NGO Soul + Strategy

Episodes

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  096: Leading Change at Scale: Oxfam International’s Journey with Amitabh Behar 10.11.2025 58m

  Summary In this final episode of NGO Soul + Strategy, Tosca Bruno-van Vijfeijken sits down with Amitabh Behar, Executive Director of Oxfam International—one of the most recognized and influential global NGOs. Together, they explore what it means to lead transformative change inside a large, complex confederation while navigating a shifting political, economic, and cultural landscape. Their conversation spans Oxfam’s ongoing change journey, its efforts to become a truly global organization roo...
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  095: Time and Talent: Navigating the Nonprofit Sector’s Greatest Strategic Assets with Doug Trout 13.10.2025 52m

  Summary In this episode, I am joined by Doug Trout, CEO of DRi Waterstone Human Capital, to explore how nonprofit organizations can better invest in, manage, and retain their people. From executive recruitment to culture-building and burnout, this conversation takes a deep dive into what it really takes to thrive in today’s complex nonprofit landscape. Bio CEO of DRi Waterstone Human Capital, a firm serving nonprofits with leadership development, talent recruitment as well as executive searc...
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  094. Breaking the Barriers to Innovation: Carlos Simon on Organizational Culture & Change in NGOs 15.09.2025 54m

  Summary Innovation is often treated as a buzzword—but few nonprofit leaders take a hard look at the cultural, structural, and leadership obstacles that keep it from taking root. In this episode, Tosca talks with Carlos Simon, an innovation strategist and longtime leader at World Vision, about what it really takes to build innovation-ready organizations. From internal mindsets to outdated processes, they explore what’s getting in the way—and what to do about it. Guest Bio: CEO of World Vision ...
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  093. Feminist Leadership in Action: A Conversation with Jayanta Bora 11.08.2025 59m

  Summary: What does it really mean to lead through a feminist lens? In this episode of NGO Soul + Strategy, I sit down with Jayanta Bora, a seasoned People & Culture expert who has helped shape leadership practices across major NGOs. Drawing from his own matrilinear upbringing and decades of experience, Jayanta explores feminist leadership not as a gendered concept but as a deliberate, power-aware leadership practice rooted in justice and equity. Jayanta's Bio: Over 30 years of exper...
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  092. How Culture Is Reality: Rethinking NGO Safeguarding with Andrew Henck 14.07.2025 54m

  In this episode, I speak with Andrew Henck, a scholar-practitioner whose recent PhD research offers a nuanced take on organizational culture in humanitarian NGOs. Together, we explore how culture goes far beyond shared values—it is a lens through which organizations make sense of their reality. They also examine what this means for safeguarding, accountability, and leadership in NGOs, especially amid increasing scrutiny and systemic change. Guest’s Bio Lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian Universit...
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  091. “$10M Landed in Our Account”—What Nonprofits Must Know About Transformational Gifts and Sudden Growth with Michael Randel 09.06.2025 49m

  What happens when your nonprofit receives a transformational gift—seemingly out of the blue? In this episode, change management expert Michael Randel joins Tosca Bruno-van Vijfeijken to explore what nonprofits can learn from the MacKenzie Scott giving wave. Together, they discuss how to prepare for sudden funding growth, what risks to avoid, and how to communicate wisely during a time of high visibility and high stakes. Guest Bio Founder and Principal of Randel Consulting AssociatesLong-stan...
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  090. Technology, Land Rights, and Leadership: A Conversation with Amy Coughenour Betancourt, CEO of Cadasta 12.05.2025 1h 2m

  Show Notes Summary Land rights are at the heart of building a sustainable and equitable future. Yet securing these rights—especially for marginalized communities—remains a profound global challenge. In this episode of NGO Soul + Strategy, I sit down with Amy Coughenour Betancourt, President and CEO of Cadasta, a global social innovation organization dedicated to advancing affordable, accessible land rights documentation. Drawing on her leadership at the intersection of technology, social inno...
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  089: "I AM A CHANGE MAN”: How Arnold Dix Applied An Iconoclastic Leadership Approach at the International Tunnelling Association 14.04.2025 56m

  Summary The International Tunnelling Association (ITA) plays a critical role in global infrastructure, ensuring clean water, sewage systems, and transport for millions while contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But behind the technical achievements lies a deeper challenge—modernizing an industry traditionally dominated by European, American, and Australian professionals. In this episode of NGO Soul + Strategy, I sit down with Arnold Dix, President of ITA, to discuss hi...
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  088. When You Have to Wind Down Your Nonprofit: How to do It Well, with Amy Miller-Taylor 10.03.2025 46m

  Summary What does it take to lead an organization through a responsible and strategic closure? In this episode, I speak with Amy Miller-Taylor, former Executive Director of Global Integrity, about her experience navigating the complex decision to wind down an organization while ensuring its legacy, people, and resources were safeguarded. We explore the financial and strategic challenges that led to this decision, the leadership lessons Amy learned, and how organizations can approach closure a...
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  087. Coaching Leaders Through An African Lens: Nankhonde Kasonde-Van Den Broek 10.02.2025 52m

  Western coaching models weren’t built for African leaders. So Nankhonde Kasonde, a Zambian international development as well as a leadership development specialist and certified coach, created something that was. Nankhonde's Bio: Nankhonde Kasonde is a Zambian international development specialist, certified leadership coach, and the founder of Zanga, an African leadership assessment and HR analytics company. As a leadership coach, Nankhonde recognized that African leaders need a coachin...
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  086: The Modern Development Leader, How to Manage Change and All That: Torrey and Tosca in Conversation Part 2 27.01.2025 30m

  Summary: What are the attributes of the modern humanitarian and development leader? Why modern? In what ways? How does one become one? Torrey’s Bio: As a certified coach with twelve years’ experience in international development Torrey Peace facilitates rising and established leaders in the humanitarian and development world to become the leaders they admire, or “people centered leaders.” She has taught and coached over 400 supervisors globally from the UN, INGO and civil societ...
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  085: The Modern Development Leader, How to Manage Change and All That: Torrey and Tosca in Conversation Part 1 13.01.2025 31m

  Summary: This is part one of a two-part conversation between two podcast hosts: Torrey Peace and myself. Torrey’s podcast is The Modern Humanitarian and Development Leader. Torrey and I tackle two broad topics: in this first part of our conversation, Torrey interviews me: How do people in development agencies experience organizational change? What is the psychology of organizational change that a development leader needs to be aware of? How can experiencing organizational change affect...
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  084: Towards Ubuntu 2.0? A Wide-Ranging Leadership Conversation with Martin Kalungu-Banda 16.12.2024 50m

  Summary What does the concept of Ubuntu teach us about leadership, community, and the well-being of people in organizations? How can African leadership models inform and enhance global approaches to management and organizational development? How do we navigate the challenges of avoiding romanticizing Ubuntu while honoring its depth and practical value? In this NGO Soul + Strategy podcast episode, Martin Kalugu-Banda, a thought leader on organizational development and leadership coach (among...
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  083: African Solutions for African Problems: Consulting Strategies with Faye Ekong @ RavelWorks 04.12.2024 54m

  Summary How does an African management consulting company that expressly sets itself up to offer African solutions to African problems communicate its identity? What are some key differences in organizational development needs and cultural norms between development agencies in the Global South and Global North? How can concepts like Ubuntu and Ujama inform leadership models in ways that resonate across African contexts? In this NGO Soul + Strategy podcast episode, I interview Faye Ekon...
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  082: Human Emotions in a Poly-Crisis: How To Get To More Effective NGO Campaigning with Diya Deb @ MindWorks 22.11.2024 59m

  Summary How can nonprofit organizations leverage human emotions to enhance the impact of their campaigns? What can NGOs learn from cognitive science to create more effective, empathetic communication strategies during a time of poly-crisis? How can organizations shift from traditional advocacy approaches to more agile, psychology-driven methods for mobilizing communities? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Diya Deb, Executive Director at MindWorks Lab, about harnessing the...
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  081. Leadership Lessons From African Cultures, With Albert Momo 14.11.2024 54m

  Summary What are the key principles of African leadership that nonprofit leaders globally could benefit from adopting? How does the African concept of Ubuntu translate into practical leadership strategies for nonprofit organizations? How does African leadership balance individual and collective success, and how might nonprofit teams benefit from seeking the same balance? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Albert Anoubon Momo, axecutive, author, and board member, about le...
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  080. Avoid These Leadership Mistakes When Managing Organizational Change With Michael Randel 08.10.2024 50m

  Summary Is it that people resist change? That they fear change? Or rather that people fear loss? As a change management consultant, what is the most difficult or frustrating while supporting clients with change management efforts? What is one word most alive right now in the world of change management support? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Michael Randel, Founder of Randel Consulting Associates, on mastering the ever-complex world of organizational change management....
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  079. Leadership in Africa Redefined With Taaka Awori of Busara Africa 23.09.2024 42m

  Summary What does it Busara's tagline mean: 'transformational leadership, from the inside out'? To what extent are there truly different global south-normed leadership models? Does personality still play an important role as well, in addition to national or regional cultural differences in leadership approaches? In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Taaka Awori, Founder & CEO of Busara Africa, a leadership development services company, on redefining leadership in Africa....
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  078. Which INGO Roles Are Still Legitimate, Relevant, and Needed (and Which No Longer): Dylan Mathews @ Peace Direct 10.09.2024 49m

  Summary How should INGOs discern what roles are still relevant, legitimate, and needed, at this moment in civil society history?­­ And which roles they therefore should *stop* playing? Is there more here, over and beyond stopping service delivery? (Which on its own is quite the shift) In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Dylan Mathews, Chief Executive Officer at Peace Direct. Peace Direct has been quite vocal, and has acted as a thought leader on this role que...
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  077. Let’s Work Through This: Conflict Mediation in Social Sector Organizations With Nathalie Thompson 30.06.2024 42m

  Summary Conflict management and mediation are skills that come up frequently as a weak area in many of our social sector organizations. And these days, more than ever conflict is on the rise within our organizations. So how can we work through our conflicts more skillfully and effectively? Nathalie has answers for us. She's a trainer conflict mediator (as well as a Corentus, Inc. team coach) who helps teams and organizations develop better conflict management capabilities. And she...