
By Danielle Rocheleau, CEO
As we ease into the rhythm of 2025, I can’t help but reflect on how fresh starts have a way of bringing clarity. There’s something about the downtime over the holidays that lets the mind wander to places we don’t often have the time—or headspace—to explore. It’s when we naturally start to evaluate what we want more of, what we want less of, and how we’ll approach the months ahead.
This year feels different. After the significant changes of the last few years, the landscape we’re working in has shifted dramatically. Old ways of doing things no longer fit as seamlessly. The challenges our clients are facing—and by extension, the work we’re doing—have evolved. For Laridae, 2025 is shaping up to be a year of recalibration and renewal.
So, how are we embracing this? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what a fresh start looks like for Laridae this year:
- Reflecting on our values
- Reconsidering our strategy
- Reenergizing our offerings
- Building a culture of accountability
I’ve also included prompting questions to help you reflect about change in your own organization. Please feel free to get in touch if you’d like to discuss these further.
Reflecting on Our Values
At Laridae, values are more than words on a page; they’re how we show up every day for each other and our clients. Over the last few months, our team has been deeply reflecting on what truly matters to us—what aligns with who we are today and how we want to behave in the future.
This work has been intentional, iterative, and meaningful. We’re almost there, and I can already feel the impact it’s having on our collective focus and energy.
Reflection questions for non-profit leaders
- What role do your organization’s stated values currently play in daily decision-making and interactions with staff, clients, and stakeholders?
- In what ways do your values guide your approach to building relationships, solving challenges, and pursuing new opportunities?
- What small, tangible steps could you take this week to begin embedding your organization’s values more deeply into your culture?
Reconsidering Our Strategy
Strategic planning is what we do, but even the best-laid plans need to be adaptable. In 2023, we launched a new strategic plan that helped anchor us in a time of uncertainty. But strategy isn’t a one-and-done exercise. It’s iterative. It responds to the world we’re operating in. And right now, that world looks very different than it did even a year ago.
We’ve been asking ourselves tough questions: Are we keeping pace with our clients’ needs? Are we meeting the moment as well as we could?
As I explored in my post “Is Consulting Dead?”, what our clients need from us is shifting, and it’s our responsibility to pivot alongside them.
Reflection questions for non-profit leaders
- How well does your strategy address the evolving needs of your clients, community, or stakeholders?
- What external changes—economic, social, or political—might impact your strategy, and how are you preparing for them?
- What signals or indicators would tell you that it’s time to make significant adjustments to your strategy?
Reenergizing Our Offerings
If you know Laridae, you know we excel in strategic planning and management training. That’s not changing. What is changing is how we deliver these services to meet the realities our clients face:
- Senior leadership turnover.
- Challenges finding and retaining volunteer board members.
- Limited access to funding.
- Growing demands for services.
In response, we’re expanding cohort-based models that allow leaders to learn, grow, and support each other in real time. For example, Strategy Academy has been a game-changer for organizations looking to strengthen their strategic planning muscle while staying accessible and impactful.
Reflection questions for non-profit leaders
- What are the most pressing challenges your clients or stakeholders face today, and how is your organization adapting to address them?
- How do you balance staying true to your core strengths with innovating new ways to meet emerging needs?
- What feedback mechanisms do you have in place to understand how well your offerings align with the current realities of your community?
Building a Culture of Accountability
The workplace norms that carried us through the last few decades simply don’t fit anymore. Over the years, Laridae has experimented with—and embraced—approaches that foster trust, decentralize decision-making, and prioritize clarity.
This year, we’re doubling down on what works:
- An accountability chart that defines roles clearly, emphasizing collaboration over hierarchy.
- Policies and structures that support people in fully owning their responsibilities.
- Quarterly objectives that keep everyone aligned and moving in the same direction.
- Reevaluating our internal meetings to ensure we’re spending our time intentionally.
When accountability is embedded in our culture, it creates an environment where every team member feels empowered to bring their best to the table.
Reflection questions for non-profit leaders
- What steps could you take to decentralize decision-making and empower team members to take ownership of their work?
- Are your current policies and structures effectively supporting accountability, or are there areas where they may unintentionally create confusion or barriers?
- When was the last time you evaluated your internal meeting structures to ensure they are intentional and productive?
Your Fresh Start
As we step into this year, my question for you is: How will you make 2025 a fresh start for your organization?
At Laridae, we’re here to support you in navigating this new landscape with clarity and confidence. Whether you need help rethinking your strategy, strengthening your culture, or building capacity in your team, we’re ready to partner with you to make 2025 your most impactful year yet.
Let’s connect—book a call to explore how we can work together.
Here’s to a fresh start,
Danielle Rocheleau
CEO, Laridae