What does it take to create lasting change in an organization that is rooted in dignity, justice, and care? Too often, leadership and consulting focus on quick fixes instead of investing in deeper and necessary cultural shifts. Today, we explore how organizations can foster true transformation by embracing a more holistic approach and prioritizing what truly matters.
Our guest, Ora Grodsky, is a mission-driven consultant and author of the new book Justice, Love, and Organizational Healing. With over 25 years of experience, she helps social justice organizations repair harm, strengthen leadership, and align with their values. Drawing from a unique background in acupuncture, nonprofit management, and organizational development, Ora brings a holistic, human-centered approach to change. In today’s eye-opening conversation, Ora breaks down her approach to transformational consulting. She sees organizations as living systems where true change requires healing, connection, and cultural awareness. Quoting the Talmud, she reminds us: “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” This belief guides her work, helping organizations move beyond surface-level fixes to deep, justice-driven transformation.
She also explains how dominant cultural forces, including white supremacy, shape workplace dynamics and decision-making, before unpacking how organizations can begin to address and heal from these damaging patterns. By aligning values with action, she helps leaders create workplaces that don’t just function but truly embody justice and care.
Tune in for her powerful insights on how to build lasting, meaningful change together!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Ora’s unique background ranging from acupuncture to nonprofit management. [02:40]
- Insights from a profound quote in the Talmud included Ora’s book. [06:38]
- Ways that Ora’s background in acupuncture has shaped how she consults. [11:51]
- The three different types of consulting and the details of transformational consulting. [15:01]
- How Ora chooses which organizations to partner with: shared values and goals. [18:43]
- Types of organizations that Ora typically works with and the issues she addresses. [22:00]
- Where to start in the process of undertaking organizational change. [23:53]
- The hardest, most intractable problems Ora has come up against. [27:53]
- Recognizing how the culture of white supremacy has shaped organizational cultures. [31:12]
- Ora’s holistic understanding of systems, how it differentiates her as a consultant, and the top thing she wants listeners to take from her book. [35:50]
For More Information:
Ora GrodskyOra Grodsky on LinkedIn
Justice, Love, and Organizational Healing
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Kathy’s interview with Shawn Achor - How Your Happiness Level Directly Impacts Your Success
Tema Okun’s seminal work on White Supremacy CultureStephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Fatimah Gilliam’s book Race Rules: What Your Black Friend Won’t Tell You
And Kathy’s Finding Brave interview with Fatimah Gilliam - Race Rules: What Your Black Friend Won’t Tell You
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Quotes:
“This comes from the Talmud, the Jewish text – ‘Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” — Ora Grodsky [0:06:40]
“That's how I see transformational consulting: [it means] creating spaces within which people can have the kind of process where they deeply connect to self, deeply connect to each other, and see a wider view of the system that they're in and how we got here.” — Ora Grodsky [0:16:51]
“Only looking at the single bottom line of ‘Where's profit?’ is what has gotten us to the verge of potential extinction with climate disaster; because we're looking for cheaper and faster. As long as we're [always] looking for cheaper and faster – we are not going to be here for too long.” — Ora Grodsky [0:19:26]
“I believe in working with people at all levels of an organization, but I do believe, as the crass saying goes, a fish rots from the head.” — Ora Grodsky [0:24:19]
“Urgency is really often something that comes with an attitude of dominance and subjugation, which I think is the root of white supremacy – the idea that some people deserve to ‘have’ and deserve resources and deserve to be human, and some people don't.” — Ora Grodsky [0:28:36]
“That dominance and subjugation ideology [at] the root of white supremacy is [often] what drives urgency: ‘We need to be better. We need to accumulate more. We need to do better, faster.’ There's so much pressure – for everyone, that letting go of that urgency is really hard.” — Ora Grodsky [0:28:55]
Watch our Finding Brave episodes on YouTube!
Don’t forget – you can experience each Finding Brave episode in both audio and video formats! Check out new and recent episodes on my YouTube channel at YouTube.com/kathycaprino. And please leave us a comment and a thumbs up if you like the show!
