Non-Profit Leadership Foundations Program

Lead with Confidence & Clarity

Join our newly launched leadership foundations program designed specifically for you: Executive Leaders in the non-profit sector.

Build community and receive direct support to set yourself up for success and impact in your role.

Who is this for?

This program is designed for new and emerging leaders of small to medium-sized non-profits, in particular, first time EDs and CEOs who have received limited or no formal training for their role, and/or are looking for more support on their leadership development journey.

Laridae’s Leadership Foundations Program is ideal for you if:

• You are currently, or soon will be, an executive leader of a non-profit organization (e.g. Executive Director, CEO, Managing Director, etc.).
• You want to best leverage your capacity to lead your organization to have an even bigger impact for your clients and community.
• You want to better understand the value of healthy dynamics between executive leadership and the board.
• You are eager to learn, have an open mind, and are willing to try new things.

What you will get out of this program

As a non-profit leader, you will graduate this program with the practical know-how you need to avoid common but costly missteps, and guide your organizations with newfound confidence and clarity.

• Understand your personal leadership style and how to play to your strengths
• Develop strategic clarity for your organization
• Deepen your understanding of good governance
• Lead purposeful change
• Understand how to set clear expectations and delegate well throughout the organization
• Increase your impact and leadership potential

Six Interactive Classroom Modules

Delivered virtually, each classroom module is interactive and engaging. All sessions are facilitated by leaders with extensive experience in the non-profit sector, who will be there to support you and help you apply the learnings in your own context.

Three Coffeehouse Discussion Sessions

Our popular ‘coffeehouse’ sessions provide a relaxed atmosphere for facilitated group discussion with your cohort, where we’ll all learn from each other as peers, build connections, and strengthen leadership and management skills together.

Three 1-on-1 Leadership Coaching Sessions

You’ll be paired with a dedicated Laridae coach to support you through the journey. These one-on-one coaching sessions create a safe place for you to reflect and ask the tough questions related to your unique challenges, development, and goals.

Take-home Tools and Guides

You won’t leave a session empty-handed. Each module includes take-home tools and guides which are yours to keep, so you can keep applying your learning in the future.

Module 1: “Intro to Leadership”

Build confidence in your personal leadership. Dive into the key areas and competencies that are critical for success in a non-profit leadership role. Explore what goes into effective non-profit leadership, learn about your own leadership style, how to play to your strengths, and focus on what matters most for your greatest impact.

Module 2: “Strategic Clarity”

Develop strategic clarity for your organization. Good strategy builds organizational capacity, enables good decision-making, assists with communication, and creates healthy work environments. In this module, you will learn how to build a positive strategic planning process. One that leads to deeper engagement, consensus, and a renewed commitment to your mission and vision.

Module 3: “Non-Profit Governance 101”

Deepen your understanding of good governance. Ensure that your Board members work well together, make effective decisions, and fulfill their fiduciary duties. Learn about the role of the Board versus the role of management, how to get good advice, and how to conduct Board business both efficiently and thoroughly.

Module 4: “Setting Expectations & Delegation”

Build capacity and drive performance. High impact leaders know how to delegate and set clear expectations. Develop your skills in these key competencies. Increase capacity by ensuring that the right level of work is being done at the right level of the organization. Lead staff toward greater independence and collaboration.

Module 5: “Leading Through Change”

Lead purposeful change. How do people react when change occurs? What role should they play to help manage change? What do you need for change to be successful? Grounded in the fundamentals of change management, you’ll learn how individuals and organizations react to change, and what you can do to help your team navigate change. Leave with increased confidence and practical tools to successfully lead your next change initiative.

Module 6: “Developing People”

Learn how to effectively develop others. Explore how to create connections between your organization’s values and those of your team, and how to use coaching skills as a leader. You’ll learn how to develop your team and create the conditions for your organization to have its greatest impact.

Danielle Rocheleau
CEO

As CEO, Danielle leads the Laridae team, driving the future growth of the company. The foundation of Danielle’s professional experience, career, and passion has been rooted in community development. An entrepreneurial, strategic thinker, Danielle deploys collaborative approaches to problem-solving. She leads some of Laridae’s highest profile strategic planning, governance, communications, and branding projects.

Prior to consulting, she held executive roles with the Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster (GPIC) and Peterborough & Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED). Danielle has actively engaged in governance throughout her career as a volunteer Board member of non-profits. She recently completed her Chartered Director (C.Dir.) program at McMaster University. Bilingual, Danielle is originally from Timmins.

Caitlin Patterson
Consultant

Caitlin Patterson is a Metis woman with roots from the High Waters Region and Kawartha Lakes in Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Women’s studies with an emphasis on Indigenous women and a certificate in Non-profit Leadership for Impact from the University of Toronto. Caitlin has years of experience working with national organizations to create culturally relevant opportunities with Indigenous youth, leading program operations, brand development, and organizational growth.

As a consultant and inclusion specialist, Caitlin applies a culturally informed approach to strategic planning, facilitation and stakeholder engagement, organizational crisis/risk management, and strategic governance. Caitlin has completed projects that include cultural audits, diversity & inclusion consultations, equitable program development, diverse strategic visioning, with organizations such as Girl Guides of Canada, Association of Midwives Trust, York Catholic District School Board, Small Economy Works, and Ontario Camps Association.

Diane Pick
Consultant

Diane’s expertise includes strategic leadership and building high-functioning organizations. With 30 years of experience as a leader of Children’s Treatment Centres in Ontario she has a deep practical understanding of the challenges that leaders in not-for-profit organizations experience. Her knowledge and expertise provide community leaders with support to maximize their impact and leadership potential. Her communication and facilitation skills enhance the interactive training program so all participants sharpen their leadership skills to leverage their capacity to demonstrate effective outcomes for their organizations.

Diane has engaged in ongoing leadership training including a certificate in Public Sector Leadership from the Rotman School of Business and has held the designation of Certified Health Executive from the Canadian College of Health Leadership for more than 25 years.