May 6, 2026 | Capacity-building, Leadership, Strategic planning, Taking action
A little over a year ago, I launched this newsletter with an essay describing the need for strategic planning during times of uncertainty. A lot in the world has changed since then, prompting me to revisit my initial advice and add another layer to it. Since that...
Apr 10, 2026 | Leadership, Meetings, Taking action
If you lead an organization, manage large initiatives, or facilitate collaborative projects, then you are probably familiar with good practices for effective meetings: identify your purpose, take time to prepare, create an agenda, and follow up with participants. ...
Mar 5, 2026 | Capacity-building, Leadership, Strategic planning, Taking action
I’m not afraid of bureaucracy. As a music historian, I spent years studying the network of East German state, party, and professional organizations that influenced the country’s musical development during the Cold War. The East German musical bureaucracy was, in...
Jan 8, 2026 | Capacity-building, Leadership, Strategic planning, Taking action
There’s something undeniably exciting about the start of a new year and the brimming possibilities of a (nearly) blank planner. Yet for many organizational leaders, January’s energy and ambition can eventually lead to paralysis. This is the paradox of overwhelming...
Dec 16, 2025 | Capacity-building, Leadership, Taking action
For many of us, December is a month of abundance—even excess. It’s a period of rich food, crowded social calendars, and endless reminders to buy more things. And that’s just in our personal lives. For many of you reading this newsletter, December is the busiest month...
Nov 14, 2025 | Capacity-building, Leadership, Taking action
When I was a teenager, I went grocery shopping every Sunday with my dad and younger brother. The three of us had the weekly excursion down to an exact science: Each of us would take a third of the list, grab a shopping cart, and meet the others at the checkout line 15...
