Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work

Kristy Grant-Hart is Vice President for Compliance Services at Diligent, advising organizations on how to build effective, modern compliance programs in an era of rapid regulatory change. 
In this episode, Kristy shares a compliance expert’s view on AI, cyber risk and governance for public-facing boards — from school districts and education boards to municipalities and local councils. 

We explore the core responsibilities of public sector boards today: staying on top of current and upcoming regulation, keeping risk assessments up to date, and tailoring regulatory requirements to the size, structure and context of each organization. Kristy explains why “applicat...

Kira Ciccarelli is Senior Research and Programs Manager at the Diligent Institute, where she leads research into how boards and governance professionals are navigating today’s rapidly evolving risk landscape.

In this episode, we explore what nonprofit boards can learn from emerging trends in the corporate world — and how they can apply those insights to strengthen compliance, oversight and stakeholder trust. We discuss why regulatory risk is climbing so sharply and which areas are set to demand even more attention in 2026, from policy and procedure updates to targeted ethics and compliance training and more robust internal monitoring.

K...

Dottie Schindlinger is Executive Director of the Diligent Institute and a founding member of BoardEffect and Nithya Das is General Manager of Diligent’s Governance Business Unit and Chief Legal Officer. Together, Dottie and Nithya bring deep expertise on how purpose-driven organizations can strategically harness technology and AI to transform their impact.

We discussed why the urgency to modernize governance is greater than ever for nonprofits, foundations, school boards and local governments. Dottie and Nithya share how economic pressures and shifting regulations make nimble, tech-enabled governance absolutely critical — and how AI is moving mission-driven boards toward more efficient, tran...

James Page is Chief Information Officer at the New York State School Boards Association, and Jay Worona is a partner at Jasper Schlesinger & Narendra and former Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel for NYSSBA. Together, they bring a wealth of experience in school board governance, legal policy and technology strategy.

In this episode, James and Jay share their insights on how AI and digital tools are reshaping governance in school districts. From streamlining administrative tasks and enhancing board decision-making to improving transparency and equity. We explore the opportunities AI presents for strategic planning, risk management and community trust...

Nonie Dalton is Vice President of Product Management and Phil Lim is Director of Product Management at Diligent. Together, they bring deep expertise in how mission-driven organizations like nonprofits, school boards and local governments can harness emerging technologies such as AI while keeping ethical governance at the core of their mission.

Nonie and Phil share their perspectives on how AI is transforming governance from a reactive function to a proactive, insights-driven practice. We explore the opportunities AI presents for efficiency, transparency and impact measurement, while also addressing the ethical challenges around accountability, bias and data security.

...

Darian Rodriguez Heyman, a speaker, consultant and best-selling author with deep expertise in fundraising, governance and AI. Darian has worked with mission-driven organizations around the world and recently released his latest book, “AI for Nonprofits”.

In this episode, Darian shares practical insights on how AI is transforming nonprofit governance, from streamlining board recruitment and engagement to enhancing meeting efficiency and impact measurement. He emphasizes the importance of intentional adoption, data security and creating clear policies to guide responsible use of AI.

We explore how leaders can overcome skepticism, build trust and use AI as a thought part...

Scott Bridgen is the General Manager of the Audit and Risk Division at Diligent. Scott brings a wealth of experience and unique insights into the critical role of financial and risk oversight in the public sector.

In this episode, we talked about how public sector boards can manage their financial resources responsibly and effectively identify, mitigate and monitor risks. Scott highlights the need for a risk-aware culture that focuses on objectives and potential obstacles, rather than just the term 'risk.'

He also advocates for transparency and clear communication with your community to build trust, and...

Heather Rich is Executive Director of the American Board of Genetic Counseling, the national certifying body that sets and upholds professional standards for genetic counselors across the United States.

Heather shares her insights on the critical role of the board in ensuring financial transparency, proactive management and strategic oversight. She also emphasizes the importance of a robust onboarding process for new board members, which should include financial training to cover the basics as well as the organization's financial philosophy.

We also discuss the importance of a strong, supportive relationship between the board and the CEO, where...

Dr. Chad Bledsoe is President of Montgomery Community College in North Carolina. The College offers a wide range of educational opportunities including associate degrees, technical diplomas, certificates and continuing education programs.

In this episode, we explore why financial and risk oversight is essential for effective governance and decision-making in community colleges. Dr. Bledsoe emphasizes the importance of aligning financial strategies with the institution's mission and goals, and ensuring that resources are used effectively to support student success and community engagement.

He shares his perspective on how boards can function efficiently by fostering a culture of transparency...

Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew is the CEO of Soulstice Consultancy, an organization dedicated to helping leaders with executive coaching, community engagement and culture development, as well as assisting nonprofits with board governance and capacity building.

Dr. Booker-Drew shares her insights on financial and risk oversight for nonprofit boards. From her perspective, this means being proactive rather than reactive, asking questions about financial management, ensuring the board has members with financial expertise, and integrating finances and risk into strategic planning.

She also shares real-life anecdotes and practical advice on fostering a culture of financial responsibility and risk awareness...

Ben Niehaus is Director of Member Services for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards. He also worked as a school superintendent in Northern Wisconsin so brings lots of experience.

Ben shares his expertise on several key areas that school board members need to stay informed about, as well as the importance of effective communication with stakeholders. He talks about the importance of continuous improvement and staying updated on best practices in school board governance.

Ben gave some really practical strategies for making training programs more flexible and accessible, and we also discussed how technology can support...

Cheretta A. Clerkley, is the Executive Director of the Association for Positive Behavior Support, a nonprofit based in New Jersey. APBS is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to promoting positive behavior support across various settings such as schools, families and communities.

Cheretta and I discussed the critical role that continuous learning and development plays in enhancing the effectiveness of volunteer boards. Cheretta shares her journey of streamlining the board from over 30 members to a more manageable 11, and discusses the importance of governance training and communication skills.

She also emphasizes the significance of ongoing training and effective onboarding...

Dr. Audrey Young is a member of the Texas State Board of Education and the Chair of the Committee on Instruction for TSBE. Dr. Young represents District 8 and brings a wealth of experience and insight into the critical role of school board training and development, in fact she covered this in her dissertation for her PhD.

In this episode, we explore why board training is essential for effective governance and decision-making in public education, how it can help school boards function efficiently and the importance of ongoing education in areas such as AI and cyber risk.

...

Julie Castro Abrams is the CEO of How Women Lead, an organization dedicated to empowering women to take on leadership roles and she has also served on many nonprofit boards.  

Julie shares her insights on how board training and development can transform organizations. For nonprofits, this means understanding the unique role of the board, from governance to strategic oversight, and how to ensure that board members are equipped to ask the right questions and add value without overstepping. 

We also discuss the importance of a strong, supportive relationship between the board and the CEO. Julie shares rea...

From recruiting and onboarding members to fostering collaboration and navigating complex decision-making, this 4-part series covers critical aspects of building boards that can drive meaningful impact.

Whether you're an experienced executive or an emerging leader, these episodes offer valuable takeaways for enhancing your organization’s governance practices.

We hear from 4 experts who share their practical guidance and real-world examples.

We hope you enjoy the conversations and find them insightful and interesting!

For more resources on board development and training:
Nonprofit: www.boardeffect.com/leadingwithpurposeEducation and government: www.diligent.com/leadingwithpurpose