Keynote
Navigating Change and Cultivating Growth in the Nonprofit Workplace
How can nonprofits adapt to change without losing sight of their mission? In this keynote, Ben Brustkern, executive director of Friends of the Family, shares insights on leading through transition while staying rooted in core values. The session will highlight how failure fosters growth, why relationships matter and how strong leadership teams help organizations navigate change with purpose and resilience.
Learning Objectives
- Articulate the role of organizational values in guiding change and decision making.
- Define a clear vision for growth that aligns with community needs and organizational development.
- Understand the power of process and how it supports innovation, collaboration and resilience.
- Failure and risk are needed for positive change.
- How organizations need to start with a strong leadership team.
Brief Description of Organization
Friends of the Family vision is “Everyone Has a Home.” We serve 25 counties across Iowa with housing services for people experiencing homelessness and 14 counties with shelter for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. We are responsible for coordinating services across 3 regions for homelessness while also providing street outreach and rental assistance to over 175 households a month.