Free Daily Podcast Summary
Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Diligent
Strong and adaptable leadership is essential for nonprofits and public sector organizations to thrive. Each episode of our limited podcast series brings you in-depth interviews with accomplished leaders in nonprofit governance and public service, focusing on different topics. These conversations will bring you actionable insights, fresh perspectives and proven strategies to strengthen board leadership and tackle the challenges your board faces.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 4 weeks ago35 min
2027 Governance outlook for mission-driven organizations
The Diligent Institute has just released its latest research report, Governance outlook 2027 for mission-driven organizations, based on insights from 230 nonprofit and public sector leaders.In this episode, Kira Ciccarelli, Senior Research & Programs Manager at the Diligent Institute, and Ellen Glasgow, Senior Vice President for Mission-Driven Organizations at Diligent, unpack the report's key findings and explore what they reveal about the priorities, risks and governance challenges shaping the year ahead.They explore how nonprofit and public sector boards can respond to funding uncertainty, redesign meetings around strategy and decisions, strengthen risk oversight, build scenario-planning discipline and put the right foundations in place for responsible AI use.Stay tuned to the end to hear the actions boards can take now to become more strategic, resilient and prepared for 2027. Download the full research report: www.diligent.com/resources/research/mdo-governance-outlook
- Sep 28, 202630 min
Protecting your mission through stronger financial oversight
As funding pressures, rising costs and growing accountability demands reshape the landscape for mission-driven organizations, strong financial oversight has never been more important. In this episode of Leading with Purpose, Ryan Alexander, founder of RA Partners and author of Protect your mission The finance framework for nonprofit leaders, and Hannah Romick, co-founder and CEO of Conscient Strategies, explore how boards and leadership teams can use financial oversight as a strategic tool to strengthen governance and protect their mission.The conversation covers the questions every board should be asking about cash flow, revenue and financial sustainability, how organizations can build transparency and trust through stronger governance, and why internal controls are critical for reducing risk and protecting resources. Ryan and Hannah also discuss funding complexity, mission drift, scenario planning, board education and the role of technology in helping leaders make more informed financial decisions. Stay tuned to the end to hear Ryan and Hannah's advice on the single most important thing boards can do to strengthen financial oversight, improve decision-making and better safeguard their mission. Further resources on financial oversight and governanceFinancial oversight & risk management: A 5‑step guide for nonprofit boardsA practical guide to mastering financial oversight for public sector boardsProtect your mission The finance framework for nonprofit leaders by Ryan AlexanderConscient Strategies
- Aug 4, 202647 min
Aligning storytelling with mission metrics for impact
As nonprofits and other mission-driven organizations face growing pressure to demonstrate impact, boards need more than just numbers. In this episode of Leading with Purpose, Jennifer McKenzie, founder of Organised Synergy, and Dottie Schindlinger, Executive Director of the Diligent Institute, explore how storytelling and mission metrics work together to help boards communicate impact with greater clarity, credibility and confidence.The conversation covers how boards can identify the right mission measures, use data more strategically, strengthen fundraising and donor engagement, and build trust through authentic storytelling. Jennifer and Dottie share practical advice on board development, the role of technology in supporting mission impact, and how nonprofits can approach AI responsibly while uncovering new insights from their data. Stay tuned to the end to hear Jennifer and Dottie's advice on the single most important thing boards can do to better connect mission metrics, storytelling and mission impact.Further resources on board mission measurement and advocacyHow to leverage data for your mission-driven organization's successHow nonprofit boards can unlock digital advocacy and crush it on Linkedin
- Jul 27, 202631 min
How school boards benefit from student voice through representation
Student voice is most powerful when it’s more than feedback but actually part of governance. In this episode of Leading with Purpose, Zachary Patterson, co-founder of the National Student Board Member Association and former student board member, explores how school boards can meaningfully include students in decision-making.We discuss the unique perspective student board members bring, why representation matters, and what separates genuine participation from a symbolic seat at the table. The conversation also covers practical ways boards can better support student board members through onboarding, training, access to information and technology, and stronger relationships with board leaders.Be sure to listen to the end, where Zachary shares the one action every board can take in the next 30–60 days to better support and empower its student board members. The Edvanced CohortDiligent, the National Student Board Members Association (NSBMA) and the Consortium for State School Boards Associations (COSSBA) are proud to collaborate on a national professional development initiative to support students serving on district governing boards called The Edvanced Cohort. Inquiries from districts that wish to submit their student representative for consideration for the 2026-2027 cohort are currently being accepted, find out more here.
- Jul 6, 202640 min
How mission-driven boards can evaluate themselves (and improve)
Board self-assessment is one of the most effective, and often overlooked, tools for strengthening governance. In this episode of Leading with Purpose, governance experts Barbara Paxton of BoardStrong and Steve Schroeder, former school board member and governance leader, explore how mission-driven boards can turn self-evaluation from a box-ticking exercise into a catalyst for continuous improvement.They discuss why many boards struggle with self-assessment, the key areas boards should evaluate, and practical ways to gather honest feedback, build trust, and turn insights into meaningful action. They also share how regular self-evaluation can strengthen board engagement, accountability and mission impact. Be sure to listen to the end of the episode, where Barbara and Steve share their top advice for boards looking to get started and build a stronger culture of continuous improvement.Further resources on board self-assessmentSelf-assessments for transformative public school boardsA checklist for volunteer board self-evaluations
- Jun 24, 202633 min
How to combat public sector fraud, waste and abuse through smarter technology
Public sector organisations face mounting pressure to detect and prevent fraud, waste and abuse but traditional audit methods often fall short. In this episode of Leading with Purpose, Diligent experts Jason Venner and Katja Freeman, both former practitioners from federal and state government, explore how audit and finance teams can move from reactive investigations to proactive, technology-driven oversight.Drawing on their experience, they discuss why manual sampling no longer works, how analytics and automation are transforming risk detection, and where leaders can achieve fast, measurable ROI. The conversation also highlights what’s truly at stake: protecting public trust while ensuring every dollar delivers on its intended mission.Be sure to listen to the end of the episode, where Jason and Katja share their top advice for protecting public funds and getting started with a more modern, technology-enabled approach.Further resources on combating waste and fraud:Guide to combating public sector fraud with AI and analytics
- May 7, 202625 min
How to run efficient meetings with parliamentary rules
Sarah Merkle is an attorney and certified professional parliamentarian with nearly 25 years of experience helping organisations run fair, efficient and orderly business meetings. Through her work with boards across nonprofit and the public sector, Sarah is known for making parliamentary procedure practical, accessible and relevant for today’s governance challenges.In this episode, we explore why parliamentary rules matter more than ever in a time of low trust and heightened sensitivity to decision‑making processes. Sarah explains what parliamentary procedure really is — and what it isn’t — and why having clear, agreed‑upon rules can actually make meetings smoother, more inclusive and easier to manage.We discuss common misconceptions about parliamentary rules, how they can be misused, and how boards can right‑size and customise procedures to reflect their size, culture and mission. From designing agendas that move decisions forward to encouraging productive participation and preventing meetings from becoming a free‑for‑all, this conversation offers practical guidance boards can apply immediately.Sarah also shares insights on the critical role of the board chair in setting tone, maintaining neutrality and de‑escalating conflict, as well as how technology, including digital agendas, secure voting and online meeting tools, can support clearer, more efficient and compliant meetings.Be sure to listen to the end for Sarah’s best advice for board administrators, chairs and governance professionals looking to use meeting time in service of the mission — not waste it — and to help board members feel heard, respected and engaged, even when decisions are difficult.Further resources on parliamentary procedures: Download a free Robert’s Rules cheat sheet More helpful tips and resources from Sarah can be found on Civility.co
- Mar 26, 202634 min
How to design successful orientation for new board members
Liz Thompson is Executive Assistant to the President, Corporate Secretary, and Corporate Compliance Officer at Presbyterian Senior Care Network. Chandu Vemuri is Executive Assistant for the Board and Superintendent Leadership at Sun Prairie School District in Wisconsin. Together, Liz and Chandu bring deep, hands‑on experience supporting nonprofit and public‑facing boards as they welcome new members into governance.In this conversation, we explore why thoughtful board orientation matters more than ever, what’s at risk when onboarding is rushed or unclear, and how organizations can set new board members up for success from day one. From clarifying roles and legal responsibilities to building confidence, culture, and trust, this episode looks at what effective orientation really takes — especially in highly regulated, highly visible environments like healthcare and public education.Liz and Chandu share practical approaches to self‑guided onboarding, peer mentoring, and using technology to make orientation more accessible, consistent, and engaging. Listen in as they discuss how good orientation strengthens governance over the long term — not just in the first 30 days — and why onboarding should be the start of a continuous learning journey for every board member.And be sure to listen to the end for their best advice for board administrators and clerks looking to move beyond a one‑and‑done orientation and build confident, effective boards.Further resources on board member onboarding:Our guide to onboarding and orienting nonprofit board members can be downloaded here.Our guides to onboarding and orienting public board members can be downloaded for public education and local government.
Get Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
Inspired Nonprofit Leadership
Practical advice and inspiration for nonprofit leaders to grow their skills and impact.
The Social Impact Solutions Podcast
Practical strategies for measuring and promoting social impact to attract support and drive change.
Leading By Example: Executives Making An Impact
Executives share pivotal moments and personal experiences that shaped their leadership and decision-making in real-world business environments.
Nonprofit Hub Radio
Interviews with nonprofit leaders and experts offering practical insights to help organizations improve and grow.
Nonprofit Everything
A bi-weekly Q&A podcast covering topics related to nonprofits.
Your Brand Amplified
Explores the strategies and mindsets of successful entrepreneurs in business growth, marketing, and personal branding.
Around with Randall
A concise weekly discussion on improving nonprofit effectiveness through practical philanthropy strategies.
FundraisingAI
Examines the ethical and practical use of AI in fundraising, including trends, data privacy, and social impact.
Community Catalysts
Leaders from local government and nonprofits share hard-won lessons and practical strategies for building stronger communities.
BoardVision
NACD
Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast
Features stories and advice from emerging nonprofit leaders and fundraising experts to help new professionals grow their skills and impact.
The PURPOSEFUL LIFE Podcast
Examines intentional living through mindset shifts, habits, and personal growth to help find purpose and balance.
About Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work
Strong and adaptable leadership is essential for nonprofits and public sector organizations to thrive. Each episode of our limited podcast series brings you in-depth interviews with accomplished leaders in nonprofit governance and public service, focusing on different topics. These conversations will bring you actionable insights, fresh perspectives and proven strategies to strengthen board leadership and tackle the challenges your board faces.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Diligent.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts, any in the catalog. Basic raises that to 15, Pro to 40 and Max to 100. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work release new episodes?
Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work publishes biweekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work cover?
Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work covers topics including Business, Non-Profit. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.