In this premiere episode of a new series on The Switch, we explore how to operationalize “belonging” from the perspective of an equity and inclusion professional and a seasoned recruiter. Join Danisha Martin, MBA, CSC, Team Leader & Senior Consultant, Search, and Bryan W. Jackson, MA, Senior Consultant, People & Organizational Strategy at Nonprofit HR, as they delve into the foundational elements of belonging in the workplace. Leveraging their strategic expertise, this lively conversation is packed with valuable insights on building inclusive and impactful workforces for nonprofit organizations.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why belonging must take center stage in DEIB conversations

• The distinction between “belonging” and “belongingness”

• How to use observation to assess community within your organization

• Real-world strategies for fostering belonging, starting with the recruitment process

• The nuanced difference between feeling seen, valued and heard versus being seen, valued and heard

• Common challenges leaders face in this work and how to overcome them

About Danisha Martin, MBA, CSC

As part of Impact Search Advisors by Nonprofit HR, Danisha Martin is a Team Leader & Senior Consultant and trusted advisor for the firm’s retained executive search engagements. She conducts interviews with senior and C-level professionals and evaluates qualifications and alignment with the client organizations’ needs. Learn more about Danisha.

About Bryan W. Jackson, MA

Published author and award winning educator, Bryan W. Jackson, MA, provides subject matter expert advice, insight and strategic direction to clients. He oversees complex client engagements, manages projects to completion and designs and facilitates Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice (EDIJ) training solutions and assessment services to partners and stakeholders. Learn more about Bryan.

In this episode of The Switch, Lisa Brown Alexander dives into the future of social impact work with Trista Harris, President of FutureGood. Trista shares her insights on leveraging futurism to build resilient organizations, reimagining sustainable work in the sector and fostering creativity through spaciousness. This episode is for any social impact leader looking to refresh and align their organization’s long-term strategy to account for creativity, resilience and technology that will enable greater mission impact.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• ​What futurism is and how FutureGood helps organizations use its tools to build agile, mission-aligned frameworks for long-term success

• Her prediction for the future focus of social impact organizations

• Why now is the time to reconsider what sustainable work looks like in the social impact sector

• The importance of leaders creating spaciousness for themselves to generate new, creative solutions

• How she implemented AI across her team to determine its most effective use

• What leads to burnout and how to get clear on the work that will help you create the most change

About FutureGood

FutureGood is a consultancy that helps foundations, nonprofits, and visionary leaders predict and shape the future. Using futurism tools and best practices from the field, we partner with our clients to envision your ideal future, create a path to get there, and solve problems yet to be imagined. To learn more, visit www.wearefuturegood.com.

About Trista Harris

Trista Harris is a philanthropic futurist and is nationally known as a passionate advocate for leaders in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors. Trista’s work has been covered by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Forbes, CNN, the New York Times, and numerous social sector blogs. She is also the co-author of the book “How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar” and the author of “FutureGood”. She is the President of FutureGood, a consultancy focused on helping visionaries build a better future. Learn more about Trista.

About Lisa

Driven to serve the often-overlooked people management needs for the social impact sector, Lisa set out to build a market where one didn’t exist. She founded Nonprofit HR, the leading talent management firm in the country that works exclusively with the nonprofit sector. Read Lisa’s full bio.

About the Switch

The Switch offers access to Nonprofit HR’s talent management knowledge presented by our expert consultants, media partners, and guests from across the social impact sector. For over 20 years, Nonprofit HR has produced content that illuminates critical, timely and insightful knowledge for leaders of social impact organizations. Insights from this podcast shine light on the full talent management lifecycle, from employee attraction to organizational culture, engagement, performance management and retention.

What does it take to create seamless, meaningful client experiences while fostering a culture of trust?

In this episode of The Switch by Nonprofit HR, Sidney Abrams, SHRM-SCP, Nonprofit HR’s Chief Client Experience Officer, unpacks the art and science behind delivering exceptional client experiences. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, HR professional, or simply curious about creating transformational client journeys, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to elevate your organization’s impact.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What “client experience” means and why it matters

• Embedding client-centricity into organizational culture to drive measurable outcomes

• Strategies for delivering consistent, seamless experiences across diverse practice areas

• The vital connection between employee experience and client experience

• Using strategic data to measure success and uncover new opportunities

• How Nonprofit HR’s trust-driven culture empowers successful client-focused initiatives

• Sidney’s advice for nonprofits: “Take the plunge into client experience—don’t fear feedback!”