The Power of Mentorship and Strategic Thinking w/ Theresa Kane | Ep. 12 | Systems With Laura Podcast

Systems With Laura

How do you lead through complexity without burning out? How do you create a strategy that actually works, especially when resources are tight and change is constant?

In this episode, Laura is joined by Theresa Kane, a long-time consultant to mission-driven teams. Together, they explore the human side of strategy - from navigating nonprofit conflict to building adaptive plans that reflect both vision and capacity.

This conversation is packed with insight for leaders, consultants, and changemakers who want to move beyond buzzwords and bring real clarity to messy environments.

💡 Topics we cover:

• Why true planning starts by listening to the people doing the work, not writing big reports.
• Balancing Ambition with Capacity: Applying the 80/20 principle to keep visionary nonprofits grounded and effective.
• Navigating Conflict & Change: What to do when roles are unclear, systems are outdated, and teams are stretched.
• The Consultant as Bridge: Why Theresa sees herself not as an expert, but as a guide who helps ideas become action.
• Agency vs. Consulting: What she learned from running both, and why she moved upstream into strategic consulting.
• Traits of Strong Consultants: Insight facilitators, not fixers - Theresa shares what separates good consultants from great ones.
• Redesigning Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector: Beyond KPIs - What Real Leadership Development Could Look Like.

🎧 Whether you’re building systems, guiding teams, or stepping into leadership, this episode is a masterclass in clarity, adaptability, and values-driven decision-making.

💬 Did something resonate with you in this episode? Drop a comment and let us know your biggest takeaway.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on systems, strategy, and sustainable leadership.