This 3-part series draws together core competencies essential to leadership within organizations that are driven to create change and benefit communities. Taken together, or individually, these interactive sessions examine approaches to planning, culture, and fiduciary capacity. Each session introduces a relevant framework for understanding and making sense of these core leadership competencies and provides strategies and tools to help you grow your own confidence, competence, and comfort in each area. 

Session 1: Outcomes & Value-Based Planning 

“If we just focus on fixing potholes, we run the risk of forgetting where the road was supposed to take us” – Justin Pollock

There is a challenge in focusing our planning on solutions – they are almost always focused on a problem. When we shift our design and strategy towards benefit – that which we want to make possible for the people affected – we both design differently, build better integrity to people into our systems, and actually make decision-making easier. In this session, we explore Catalytic Thinking® - a powerful planning and decision tool focused on how we create what we want rather than fixing what we don’t.

Who Should Attend?: 

• CEO/EDs and Board Chairs 
• Nonprofit Staff
• Board Members

About the Speaker: Justin Pollack

Justin is founder of Orgforward, a consultancy that partners with community benefit agents and capacity builders to develop leadership and strategies that create communities where equity, dignity, engagement, and a healthy environment exist for everyone. His focus is supporting leadership with what is needed to effectively govern and operate organizations that actively and consciously make the world a better place. Justin is an active educator, coach, writer, and strategist with more than 25 years of experience in the community benefit field. He works with board members, staff, and volunteers from agencies ranging from small start-ups to large well-established agencies on topics of community outcomes, values and culture, governance, financial management, planning, supervision, leadership development, and organizational sustainability. Core to the values of Justin’s work is considering every engagement an opportunity to partner with others to learn, engage, and feel confident about how we can create benefit for the people and environment around us.

Justin holds a dual B.A. in Organizational Theory and Environmental Studies from Pitzer College and a M.Ed.in Curriculum and Teacher Education from Stanford University.

Justin is a Creating the Future Fellow and a Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant® through the national Standards for Excellence Institute and also serves as a master trainer for the Licensed Consultant Training program.