Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast. So Make Culture Your Focus.

As so many of my fellow nonprofit leaders know, people are essential to the work we do. Those of us who choose careers in the social sector are driven by our passion and commitment to advance positive change in the world. Culture is deeply relevant to today’s workforce, and leaders across our sector are weighing their approach to elements of organizational culture such as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), work-life balance, trust, and engagement.

Across my career, I’ve worked in roles that span planning, evaluation, and leadership—experiences that provided me with a toolkit and perspective that have been invaluable in my journey as a nonprofit leader. Drawing on these experiences was crucial when I became president and CEO of The Pew Charitable Trusts in July 2020—a time of immense social challenge. I knew that supporting our team would be a high priority; it is for every CEO. These dedicated people apply their talents to helping communities and individuals thrive. But leading at a time of global transition made abundantly clear the importance of looking inward with the same sense of urgency, focus, and intention that we commit to our programmatic goals.

This piece was originally published by Stanford Social Innovation Review on Sept. 17, 2024.