Episode 31 – From Running to Building: A Nonprofit Mindset Shift

Host: May Harris, Esq.

Guest: Juan Pablo Berrizbeitia

“How can this be better? How can we do it better now? And how can we do it better next time? That's the difference between running the nonprofit, getting through it, and not messing up, to ‘how do I leave this organization significantly stronger than how I found it.”

- Juan Pablo Berrizbeitia

In This Episode

JP shares his unique journey from grassroots lawyering in Venezuela to becoming an interim executive director and nonprofit consultant.

In this episode, May Harris welcomes Juan Pablo Berrizbeitia to discuss nonprofit capacity building. JP shares his unique journey from grassroots lawyering in Venezuela to becoming an interim executive director and nonprofit consultant. He introduces the "nonprofit building mindset," a transformative approach that goes beyond day-to-day operations to create lasting organizational systems. Through practical examples, JP demonstrates how nonprofit leadership can reduce burnout and strengthen organizations by focusing on continuous improvement rather than just survival. He offers invaluable insights on how to build systems in nonprofit organizations, making the case that upfront investment in processes pays dividends in efficiency and staff satisfaction.

Key Takeaways

Insightful moments and lessons from the conversation.

  • The "nonprofit building mindset" transforms nonprofit leadership from crisis management to systematic improvement—asking "how can we do this better?" instead of "how do we get through this smoothly?"

  • Creating systems reduces nonprofit burnout and makes work more rewarding. Simple solutions, eliminate repetitive problem-solving and strengthen your career reputation.

  • Interim executive director services provide critical stabilization during transitions, including calming organizational anxiety, conducting comprehensive assessments, and offering month-long overlap periods that serve as exceptional onboarding for incoming leaders.

  • Change management requires reading organizational culture and picking strategic battles—respect existing values like team togetherness, while finding creative solutions to implement process documentation and improvement initiatives.

Guest Bio: Juan Pablo Berrizbeitia

Juan Pablo "JP" Berrizbeitia is a nonprofit executive and consultant with over 20 years of experience leading organizations through transition and growth. As an Interim Executive Director, he has guided multiple Virginia nonprofits through leadership changes, building capacity and positioning them for long-term success. JP is launching Nonprofit.MBA, a training program for new Executive Directors, and has taught nonprofit leadership at James Madison University. A Fulbright and Chevening scholar with law degrees from Harvard and Warwick University, he has consulted internationally with the World Bank, USAID, and the Pan-American Development Foundation. His grassroots work with marginalized communities in Latin America gives him a unique ability to connect with diverse stakeholders and strengthen organizational impact.

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