In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, Dr. Rob Harter speaks with Steve Cadigan, talent strategist, author of Workquake, and LinkedIn’s first Chief HR Officer. Steve shares how the employer-employee relationship has changed dramatically in recent years, especially as AI, remote work, frequent career changes, and shifting expectations around purpose and flexibility continue to reshape the workplace.

Steve explains why nonprofit leaders can no longer rely on traditional ideas of long-term retention or job security. Instead, he encourages leaders to offer “career security” by helping employees grow, learn, and become better prepared for an uncertain future. For nonprofits, this shift creates a powerful opportunity to attract mission-driven talent, build stronger alumni relationships, redesign roles for shorter talent cycles, and create cultures where people want to contribute deeply—even if they do not stay forever.

Key Topics Include:

• Why the “workquake” is changing how leaders recruit, retain, and develop talent
• The difference between job security and career security
• How nonprofit leaders can build stronger talent strategies in a short-tenure workplace
• Why employees are increasingly loyal to learning, growth, and purpose
• How nonprofits can attract people in career transition through “tour of duty” roles
• The value of alumni communities and maintaining relationships with former employees
• Why reverse mentoring can help younger employees contribute, grow, and stay engaged

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Steve Cadigan’s website: https://stevecadigan.com
• Steve Cadigan’s book, Workquake: https://stevecadigan.com/workquake/
• Steve Cardigan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cadigan/

This Episode is Sponsored By:

• DonorBox

Links to Resources:

• Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.com
• Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel
• Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
• Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com

Subscribe and Share
Listen and subscribe to the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with other nonprofit leaders!

In this episode, Dr. Rob Harter welcomes Caitlin Baron, CEO of the Luminos Fund, to discuss how nonprofit leaders can sustain long-term impact while scaling mission-driven work. Caitlin shares her personal journey from growing up in Brooklyn, where she saw firsthand how education changes opportunity, to leading international education initiatives that help children who have been denied access to school.

Caitlin explains how the Luminos Fund creates second-chance education programs for out-of-school children across Africa, helping students cover three years of learning in just one year. She also shares practical leadership insights on scaling impact, building strong partnerships, staying focused on mission, cultivating joyful learning environments, and growing as a leader while an organization expands.

Key Topics Include:

• How the Luminos Fund helps out-of-school children catch up and reenter school with peers their own age
• Why nonprofit leaders should focus on community assets instead of only looking at needs or deficits
• How Luminos scales impact through African-led community-based organizations and government partnerships
• The importance of open-source tools, teacher guides, and the Luminos Method for expanding education access
• Why joyful learning, play-based instruction, and safe classroom environments accelerate academic outcomes
• How Caitlin’s leadership evolved from hands-on program builder to steward of strategy, culture, hiring, and risk management
• Why nonprofit CEOs must stay in dialogue with the external environment while keeping internal teams aligned

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Luminos Fund: https://luminosfund.org
• The Luminos Method: https://luminosfund.org/luminos-method
• Luminos Method on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com

This Episode is Sponsored By:

• DonorBox

Links to Resources:

• Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.com
• Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel
• Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
• Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com

Subscribe and Share
Listen and subscribe to the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with other nonprofit leaders!

In this special four-state panel discussion, Rob Harter brings together nonprofit leaders from Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado to discuss the biggest trends impacting nonprofit leadership today. Guests Jill Bennett of the Utah Nonprofits Association, Kevin Bailey of the Idaho Community Foundation and Idaho Nonprofit Center, Jodi Shields of the Wyoming Nonprofit Network, and Lloyd Lewis of arc Thrift Stores share practical insights on financial sustainability, fundraising challenges, staff burnout, AI, board governance, collaboration, and social enterprise.

Together, the panel explores how nonprofit organizations can continue to serve rising community needs while facing funding uncertainty, workforce pressure, and rapid technological change. This conversation offers honest encouragement and practical strategies for executive directors, board members, fundraisers, and nonprofit staff who are navigating today’s complex nonprofit landscape.

Key Topics Include:

• How nonprofit leaders are responding to financial uncertainty, changing donor behavior, and reduced grant funding
• The growing challenge of nonprofit staff burnout and how organizations can better support and retain employees
• Why mission alignment, flexible work, clear expectations, and healthy workplace culture matter for nonprofit retention
• Practical ways nonprofits are using AI and technology to save time, improve communication, and strengthen operations
• Board governance best practices, including the role of the board, ideal board size, and when to use advisory boards
• How nonprofit collaboration, mergers, shared services, and collective impact models can increase effectiveness
• The importance of joining state nonprofit associations and building a stronger collective voice for the sector

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Utah Nonprofits Association
• UTAHGIVES
• Idaho Community Foundation
• Idaho Nonprofit Center
• Idaho Gives
• Wyoming Nonprofit Network
• WyoGives
• arc Thrift Stores
• arc Thrift Stores Gala

This Episode is Sponsored By:

• DonorBox

Links to Resources:

• Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob’s website: RobHarter.com
• Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel
• Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com
• Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com

Subscribe and Share
Listen and subscribe to the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with other nonprofit leaders!