If you are a nonprofit L&D pro, you know how to design learning experiences. You've got the experience. Yet, sometimes the trainings we spend time and money creating don't work.

And if you are a nonprofit leader, you want to ensure that what you spend valuable time and resources on works.

Over the years,  I've spent a lot of time thinking about this issue, and that's why in this episode, we're exploring the reasons why so many trainings fail and how to avoid that outcome, because your mission depends on it.

▶️ Why So Many Trainings Fail 

▶️ Key Points:

01:20 The reality of unsuccessful trainings

03:42 #1 Solving the wrong problem

06:12 #2 The scope is just too big

07:31 #3 Behavior change principles are missing 

09:35 #4 The lack of wraparound support

10:16 #5 Not actually measuring anything meaningful

Resources from this episode:

Find the full Workplace Learning Report 2025 here.

Catch up with episode 132, Translating Behavior Science into L&D Strategy: Lessons from Top Experts, to avoid reason #3.

Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective Catalyst Tier before November to attend our group coaching session on this topic: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective

Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review! 👇👇👇

Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends. 🔗

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

Empathy might be one of the most essential skills for learning designers, and there's no better place to learn it than design thinking. That's why, in this episode, I am joined by Sheryl Cababa, a design researcher and strategist, and the Chief Strategy Officer at Optimistic Design, to give us some insight into her process.

She clarifies what design thinking is and what it entails, how it can help us design better learning solutions and navigate stakeholders in the decision-making process, and three principles that will get you a level deeper in the analysis phase.

▶️ 3 Design Thinking Principles for Learning & Development Pros with Sheryl Cababa 

▶️ Key Points:

03:37 How Sheryl is helping clients reimagine education with design

08:31 Design thinking or human-centered design in a nutshell

12:20 The significant benefits of using a design thinking approach in L&D

17:52 Understand everyone's incentives

19:42 Always center the end user in your work

20:45 Think about your most extreme users

24:28 Valuable resources to get started with design thinking

Resources from this episode:

Get Sheryl's book Closing the Loop: Systems Thinking For Designers.

For a toolkit with practical tips on applying human-centered design, access IDEO's Design Kit.

For a breakdown of what it means to do research around design and user experience, check out the book: Just Enough Research by Erika Hall.

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

Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review! 👇👇👇

Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends. 🔗

Connect with Sheryl

LinkedIn: Sheryl Cababa

Website: optimistic.design

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

Training is often the go-to solution in our nonprofits. But what if I told you that training isn't always the right solution?

In this episode, I discuss why jumping to solutions without first diagnosing the problem can be a bad idea, and I share some situations where training works well and others where a different solution is necessary.

▶️ When Training Works and When It Doesn't 

▶️ Key Points:

01:20 Training may not be the right solution

02:27 What must always be the first step

03:49 Four good use cases for training

10:02 Five times when training doesn't work

12:11 Where you can learn to know when to use training

Resources from this episode:

Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective Catalyst Tier before November to attend our group coaching session on this topic: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective

Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review! 👇👇👇

Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends. 🔗

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

When we think of a high-performance team, we usually think of things like productivity, how much effort people are putting in, accountability, and higher outputs and profits. All that is important, but there is one other thing without which a team will never be high-performing.

In this episode, I sit down with Ashley Cox, a leadership mentor who equips women to build high-performance teams they trust. She shares what the missing piece is for your team, as well as practical strategies to implement this key ingredient and ensure your team's success.

▶️ Team Struggling to Meet Expectations? THIS is the Missing Piece with Ashley Cox 

▶️ Key Points:

02:02 How Ashley's career started down an unexpected but welcome path

05:31 THE missing piece to building a high-performing team

09:12 The Triangle of Trust framework for high performance

11:16 Strategies for leaders to build trust in their team

16:07 Strategies for leaders to earn and maintain their team's trust

20:43 The value of having support as you work on building trust

22:46 Strategies to foster trust among team members

26:46 Signs that you succeeded in  creating high trust in your team

30:55 The impact ripples of not building trust among your teams

33:48 Vulnerability isn't a weakness

Resources from this episode:

Learn more about Ashley's book, Transform Your Stories.

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

Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review! 👇👇👇

Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends. 🔗

Connect with Guest

LinkedIn: Ashley Cox

Website: ashleycox.co

Podcast: The Impact Ripple

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

Welcome to episode 150 of the Learning For Good podcast! Thank you, dear listener. This podcast has grown so much since 2022, and it's all because of you.

In this special episode, we are doing something a little different to celebrate: I'm going to be on the other side of the mic as  my friend, fellow nonprofit consultant and community builder, Tasha Van Vlack, interviews me.

You'll get my story, my career journey, and what I see as the biggest setbacks and opportunities for nonprofit learning and development.

▶️ Key Points:

02:17 Meet today's special interviewer, Tasha Van Vlack, and her story

06:00 Heather's journey from unsure English major to nonprofit L&D consultant

11:40 The importance of creating learning experiences that are meaningful

12:26 What's behind creating change and turning learning into action

14:30 How the right training can save lives and where change happens

17:24 The one big trap in L&D  that we don't talk enough about

21:12 How to measure whether or not a training resulted in real impact

27:58 The why behind the podcast and the Nonprofit L&D Collective

29:58 The valuable peer-led learning and conversations within the Collective

32:51 Helping people do the most good in a way that feels good

Resources from this episode:

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

Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review! 👇👇👇

Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends. 🔗

Connect with Tasha

LinkedIn: Tasha Van Vlack

Website: communityhives.com

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

How can we create a high-performance culture that benefits not just the organization, but also the individuals in it? In this episode, I sit down with Brett Myles, leadership coach and Founder of LeadWell, and we dive deep into how to create a culture that will support all parts of the organization.

By the end of this episode, you'll have new tools to help you navigate conflict, help leaders and teams better lead themselves, and create a culture where people feel known, seen, and valued, there's joy in the work, and a mission and vision everyone can get behind.

▶️ Key Ingredients in a High-Performance Culture with Brett Myles 

▶️ Key Points:

02:46 How Brett's journey led him to start his leadership coaching business

11:01 Who LeadWell has been serving

12:01 Culture and the changing approach to high performance

17:55 Three key ingredients of a high-performance culture

22:01 The critical role of leaders and what makes a good one

26:15 How to set yourself up for success when it comes to navigating conflict

32:49 What leadership is all about and the need to approach it as a system

Resources from this episode:

Get to know yourself better with the 5 Voices Assessment Brett mentions.

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

Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review! 👇👇👇

Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends. 🔗

Connect with Brett

LinkedIn: Brett Myles

Website: letsleadwell.com

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

Designing a learning experience for the average learner is a thing of the past, we must now design for everyone. So, in this episode of Learning for Good, I am joined by accessibility expert Dr. Nicole L'Etoile. We're diving deep into how we can design learning strategies in our organizations that work for ALL learners.

You'll understand why accessibility is a foundational part of L&D, discover barriers your learners might be facing, and learn how to start being more inclusive today.

▶️ 8 Major Accessibility Insights for Your Nonprofit Learning Strategy with Nicole L'Etoile 

▶️ Key Points:

01:20 What it feels like when accessibility and inclusion are missing

03:38 Meet Nicole L'Etoile and her path to accessibility work

07:30 Why accessibility is important for nonprofit L&D leaders

09:41 Two examples of barriers that learners might be facing

13:29 Steps for more inclusive and accessible design

16:33 The most common accessibility shortcomings found in audits

20:34 A sneak peek into our upcoming webinar: Roadmap to Accessibility

23:14 First steps you can take now toward accessibility

Resources from this episode:

Join our Roadmap to Accessibility: How to Shift Mindsets, Culture, and Workflows webinar on September 23, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Central Time.

Learn more about the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Check out Nicole L'Etoile's Making Online Content Accessible For All Course.

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

Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review! 👇👇👇

Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends. 🔗

Connect with Guest

LinkedIn: Nicole L'Etoile

Website: letoile-education.com

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

In this episode of Learning for Good, we’re exploring how nonprofit leaders can take actionable steps to maintain performance and build capacity even during stressful seasons. If your team is feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or stuck in reactive mode, this episode offers timely advice rooted in real-world nonprofit experience.

▶️ Stretched Thin? Three Capacity Building Strategies Every Nonprofit Leader Can Use Today 

▶️ Key Points:

01:20 Stress is impacting your nonprofit more than you think

02:50 Three capacity building strategies in times of stress

07:44 What these capacity building strategies can do for your organization

Resources from this episode:

Episode 140: Building a Learning Strategy to Support Your Succession Plan with Naomi Hattaway

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

Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review! 👇👇👇

Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends. 🔗

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

Get ready to change the way you think about designing training scenarios in this episode of Learning for Good. I have used scenarios myself, and I really do think this is a skillset that we all need to get better at because scenarios are such a helpful tool in learning. That's why today I'm talking to Srividya Kumar, a learning design leader and co-founder of Learnnovators.

She makes designing scenarios approachable and shares what we need to know to create training scenarios that truly engage and allow the learner to navigate the situation and learn from their own decisions and judgments.

Whether you're just starting out with scenario design or you have some experience under your belt, this episode will give you the tools you need to up your scenario-based training game.

▶️ How to Design Realistic Training Scenarios that Actually Work with Srividya Kumar

▶️ Key Points:

03:07 Srividya's career in L&D and her passion for learning design

05:59 Defining what a training scenario is

07:45 When scenarios are helpful and when they're not

11:01  How to create scenarios that are realistic and relevant

18:12 Four things to avoid when creating scenarios

20:36 What brings scenarios to life and what gets in the way

25:42 Expert advice for those starting out with scenario design

Resources from this episode:

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

Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review! 👇👇👇

Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends. 🔗

Connect with Srividya

LinkedIn: Srividya Kumar

Website: learnnovators.com

Podcast: The Learning+ 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

Creating a strong learning culture is no longer a luxury - it's a necessity for nonprofit leadership development and sustainable mission impact. In this episode, I sit down with leadership coach and author Yogi Mueller to explore how nonprofits can foster curiosity, promote vulnerability, and embed learning into their everyday operations.

Whether you're facing high turnover, stagnant performance, or disengaged teams, building a learning culture can be the catalyst for change. 

▶️ How to Make Learning Part of Your Nonprofit's DNA with Yogi Mueller 

▶️ Key Points:

[03:14] Introducing Yogi Mueller and his leadership journey

[06:01] Defining a learning culture

[09:25] Creating a desire to learn

[12:26] Building a strategic learning culture from the top down and bottom up

[19:25] Shifting leader mindsets around learning

[22:28] The challenges organizations face when building a learning culture

[27:43] Advice for L&D professionals building learning cultures

Resources from this episode:

The Great Slapping: The Power of Mentorship by Yogi Mueller

Episode 103: 5 Low Cost Leadership Development Activities

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

Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review! 👇👇👇

Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends. 🔗

Connect with Yogi

LinkedIn: Yogi Mueller

Website: craftleadership.net 

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