Author: Liz jarman

Succession isn’t just for CEOs. It’s for every leader who wants their work to last – tune in to hear more Investing in talent and talking openly about succession isn’t just good practice. It’s leadership in its truest form. When I decided to step down as CEO, I thought the hardest part would be the…

What Leaders Keep Asking Me There is no manual for being a CEO… Dear Reader When I became a CEO, I thought I knew what I was taking on.Strategy. Fundraising. Vision.Even if I didn’t know exactly how it all came together. But the real lessons? They came later. Over the years, and especially as I…

I’ve Got the Bites to Prove It What a mosquito at 3 a.m. reminded me about persistence, scale and staying connected to the work. Two weeks ago, I was in Uganda with a client to lead a workshop on partnering with government to scale. More on that later. When I got home, I was exhausted…

From Monday Emails to LinkedIn Posts (& this email) – Finding Connection in Leadership How a simple ritual evolved into something much bigger When I first started writing on LinkedIn (and in this newsletter), I had a clear purpose: Share my new venture, Volante Build visibility and credibility Spark interest in my services And if…

Mission statements: clarity or clutter? Why the best mission statements don’t try to inspire everyone – they help you decide what not to do. A good mission statement isn’t about clever words. It’s about clarity. The best mission statements do two things: They help you decide what you do. More importantly, they help you decide…

Is the Strategic Plan Still Relevant? Why smaller teams and uncertain times might actually make your next strategy stronger. I’ve been working with a client with a small budget and a new leader, helping them shape a strategic plan that feels both ambitious and realistic. It reminded me how much the planning process itself matters…

Why Do We Undervalue Impact in the Private Sector? Impact isn’t only a nonprofit story – it’s about how business gets done. When I moved from the private sector into the nonprofit world, I was often introduced as someone who had “seen the light” or “stepped over to the good side.” At the time, I…

What I Miss (and Don’t Miss) About Being a CEO Leadership rituals, team connection and the paradox of stepping away. When I was CEO at Living Goods, one of the rituals my team often mentioned was my Monday morning email. Every Friday (or, if I’m honest, sometimes Sunday), I’d write a short note with: My…

When Success Makes You Invisible Why mindset shifts matter when the spotlight moves elsewhere DearReader The Moment We Dream Of… I was recently working with a client who had helped create real momentum in their sector. This wasn’t overnight success.It came after years of: Producing evidence and publishing insights Testing and refining models – learning…

Leading through Organisational Change From messy teenagers to change-confident teams There is one truth every leader eventually bumps up against: change is the only constant. We’re told leadership is about providing clarity but it’s equally about holding space for ambiguity. Change is hard. People move through it at different paces. And the discomfort? Completely normal.…