Learning for Good | L&D Solutions and Leadership Development for Nonprofits

Hosted by Heather Burright, Learning and Development Leader, Leadership Development Consultant, Instructional Designer.

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Oct 2026

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As nonprofit learning and development leaders, we want a seat at the table. We want to be viewed as true business partners who can help solve problems. We want to create meaningful learning solutions that fit in the flow of work and yield real results for the organization and for the staff. That's why in this podcast, we will not only explore instructional design and leadership development best practices, but we will also explore change management, belonging, and influence - helping you build the case for the solutions your organization needs so you can show up confidently in conversations with other senior leaders, subject matter experts, staff, and partners. If we haven't met yet, I'm Heather, and I’ve been in your shoes. I'm a learning and development consultant and the founder and principal consultant at Skill Masters Market. Before starting Skill Masters Market, I worked for a large national nonprofit where I led learning and development leadership initiatives. I know what it’s like to need to develop your staff quickly and effectively, and to build the relationships and cut through the organizational layers to be successful. With an eye for the larger strategy and the creative design process, I've created hundreds of learning experiences - in-person, self-paced, and virtual classroom - and have worked with dozens of leaders and their staff to help them achieve their organization’s professional development goals. So if you're ready to bust through the barriers and start creating behavior change in your nonprofit, this podcast is for you. Let's dive in. It's Learning for Good. Nonprofit Management | Leadership Training | Leadership Development | Staff Management | Change Management | Instructional Design | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Learn more: www.skillmastersmarket.com Connect with me: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-burright Schedule a call: https://bit.ly/3GQT6Yg

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November 2, 2026Episode 21013 min

Why Organizational Change Stalls when Habits Don't Shift

In learning and development, we know that you can roll out a new system, restructure a team, or announce a new strategy in your nonprofit, and still find people working the same way they always have, even with training. In this episode of Learning for Good, I break down why organizational change doesn't stick and which workplace behavior change strategies help the new way become the normal way. Training and a clear message matter, but they aren't the only things people need. Behavior changes when the conditions around it make the new behavior the default. ▶️ Why Organizational Change Stalls when Habits Don't Shift ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Why Workplace Behavior Change Feels So Hard 00:04:58 The Real Unit of Organizational Change 00:08:14 Example: Turning a Problem-Solving Manager into a Coach 00:11:38 Questions to Ask When Organizational Change Doesn't Stick Resources from this episode: Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

October 26, 2026Episode 20934 min

How to Chase Your Training Stakeholders without Looking Desperate with Carson Parrish

In nonprofit Learning and Development, we depend on stakeholders to get our work done. But our stakeholders have their own priorities, so we often end up chasing, pushing, and sometimes telling ourselves that they don't value our work. In this episode of Learning for Good, I sit down with Carson Parrish, Director of Learning and Development at Seed Company, to talk about what it takes to actually work well with the stakeholders we depend on. Collaboration starts long before the project does, with trust, real curiosity about what your stakeholders value, and an invitation to bring them all the way into the work. ▶️ How to Chase Your Training Stakeholders without Looking Desperate with Carson Parrish ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Learning and Development Depends on Stakeholders 00:03:31 Carson's Career Pivot from Law Enforcement to Nonprofit L&D 00:06:58 How to Build Effective Stakeholder Relationships 00:12:41 Engaging with Stakeholders 00:19:30 Managing Stakeholder Disagreements 00:24:42 How to Stop Chasing Stakeholders Resources from this episode: Join the Learning for Good Summit on October 28: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/influence-to-action Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Carson LinkedIn: Carson Parrish Website: seedcompany.com Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

October 19, 2026Episode 20813 min

How to Prove Learning Impact without a Complicated ROI Spreadsheet

In this episode of Learning for Good, I share how to find evidence that your staff training and development is working, even when you can't prove the training caused the result. In L&D, we can get hung up on proof. We want to prove that manager development reduced turnover or that leadership training improved performance, and because we can't draw a straight line from training to organizational results, we sometimes stop looking for evidence altogether. I think we're asking the wrong question. Instead of asking, "Can I prove this training caused that result?" we can ask, "If this learning is working, what would I expect to see?" ▶️ How to Prove Learning Impact without a Complicated ROI Spreadsheet ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Why We Get Hung Up on Proving Training Results 00:03:52 Defining Learning Success With Stakeholders 00:06:37 Mapping the Path Backward From Success 00:08:26 Designing for Behavior Change 00:10:13 Looking for Evidence That Learning Works Resources from this episode: Questions to ask in early stakeholder conversations: E192: 10 Questions Strategic Learning Leaders Ask: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/blog/10-strategic-questions-learning-leaders-ask Episodes on creating change through learning: E196: Four Conditions for Lasting Workplace Behavior Change: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/blog/four-conditions-for-lasting-workplace-behavior-change E193: Why Staff Need a Reason to Change Behavior: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/blog/why-staff-need-a-reason-to-change-behavior E172: Rethinking the Role of L&D: From Order Taker to Change Agent: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/blog/rethinking-the-role-of-lampd-from-order-taker-to-change-agent Episodes on measuring learning: E188: 5 Levels of Training Impact: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/blog/5-levels-of-training-impact E117: How to Measure Behavior Change and Impact from Training: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/blog/how-to-measure-behavior-change-and-impact-from-training E59: How to Measure the Impact of Your Training and Development: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/blog/how-to-measure-the-impact-of-your-training-and-development Join the Learning for Good Summit on October 28: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/influence-to-action Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

October 12, 2026Episode 20730 min

Why Learning Is Central to Your Nonprofit's Success and Sustainability with Playworks CEO Elizabeth Cushing

How do you get your CEO to see staff development as central to your nonprofit's success rather than something that is nice to have? In this episode of Learning for Good, I sit down with Elizabeth Cushing, CEO of Playworks, to explore how a nonprofit CEO thinks about learning and development and staff training and development. In nonprofits, resources always feel finite, and staff development often loses out to more urgent priorities, even for leaders who believe deeply in their people. However, if your organization is a body, learning is the nervous system, and that makes investing in your people central to your mission. ▶️ Why Learning Is Central to Your Nonprofit's Success and Sustainability with Playworks CEO Elizabeth Cushing ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Learning Is Central to Your Nonprofit's Success 00:03:21 Elizabeth's Nonprofit Background 00:07:44 How Playworks Brings Play into Schools 00:09:38 How Learning and Staff Development Drive the Playworks Mission and Strengthen Their Organization 00:17:44 Why Staff Development Deserves Finite Nonprofit Resources 00:20:53 What Makes L&D a Strategic Partner in Achieving Goals 00:23:42 Advice for Nonprofit CEOs Juggling Competing Priorities Resources from this episode: Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Elizabeth LinkedIn: Elizabeth Cushing Website: playworks.org Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

October 5, 2026Episode 20612 min

How to Get Leadership Buy-In for Staff Development in Your Nonprofit

How do you get your CEO, COO, executive director, or board to see why investing in staff is not just important, it's mission critical? In this episode of Learning for Good, I break down how to get leadership buy-in for staff development in your nonprofit. The first step is to stop talking about training. Leadership already has a goal in the spotlight, and training isn't it, so pushing it into the conversation just gets you tuned out. I share how to connect a specific capability gap to the goal leadership already cares about, how to make the risk of ignoring that gap clear, and how to show leadership that their investment is working. ▶️ How to Get Leadership Buy-In for Staff Development in Your Nonprofit ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Getting Leadership to Invest in Staff Development 00:05:09 How to Step Into Your Leaders' Spotlight 00:07:46 Defining Outcomes 00:08:47 Proving the Investment Is Working Resources from this episode: Join the next Learning for Good Summit in October: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/influence-to-action Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

September 28, 2026Episode 20537 min

How to Build Relationships that Move Work Forward in Your Nonprofit with Morag Barrett

One of the most challenging parts of our jobs as nonprofit learning and development professionals is working with and through other people. This makes our ability to influence critical to our work. In this episode of Learning for Good, I sit down with leadership development consultant and relationship expert Morag Barrett to talk about how nonprofit learning and development professionals can build influence and strengthen the workplace relationships that make training initiatives succeed. Morag walks through her Relationship Ecosystem framework: ally, supporter, rival, and adversary. Most relationships aren't fixed in one category. Her advice is to start by moving your supporters closer to allies and to make sure you have at least one go-to ally relationship. ▶️ How to Build Relationships that Move Work Forward in Your Nonprofit with Morag Barrett ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Using Influence to Shape Work 00:04:13 Morag's Path Into Relationship and Leadership Work 00:08:57 The Part of Relationships You Can Control 00:13:24 From Transactional to Transformational Relationships 00:16:28 The Relationship Ecosystem: Ally, Supporter, Rival, Adversary 00:26:19 Relationship Pulse Check: Three Questions That Build Trust Resources from this episode: Morag’s Books: Cultivate: The Power of Winning Relationships by Morag Barrett You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work (and How to Show Up As One!) by Morag Barrett, Eric Spencer and Ruby Vesely Join the next Learning for Good Summit in October: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/influence-to-action Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Morag LinkedIn: Morag Barrett Website: skyeteam.com Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

September 21, 2026Episode 20430 min

How One Nonprofit Uses On-the-Job Training to Fulfill Its Mission with Amina Mohamed

How do you design training that actually leads to a job, not just a certificate? In this episode of Learning for Good, I sit down with Amina Mohamed, founder and executive director of Cameras for Girls , a Canadian charity advancing gender equality in media across Africa, to talk about designing learning around the change you want to create. So many nonprofits build training programs and hope people walk away better prepared, but hoping isn't the same as knowing a program creates real employment outcomes. For Amina, a training program only matters if it ends in a job, and that standard shapes every phase of how she builds and evaluates her work. ▶️ How One Nonprofit Uses On-the-Job Training to Fulfill Its Mission with Amina Mohamed ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Career Training Reflection 00:03:11 Introduction to Amina: From Film and Television to Cameras for Girls 00:09:07 The Mission Behind Cameras for Girls 00:12:38 Inside the Four-Phase Training Model 00:20:52 Amina's Vision for Cameras for Girls: Training Isn't the Goal, Change Is 00:25:03 Turning Training Into Lasting Impact Resources from this episode: Join the next Learning for Good Summit in October: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/influence-to-action Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Amina LinkedIn: Amina Mohamed Website: camerasforgirls.org Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

September 14, 2026Episode 20313 min

3 Small Shifts that Increase Your Credibility as a Learning Designer

In this episode of Learning for Good, I break down three practical shifts nonprofit learning designers can make to build credibility and grow their influence. Many competent learning and development professionals feel like their recommendations don't carry weight. It's frustrating to know you understand a problem and can offer a better solution, only to have that expertise go unheard. That gap usually has less to do with skill and more to do with how much evidence you've given people that you can be trusted. I explain why credibility isn't something you announce, it's something you build one interaction at a time until people trust your judgment enough to follow where you lead. ▶️ 3 Small Shifts that Increase Your Credibility as a Learning Designer ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 How Credibility Works in Nonprofit Leadership 00:03:26 How to Build Trust Within Your Nonprofit 00:05:31 3 Shifts that Increase Credibility as a Learning Designer 00:08:55 How Credibility Changes Stakeholder Buy-In Resources from this episode: Join the next Learning for Good Summit in October: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/influence-to-action Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

September 7, 2026Episode 20234 min

How Nonprofit Leaders Can Lead Under Pressure with Jay Abbasi

What do you do when the pressure at work never seems to let up? In this episode of Learning for Good, I sit down with peak performance coach Jay Abbasi to talk about what it takes to lead under pressure and how nonprofit L&D leaders can build resilience into how they lead themselves and others. Nonprofit leaders carry a heavy load, with tight resources, shifting priorities, and a mission that never feels like it can wait. That pressure builds and shapes how people think, communicate, and lead, often without them realizing it. This can push even strong leaders into constant reaction mode instead of intentional leadership. ▶️ How Nonprofit Leaders Can Lead Under Pressure with Jay Abbasi ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 How Pressure Shapes Nonprofit Leaders 00:03:10 Jay's Path From Personal Loss to Peak Performance Coaching 00:08:51 How L&D Leaders Can Stay Effective Under Pressure 00:13:32 What Pressure Does to the Brain 00:18:51 Building Clarity and Intention as a Learning Leader 00:22:46 Balancing Organizational Urgency With the Patience Behavior Change Requires 00:28:19 One Shift Nonprofit Leaders Can Make to Lead Under Pressure Resources from this episode: Join the next Learning for Good Summit in October: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/influence-to-action Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Jay LinkedIn: Jay Abbasi Website: jayabbasi.me Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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

August 31, 2026Episode 20119 min

The Biggest Mistakes We Make When Measuring Learning

Do you actually know if your training worked, or are you just hoping it did? In this episode of Learning for Good, I break down the five biggest mistakes nonprofit learning and development professionals make when measuring training impact. Most of us know we should be measuring our training, and we want to measure it, but somewhere between good intentions and actual practice, we get stuck. We settle for data that is easy to collect instead of data that tells us the truth. Good measurement isn't about checking a box, it's about using what you learn to make real decisions and show that the work actually matters. ▶️ The Biggest Mistakes We Make When Measuring Learning ▶️ Key Points: 00:00:00 Why Measuring Training Matters 00:03:00 The Kirkpatrick Model of Training Evaluation 00:04:23 The 5 Biggest Mistakes L&D Professionals Make When Measuring Learning 00:17:17 Turning Your Learning Dashboard into a Strategic Tool Resources from this episode: ATD Research: https://www.td.org/content/press-release/atd-research-measuring-learning-program-effectiveness-is-challenging Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective Connect with Heather LinkedIn: Heather Burright Website: skillmastersmarket.com Book an interest call with Heather here . ⭐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. 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