Why me?
It All Begins With An Idea
I'm Dr. Todd Thomas, a leadership and organizational development specialist who helps small and mid-sized nonprofit leaders build thriving organizations using proven strategies from Fortune 100 companies and cutting-edge academic research.
After spending nearly two decades developing leaders at Daimler Financial (Mercedes-Benz) and teaching future executives at the DeVos Graduate School of Management, I noticed something troubling: while large corporations are able to invest millions in leadership development, passionate nonprofit leaders often struggle with the same challenges but lack access to sophisticated guidance and support.
I saw dedicated leaders wrestling with universal challenges - managing conflict, driving change, building culture, developing teams - but without the resources their corporate counterparts take for granted. Even more concerning, I watched mission-driven organizations falter not because of their programs, but because of fixable leadership and organizational issues.
The real problem isn't that nonprofit leaders are less capable - it's that they've often been left out of the leadership development equation. This disparity doesn't just limit the leaders - it diminishes their ability to serve communities and change lives.
In my years teaching at the DeVos Graduate School at Northwood University, I've been continually inspired by Masters and Doctoral students who juggle demanding careers with advanced education – not just to advance themselves, but to become more effective leaders of organizations that make a difference in their communities. Their dedication to building stronger nonprofits, educational institutions, and mission-driven organizations has shown me how much skilled leadership can impact society's most pressing challenges.
That's why I’m dedicating this next phase of my career to making sophisticated leadership development accessible to mission-driven leaders and organizations. Through my blog and newsletter, "Nonprofit Leadership Insights," I translate cutting-edge research and proven corporate practices into practical strategies that work in the nonprofit context. Whether you're struggling with strategic clarity, team dynamics, change management, or organizational culture, you'll find actionable insights drawn from both my academic expertise and hands-on experience with organizations of all sizes.
Check out my blog and sign up for Nonprofit Leadership Insights to explore the latest topics and ideas that you can put to use immediately. Also, take a look at the Weekend Office Hours for an affordable and immediate way to get leadership coaching.
