We are already at the end of 2025. This is a time of reflection, goal setting, and a renewed commitment to being our best selves. I love this time of year, and each year I like to spend some time reflecting on my goals, what I've been able to accomplish, and where I missed a little bit.

So, in this episode, I'm going to share some details about what's going on inside Skill Masters Market, my consulting business, Learning for Good, this podcast, and the Nonprofit L&D Collective, our private community for nonprofit training pros.

You'll hear about the transformations of 2025 and what's coming in 2026.

▶️ Key Points:

0:00:00 My personal mission

0:03:52 Skill Masters Market

0:05:29 Learning for Good

0:07:42 Nonprofit L&D Collective

Resources from this episode:

Top 5 Learning For Good Podcast episodes:

#1 Are Your Nonprofit Leaders The Best They Can Be? Your Leadership Skills Might Be Lagging And THIS Is Why

#2 Using a Blended, Cohort Training Model to Create Behavior Change with Nonprofit Leader Rebecca Kelley

#3 Want to Work in Nonprofit L&D? Here’s What You Should Know

#4 Using AI to Create Persuasive, Visual Stories for Your Training with Nicholas Leonard

#5 How to Conduct a Training Needs Analysis for Nonprofit Staff Development

 If you're looking for a way to make connection and one-on-one networking easier for your organization, check out Community Hives.

Join us January 12th-16th for Career Week at the Collective, an event designed to help you grow your nonprofit L&D careers together. Learn all the details and grab your ticket at https://collective.skillmastersmarket.com/invitation?code=3CG346

We want to hear from you. Tell me what you want to hear more of or less of on the podcast. Ask a question or make a request through our Speakpipe link.

Connect with Heather

LinkedIn: Heather Burright

Website: skillmastersmarket.com

Book an interest call with Heather here.

Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms

As learning and development leaders, it feels like we're always trying to get a seat at the table, but are we truly prepared to have effective conversations with our nonprofit's executives when we get there?

To get you ready, in this episode, I invited Rick Dahlseid to help us position training as a worthwhile investment. He is a nonprofit CFO with over 20 years in the sector, with expertise in financial management, operations, and governance.

You'll learn about his unique point of view on the role of training and development in a nonprofit, where your conversations about people development should start, the kind of language that will be most effective, and what you should actually focus on to get your point across.

▶️ How to Position Training as an Investment (from the Perspective of a CFO) with Rick Dahlseid

▶️ Key Points:

0:00:00 Rick's mission and  nonprofit financial leadership

0:09:49 How a seasoned nonprofit CFO views training

0:16:23 Define ROI for learning and development first

0:22:16 How to get the nonprofit to invest in your training

0:31:30 Focus on the outcomes and keep the end in mind

Resources from this episode:

Catch up with my recent episode about this topic, The Real Cost of Bad Training.

Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective

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Connect with Rick

LinkedIn: Rick Dahlseid

Website: janussc.org

Connect with Heather

LinkedIn: Heather Burright

Website: skillmastersmarket.com

Book an interest call with Heather here.

Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms

Are you an HR leader or L&D pro who finds themselves having to prove themselves to everyone over and over again, or being brought to the table too late?

If you want that to change, you have to build your influence in the organization. You can do it by strengthening your personal brand, which will help you build credibility inside your nonprofit and be seen as a valuable strategic partner.

In this episode, I'm joined by branding expert Lauren Davis. She is the founder of Lauren Davis Creative, where she helps  speakers and entrepreneurs establish their memorable personal brands , but today, she's focused on helping you establish your influence in your nonprofit.

We talk about why being in control of your personal brand is important, even if you work at a nonprofit, how to start getting yours where you want it to be, and even a fun tip on how to walk into any meeting with confidence.

▶️ Your Brand Is Your Influence: Building Credibility Inside Your Nonprofit with Lauren Davis

▶️ Key Points:

0:00:00 How Lauren learned and shared along the way

0:11:27 What a personal brand is and why it matters

0:14:23 How to be seen as a strategic partner

0:21:05 Get clear on your personal brand

0:25:43 Personal branding principles to start with

0:32:34 How to not get discouraged along the way

Resources from this episode:

Join us January 12th-16th for Career Week at the Collective, an event designed to help you grow your nonprofit L&D careers together. Learn all the details and grab your ticket at https://collective.skillmastersmarket.com/invitation?code=3CG346

Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective

Connect with Guest

LinkedIn: Lauren Davis

Website: laurendaviscreative.com

Podcast: The Real Personal Branding Podcast

Connect with Heather

LinkedIn: Heather Burright

Website: skillmastersmarket.com

Book an interest call with Heather here.

Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

Produced by Ideablossoms