What is an interim executive director? What does an interim executive director do? Why would you hire one? How do you hire one? Forgive me - I've been so busy describing the work that I may have forgotten to answer some first order questions about interim executive directors and interim CEOs. Let's tackle each one. What is an interim executive director or interim CEO? An interim executive director is a seasoned professional temporary leader who steps into the executive role f

Here's an example of 'The List'...blurred out to respect privacy. And a few important green markers :) We're finally through our first 30 days, and its been brutal and uplifting at the same time. You see the potential. You see the way to nirvana, but getting there? That's going to be a slog. It's time to synthesize everything we've heard and learned, communicate that to the board, and come up with a scrappy action plan for the next 9-12 months.  It's your turnaround blueprint

This is another deep dive in our first 30 days, and it’s a thorny one - how to work with boards under pressure. Let me start with this—I have a ton of respect for board members. It’s a thankless job. The pay is zero, the legal liability is real, and the time commitment often collides with jobs, families, and sanity. And when an organization is in crisis or transition? Forget it. The board is likely exhausted, burned out, and one emergency Zoom away from quitting. They’re over