The New For Purpose CEO

Michelle Cutler and Danielle Ballantine
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Non-Profit

Ever wondered what happens when CEOs of purpose-driven organisations sit down together for a chat? With 30 years’ of combined experience in the for-purpose space, we knew these conversations should be stored and shared!! We tackle the real questions: How do you build and sustain a thriving organisational culture? How do you manage relationships with your board and your chair? How do you preserve your peace of mind while carrying the weight of responsibility of being a for-purpose CEO. For those who are new to the role or eyeing it on the horizon, the importance of a support network cannot be overstated. This is why this podcast was created - to be a valuable source of information and support, offering ideas and insights you can implement in your organisation immediately. We share the stories and challenges CEOs tell each other when we get together - and chat through how to address issues unique to NFP CEOs in every episode. Wherever you are in your NPF CEO journey, there’s something here for you. We are about our community supporting each other. Creating more impact and driving better outcomes for the sector and those that we serve is what we are all about. LINKS Website: https://thenfpceo.com.au/ This podcast is recorded on country of the Cameraygal and Darramuragal Peoples.

  1. 2d ago

    Aligning your senior leadership team

    High-performing leaders don’t always make a high-performing leadership team. In this episode of The NFP CEO, Michelle and Danielle explore how CEOs can build a more aligned, cohesive executive team. They discuss shared priorities, collective accountability, healthy disagreement, decision-making and leading beyond individual functions to achieve the best outcomes for the organisation. This episode covers: Top 5 Topics DiscussedBuilding a cohesive senior leadership team – Moving from high-performing functional leaders to one aligned executive team.Shared priorities and organisational strategy – Ensuring leaders focus on what the organisation needs to achieve, not just their own functions.Healthy disagreement and decision-making – Creating space for debate while achieving alignment and collective accountability.The CEO’s role in leadership alignment – Setting clear expectations, decision-making responsibilities and leading across the organisation.Breaking down silos and strengthening culture – Improving collaboration, resource allocation and consistent communication across teams. Connect with us: LinkedIn: The NFP CEO: Overview | LinkedIn Website: thenfpceo.com.au Michelle Cutler: Michelle Cutler | LinkedIn Danielle Ballantine: Danielle Ballantine | LinkedIn

  2. Sep 9

    Non Profit Branding - Your Zone of Unique Value

    What does your brand actually say about your organisation and does it match the experience people have when they deal with you? In this episode of The NFP CEO, we chat with Chelsea Beech, founder of Beech Agency, about why branding, communications and audience engagement matter so much for not-for-profits and for-purpose organisations. Chelsea shares a practical way for CEOs and leadership teams to think about their zone of unique value — moving beyond jargon like “unique value proposition” to ask a much more useful question: what makes our organisation valuable and relevant to the people we most want to reach? We talk about: Finding your organisation’s zone of unique valueWhy understanding your audience is just as important as understanding what you doBringing frontline and operational teams into brand and strategy conversationsCreating consistency across fundraising, marketing, corporate communications and the wider organisationThe changing expectations of donors, particularly younger generationsWhy trust, transparency and accountability are increasingly important in charity communicationsUsing storytelling to explain not just what you do, but how and why you do itWhy brand is much more than a logo, colours or fontsHow CEOs can assess whether their organisation’s messaging is clear, compelling, consistent and confidentHow to make the business case for brand investment to your board One of Chelsea’s most useful reminders is that your brand is ultimately about the place your organisation holds in the hearts and minds of the people you serve, your supporters, your employees and your wider community. For NFP leaders, that makes brand much bigger than marketing. It is about the experience of your organisation and whether everything you do tells the same story. Beech Agency | Strategy & creative for non-profit & for-purpose orgs Connect with us: LinkedIn: The NFP CEO: Overview | LinkedIn Website: thenfpceo.com.au Michelle Cutler: Michelle Cutler | LinkedIn Danielle Ballantine: Danielle Ballantine | LinkedIn

  3. Sep 2

    Your CFO is more than numbers - how the CEO can maximise their skills

    Financial management is about much more than balancing the books. For not-for-profit CEOs and boards, understanding the numbers is critical to financial sustainability, managing risk and delivering on mission. In this episode, Michelle and Danielle are joined by Tom Nisevic, an experienced CFO and business transformation leader, to explore how NFP leaders can use financial insight to make better strategic decisions. In this episode, we discuss:What every NFP CEO should know about their organisation’s financesWhy “no margin, no mission” mattersUnderstanding the true cost of delivering impactManaging funding concentration risk and diversificationHow CEOs should use budgets and forecasts to look forward, not just backwardThe importance of understanding the assumptions behind the numbersBuilding an effective CEO-CFO partnershipThe CFO’s role in board governance and decision-makingWhy every board paper should answer the question: “So what?”Creating a culture where CFOs can challenge thinkingWhy the CFO should be a strategic partner, not the “bad cop” The key messageYour CFO should be much more than the person who reports the numbers. A strong CEO-CFO partnership connects financial performance, strategy, risk, opportunity and organisational impact — helping NFPs make informed decisions and build long-term financial resilience. As Tom puts it, sustainable performance is about: Results × Behaviours Because in the NFP sector, financial sustainability isn't separate from mission — it enables the mission. Connect with us: LinkedIn: The NFP CEO: Overview | LinkedIn Website: thenfpceo.com.au Michelle Cutler: Michelle Cutler | LinkedIn Danielle Ballantine: Danielle Ballantine | LinkedIn

  4. Aug 26

    5 Cyber Safe Moves Every CEO Should Make

    Cybersecurity is a CEO and Board responsibility, not something you delegate to the IT crowd. In this episode, we explore five practical actions NFPs can take now to reduce cyber risk and protect people, data and service continuity. Our 5 prioritiesEnable MFA everywhereTrain your peopleLimit accessTest recoveryPatch, monitor and test The CEO questionIf your organisation suffered a major cyberattack tomorrow, could you protect your data, recover your systems and continue delivering essential services? Cybersecurity is now a core part of NFP governance, risk management and organisational resilience. This may be the prompt you need to review how you protect your data, your people and community. Connect with us: LinkedIn: The NFP CEO: Overview | LinkedIn Website: thenfpceo.com.au Michelle Cutler: Michelle Cutler | LinkedIn Danielle Ballantine: Danielle Ballantine | LinkedIn

  5. Aug 19

    Secrets of Successful Grant Seeking with Jo Garner

    How do you move beyond “apply for everything” and build a sustainable funding strategy? In this episode, Michelle and Danielle are joined by Jo Garner, CEO and founder of Strategic Grants, to unpack what it really takes to secure grant funding. Jo brings more than 30 years of experience across the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors and has worked with thousands of organisations across Australia and New Zealand. She shares why successful grant seeking starts long before the application is written — with strategy, planning, strong governance, clear priorities and genuine relationships with funders. In this episodeWe explore: What it means to be “funder ready”Why grant seeking should start with your organisation’s strategic plan and missionHow to avoid the “spray and pray” approach to grant applicationsWhy the best grant application is often determined before the writing beginsHow to identify and package projects that are genuinely fundableWhat funders want to see when assessing need, capability, outcomes and impactHow to build a funding prospect pipelineWhy relationships with funders are critical to sustainable philanthropic supportWhat should stay in-house and what can be outsourcedHow CEOs, boards and fundraising teams can manage funder relationships effectivelyUsing AI to improve grant-writing efficiency without losing your organisation’s voice, authenticity and confidentialityHow the rise of AI-generated applications could change the way funders assess open funding roundsWhy brand, reputation and networking may become increasingly important in getting noticed by fundersWhat happens after you win: acquittal, stewardship and nurturing the funder relationshipWhy organisations need to be careful about growing faster than their capacity to deliver Grant writing is only one part of successful grant seeking. The real work starts much earlier: understanding your mission, identifying your priorities, building evidence around need, developing fundable projects, researching the right funding opportunities and building authentic relationships with potential funders. As Jo puts it, the goal is to become “funder ready” creating a proactive, strategic and repeatable approach to funding rather than relying on last-minute applications. Strategic Grants | Secure Grant Funding for Nonprofits Connect with us: LinkedIn: The NFP CEO: Overview | LinkedIn Website: thenfpceo.com.au Michelle Cutler: Michelle Cutler | LinkedIn Danielle Ballantine: Danielle Ballantine | LinkedIn

  6. Aug 12

    Committees: Getting More from Your Board

    Board committees can be a powerful governance tool for NFP CEOs — but only when they are used effectively. In this episode of The NFP CEO, Michelle and Danielle discuss how CEOs can use committees to: Test business cases, recommendations and assumptions before they reach the boardKeep operational detail out of the boardroomStrengthen board decision-making and assuranceAvoid duplicating discussions between committees and the boardWork effectively with committee chairsUse committees as a sounding board for complex issuesShowcase executive capability and organisational bench strengthMaintain clear terms of reference, roles and responsibilities They also explore what to do when committees become too operational, how to avoid “no surprises” when reworking board papers, and how CEOs can help boards spend more time on strategy and less time on operational detail. Topics: NFP governance, board committees, NFP CEOs, board governance, CEO and board relationships, committee terms of reference, strategic governance. Connect with us: LinkedIn: The NFP CEO: Overview | LinkedIn Website: thenfpceo.com.au Michelle Cutler: Michelle Cutler | LinkedIn Danielle Ballantine: Danielle Ballantine | LinkedIn

  7. Aug 5

    The Neuroscience of Change Leadership with Clare Edwards

    Change is constant in the NFP sector and it's accelerating. So how can CEOs and leaders help their people navigate uncertainty, change fatigue and organisational transformation? In this episode of The NFP CEO Podcast, we speak with Clare Edwards from Brain Smart People Development about the neuroscience of change leadership and what it means for NFP leaders. We explore: Why change fatigue is becoming a major leadership challengeHow neuroscience explains our response to uncertainty and changeWhy traditional change management approaches aren't always enoughHow leaders can build psychological safety, agency and autonomyPractical tools for managing uncertainty, including the Circle of CertaintyWhy leaders need to create dialogue rather than simply communicateHow empathy, self-awareness and storytelling can improve change leadershipWhy CEOs need to help people become more comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguityThe importance of listening to sceptics and creating genuine employee engagement For NFP CEOs and leaders navigating reform, restructuring, funding uncertainty or organisational transformation, this conversation offers practical insights into leading people through change while keeping the human element at the centre. Guest: Clare Edwards: Human-centred Professional Development Connect with us: LinkedIn: The NFP CEO: Overview | LinkedIn Website: thenfpceo.com.au Michelle Cutler: Michelle Cutler | LinkedIn Danielle Ballantine: Danielle Ballantine | LinkedIn

  8. Jul 29

    What is Your Reserves Policy?

    How much money should a not-for-profit have in reserve? Is three months of operating expenses enough? Six months? Or should your board be thinking about reserves in a completely different way? In this episode of The NFP CEO Podcast, Michelle and Danielle unpack a misunderstood area of nonprofit financial governance: reserves policies. Many charities and not-for-profits either don't have a reserves policy or rely on outdated rules of thumb that don't reflect today's operating environment. With increasing financial uncertainty, government funding changes, marketisation of services, and growing cash flow pressures, having a clear reserves strategy has never been more important. Rather than focusing only on how much money should sit in the bank, this episode explores why organisations hold reserves, when they should be used, and how boards can make better strategic decisions about their financial sustainability. In this episode you'll learn: What a reserves policy is and why you should have oneHow much money a not-for-profit should keep in reserveWhy "three months' operating costs" isn't always the right answerThe difference between a reserves policy and a minimum reserves policyHow to calculate reserve requirements using organisational wind-up costsWhen it is appropriate to use financial reservesHow reserves can fund growth, innovation, acquisitions and strategic investment to meet purposeWhy reserves improve board governance and CEO decision-makingThe growing importance of reserves as government-funded services move to payment in arrearsHow annual board discussions about reserves strengthen organisational strategy and risk management Whether you're a CEO, board director, CFO or finance manager, this episode will help you rethink what financial resilience looks like in today's nonprofit environment. Listen now to discover how a well-designed reserves policy can become one of your organisation's most powerful governance and strategic planning tools. Connect with us: LinkedIn: The NFP CEO: Overview | LinkedIn Website: thenfpceo.com.au Michelle Cutler: Michelle Cutler | LinkedIn Danielle Ballantine: Danielle Ballantine | LinkedIn

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About

Ever wondered what happens when CEOs of purpose-driven organisations sit down together for a chat? With 30 years’ of combined experience in the for-purpose space, we knew these conversations should be stored and shared!! We tackle the real questions: How do you build and sustain a thriving organisational culture? How do you manage relationships with your board and your chair? How do you preserve your peace of mind while carrying the weight of responsibility of being a for-purpose CEO. For those who are new to the role or eyeing it on the horizon, the importance of a support network cannot be overstated. This is why this podcast was created - to be a valuable source of information and support, offering ideas and insights you can implement in your organisation immediately. We share the stories and challenges CEOs tell each other when we get together - and chat through how to address issues unique to NFP CEOs in every episode. Wherever you are in your NPF CEO journey, there’s something here for you. We are about our community supporting each other. Creating more impact and driving better outcomes for the sector and those that we serve is what we are all about. LINKS Website: https://thenfpceo.com.au/ This podcast is recorded on country of the Cameraygal and Darramuragal Peoples.

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Cutler and Danielle Ballantine
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Michelle Cutler and Danielle Ballantine
  • Show Website
    The New For Purpose CEO

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