lead as a Strategic Partner? 00:14:21 Strategic Partnership in Practice: From Conversion Request to eLearning Solution 00:23:49 Why L&D Professionals Get Trapped in the Order Taker Role 00:26:49 The COM-B Model for Behavior Change 00:35:54 Practical Steps Toward a More Strategic Role Resources from this episode: Join the Learning for Good Summit in July: https://collective.skillmastersmarket.com/invitation?code=9A6625 Past strategic partnership episodes: Episode 186: The Mindset that Separates Strategic L&D Leaders from Order Takers Episode 134: Being a Strategic Learning Partner & The Biggest Mistake You're Making Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Mark LinkedIn: Mark Nilles Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 often fail to create lasting behavior change. True success happens when training translates into consistent action on the job. I’m sharing five overlooked factors that determine whether learning becomes performance improvement or simply another forgotten workshop. ▶️ Why Your Nonprofit Training Isn't Working: 5 Factors Preventing Workplace Behavior Change ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Why Great Training Doesn't Always Lead to Action 00:05:07 5 Factors Preventing Behavior Change 00:14:12 Designing Training That Drives Lasting Behavior Change Resources from this episode: Join the Learning for Good Summit in July: https://collective.skillmastersmarket.com/invitation?code=9A6625 Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 relationship-building shape effective leaders. From instructional design for nonprofits to relationship-building and professional growth, this conversation is packed with practical insights for nonprofit learning and development professionals who want to create meaningful organizational impact. Whether you’re leading training initiatives, managing change, or trying to grow your confidence as a leader, this episode offers actionable ideas you can immediately apply. ▶️ Learning and Growth for Learning Leaders with Dr. Luke Hobson ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Dr. Luke Hobson’s Journey into Instructional Design 00:05:39 Heather’s Path into Learning and Development 00:08:38 Moving Beyond Content Creation into Organizational Influence 00:14:47 The Value of Partnering with Your Stakeholders 00:19:35 How Learning Leaders Invest in Their Own Growth 00:27:35 Building Confidence and Finding Your Leadership Voice 00:34:49 Advice for Nonprofit Learning Professionals Who Want to Grow Their Influence Resources from this episode: Join the Learning for Good Summit in July: https://collective.skillmastersmarket.com/invitation?code=9A6625 Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Luke LinkedIn: Luke Hobson, EdD Website: drlukehobson.com Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 training. Others jump straight to behavior change and impact without worrying about knowledge transfer. I explain why effective learning and development strategies require a complete measurement chain, one where every “domino” matters. ▶️ What Proof of Impact Really Looks Like in Training ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 The Five Dominoes of Measuring Training Impact 00:05:50 Why Each Domino Matters in Nonprofit Staff Training and Development 00:13:30 Connecting Learning to Organizational Impact Resources from this episode: More episodes on measuring training: How to Measure Behavior Change and Impact from Training How to Measure the Impact of Your Training and Development Join us at our next networking event for the Nonprofit L&D Collective on June 17: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/join-the-nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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. From aligning compensation philosophy with career progression to building customized learning and development strategies, this conversation offers practical guidance for nonprofit leaders who want to invest in their people while navigating limited resources and flat organizational structures. ▶️ A Look at Career Mapping: Who, What, When, and How with Nonprofit Leader Melanie Gonzalez ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Career Paths Matter for Nonprofit Growth and Performance 00:03:46 Melanie’s HR Leadership Journey 00:09:34 Career Pathing and Compensation at BSRI 00:17:34 Nonprofit Career Growth Beyond Promotions 00:21:03 Aligning Career Pathing with L&D Strategies 00:24:21 The Impact of Investing in Nonprofit Staff Development 00:27:24 Advice for Nonprofits Creating Career Paths Resources from this episode: Join us at our next networking event for the Nonprofit L&D Collective on June 17: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/join-the-nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Melanie LinkedIn: Melanie Gonzalez Website: bsrinstitute.org Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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 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 to requests instead of shaping strategy. But shifting from an order taker to a strategic partner isn’t about changing your job title. It’s about changing how you show up. I break down how your internal beliefs shape your external behaviors, and ultimately determine whether you're invited to the decision-making table. ▶️ The Mindset that Separates Strategic L&D Leaders from Order Takers ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 How Mindset Shapes Your Daily Experiences 00:03:50 Strategic L&D Partner vs Order Taker 00:08:58 Reinforcing Cycles: Beliefs and Outcomes Resources from this episode: The Psychology of Winning by Denis Waitley: https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Winning-Qualities-Nightingale-Publication/dp/1640956441 The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Your-Subconscious-Mind/dp/160459201X Self-Coaching 101 by Brooke Castillo: https://www.amazon.com/Self-Coaching-101-Brooke-Castillo/dp/0977853993 Join us at our next networking event for the Nonprofit L&D Collective on May 20: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/join-the-nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 development strategies, Larcy shares how her team built a program that not only develops leaders but also strengthens retention, engagement, and long-term impact. If you’ve ever wondered how to move beyond informal mentoring into a structured, scalable program, this conversation will give you a practical roadmap. ▶️ Mentorship Programs for Nonprofits: How to Develop the Next Generation of Leaders with Larcy Douglas ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Why Mentorship is a Missed Opportunity in Nonprofits 00:03:04 The Role of Intergenerational Mentorship 00:07:59 Inside Common Power’s Mission and Programs 00:10:48 Building a Scalable Mentorship Model 00:19:39 Evolving Programs Using Data and Participant Feedback 00:24:57 Measuring Mentorship Impact in Nonprofit Organizations 00:29:21 Advice for Launching a Mentorship Program Resources from this episode: Data on mentoring: https://mentorloop.com/blog/mentoring-statistics/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinecomaford/2019/07/03/new-study-76-of-people-think-mentors-are-important-but-only-37-have-one/ Join us at our next networking event for the Nonprofit L&D Collective on May 20: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/join-the-nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Larcy LinkedIn: Larcy Douglas Website: commonpower.org Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 where your time actually goes, from building trust with stakeholders to understanding your audience and testing what works, so you can design training that leads to real results, not just completion. If you’ve ever felt pressure to produce training quickly or wondered why your programs aren’t driving real change, this episode will shift your perspective. ▶️ Why Good Training Takes Time ▶️ Key Points: 0:00:00 Why it takes time to create a good training 0:05:57 Where AI can speed up training design 00:07:18 The importance of testing and iteration Resources from this episode: Join us at our next networking event for the Nonprofit L&D Collective on May 20: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/join-the-nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

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 reimagined volunteer training through trauma-informed care, relational learning experiences, and intentional design choices that meet volunteers where they are. ▶️ How One Nonprofit Trains Its Volunteer Workforce with Jim Farmer ▶️ Key Points: 0:00:00 From corporate L&D to nonprofit leadership 0:12:38 Training employees vs. volunteers 0:15:30 Common challenges in volunteer training 0:17:32 Trauma-informed care in training 0:21:33 Building volunteer training programs Resources from this episode: Join us at our next networking event for the Nonprofit L&D Collective on May 20: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/join-the-nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Jim LinkedIn: Jim Farmer Website: forthechildren.org Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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