On August 26th, 2023, I interviewed Christopher Girodat, founder of Girodat Consulting. Chris has led employers through bargaining negotiations (including for initial agreements); established comprehensive occupational health and safety management systems; organized conferences, including a four-day conference for student-focused nonprofit professionals, with nearly 200 delegates from across Canada; and led boards through organizational transformations including bylaw overhauls, strategic planning processes, and other complex governance challenges.
The theme of our conversation was specifically on the growth of social enterprises, charities, not-for-profits, and other elements of civil-society, which have been gradually expanding since the 1980s-1990s. With more people than ever are participating in the social economy as staff, board members, or volunteers, we investigated the increased need for strategists, consultants, and other advisors to keep civil-society functional in an ever-changing world.
The event had six attendees, many of whom were from other organizations with their own expertise. The questions asked at the webinar were as follows:
- In your field of work, do you find that not-for-profit organizations have become increasingly strategic in meeting the challenges of the 2020s? If yes, what are the implications? If not, what can be done to change this?
- As not-for-profit organizations continually become more significant and widespread, is there a need for third-party consultants anymore, or do these organizations do their R&D exclusively in-house? What are the benefits of having fresh eyes on an organization, even if the organizations can review themselves?
- The rapid speed at which technology changes continually redefines industries and sectors of the economy. How is technology changing your field of work? Moreover, what are the elements of your job that are always going to be the same?
- As technology makes the world more complex, how can one ever truly understand how it impacts their work?
- Does technologies rapid rate of change mean that not-for-profits are at the mercy of events, or are there still ways to plan for the future?
- Since strategy is essential to organizing successful campaigns, programs, and events, are most not-for-profit staff prioritizing it? If not, how can those interested in effective strategizing communicate its significance?
- What are the fundamental principles of strategy that are both applicable in personal and professional life?
- How do activists develop the personal traits of critical thinking and bring them into practice?
Dakota McGovern 