Career Advice for Senior Leaders

As our careers span decades, we constantly encounter the need for change. This might mean stepping up to a bigger organization, aligning more closely with our evolving passions and strengths, or taking on greater (or lesser) responsibilities. Sometimes, the change we contemplate is more radical, such as a shift in career, role, or sector. This journey often prompts deep reflection: What impact do I aim to achieve? How can I best further the causes that are close to my heart?

For those leading nonprofit organizations, these questions carry extra weight as their decisions directly impact efforts to tackle some of the most pressing global issues, including climate change, systemic racism, democratic integrity, and the delivery of crucial human services.

The challenges become even more intricate for veteran leaders contemplating their next steps. Questions like “What do I want my next role to be, especially if it might be my last?” “How do I define retirement for myself?” “Can I afford to retire and is retirement truly what I desire?” and “What legacy will I leave behind?” become paramount.

At La Piana Consulting, it is our honor to guide senior leaders throughout the nonprofit sector on these vital strategic and organizational matters. Through building deep, trusting relationships, our clients often seek our counsel on more personal dilemmas in preparation for their future moves.

To aid in these transformative periods, we’ve developed the Next Steps Workbook for Senior Executives. This self-paced tool comprises a series of thoughtful inquiries that help nonprofit leaders contemplating a career transition to arrange their thoughts, ponder their values, and assess their career trajectory thus far. This reflection fosters more informed decision-making about their futures.

We encourage you to utilize this complimentary resource, share it with peers, and provide us with feedback on your experience. Should you wish to discuss any of these topics further, we are just a conversation away.