What really happens when you put two nonprofit insiders in a room and ask them to solve the sector’s toughest hiring puzzles? In this episode, we sit down with Tom O’Connor, founder of TOC Arts Partners, to decode the mysteries of executive search, organizational strategy, and the human side of leadership.

Tune in for a conversation that goes beyond résumés and reference checks. Tom shares why the best searches start with curiosity, how to spot the difference between a good candidate and the right candidate, and why transparency is the ultimate retention tool. Along the way, we explore the subtle art of “discovery,” the realities of uncertainty in the nonprofit world, and the power of building teams that are more than the sum of their job descriptions.

Highlights include:

• The “knife fight in a phone booth” reality of today’s talent market

• How to turn candidate feedback into organizational growth

• Why culture fit is more than a buzzword (and how to get it right)

• The secret to making hiring less transactional and more transformational

• Tom’s take on humility, humor, and the impact sector’s future

Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, a job-seeker, or just someone who loves a good story about people making a difference, this episode is your invitation to rethink what it means to build a great team.