The nonprofit sector is running on a broken hiring system and it is silently destroying mission driven organisations from the inside out. Most leaders are hired to check boxes, onboarded like an afterthought, and handed a role with zero clarity about what change is actually supposed to look like. The cost is not just financial. It is cultural, strategic, and deeply human.
With over 30 years across nonprofit leadership, higher education, corporate philanthropy, and executive search, J. Michael Durnil, Ph.D., Director of Executive Search at Cooper Coleman LLC, has seen exactly where organisations lose the plot on leadership and what it genuinely takes to get it right.
This conversation with Marla Moody is a masterclass for anyone serious about building thriving, values led, high performing nonprofit teams.
🎬 The Hidden Truth About Nonprofit Hiring Failures
Why desperation hires and box checking are quietly setting organisations back years
🎬 Diversity as a Strategic Advantage Not a Checkbox
How experiential, cultural, and ideological diversity drives real organisational outcomes
🎬 The Onboarding Gap That Breaks New Leaders
Why the most critical 90 days are also the most neglected in the sector
🎬 Succession Planning and the Leadership Loyalty Shift
What long tenured executives and younger talent both need organisations to understand right now
You can get in touch with J. Michael Durnil, Ph.D. here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmichaeldurnilphd/
Website: https://www.coopercoleman.com/
If you are a nonprofit executive, board member, HR leader, or organisational development professional navigating leadership transitions, talent strategy, or building cultures where high performers actually stay, this episode is your roadmap.
We hope you enjoyed this episode of What Works!
- Marla and the What Works Podcast team :)
Are you a Leader who would benefit from Leaders encouraging Leaders, Leave a comment where we can find you of go over to https://www.skool.com/value-based-leadership-8377 and join the community there.
Connect with me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithmarla/
#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
#whatworkspodcast #nonprofitleadership #missiondriven #operations #scalingimpact #nonprofitmanagement #leadershipthatinspires #nonprofitexcellence #socialimpact #teambuilding #burnoutprevention
WhatWorks is a bold and insightful podcast for non-profit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive with decades of global experience, the show uncovers what truly makes mission-driven organizations thrive. From scaling systems to building resilient teams and fighting burnout, WhatWorks goes behind the scenes of the world’s most impactful non-profits.
What is What Works: Conversations on Nonprofit Leadership with Marla Moody?
What Works by Marla Moody is a bold, insightful podcast for nonprofit leaders who want to go deeper than surface-level conversations. Each episode dives into the operational heart of mission-driven work - exploring leadership, management, systems, and scaling impact. Hosted by Marla Moody, a seasoned operations executive, this show uncovers what truly drives success in nonprofits, featuring strategies, stories, and best practices from real leaders making a difference.