We’re halfway through the year. Yikes! I am not quite sure how it’s been six months since Christmas but here we are. It’s a good time to dust off goals and intentions from the New Year and reflect on the year so far. Or in gardener-speak, do a bit of weeding and pruning, and feed […]
The satisfaction of knowing that you’ve made a real difference? That’s hard to beat. Working at a not-for-profit (NFP) can be absolutely amazing, but it’s not always going to feel like laughing-while-eating-an-organic-salad. Sometimes, working at NFP can feel like being trapped on an island filled with dinosaurs. While I’m not trying to dissuade you from working […]
Contrary to what we often see in films and on TV, board members aren’t always suit-clad white, older men. We know that diversity leads to greater strength, and resilience, so it’s not surprising that not-for-profit boards are often made up of diverse ethnicities, genders and ages. A not-for-profit board makes sure an organisation has a […]
Working for a not for profit can be immensely rewarding and life-enhancing, but it’s important to be honest about the challenges too. That said, here are 10 surprising skills that’ll help you thrive at a not for profit. It’s not all solar power and organic roses. In the real world, not for profits often lack important resources […]
Sick of distraction, ‘busywork’ and a whole of lot emailing? You don’t need to quit your job to transform your work-life. Cal Newport’s concept of ‘deep work’ allows us to create a more meaningful, more satisfying, more fulfilling role in the job we have now. Think about your average work-day. Does it include: Masses of emails? Definitely. ✔ Swathes […]
GOOD PROFILE: Laurie Foon, Sustainability advocate Named the Kiwibank Local Hero Award in 2017, Laurie’s warmth, generosity, smarts and incredible personal connections make her a natural leader of Wellington’s sustainable business revolution. Here’s a quick run-down of Laurie’s career, and what drives her! Current job(s): She is currently the Wellington Regional Manager for the Sustainable Business […]
Guest post by Waveney Russ – The Ākina Foundation Starting something new is daunting. Whether you’ve thought about beginning your own charity, not-for-profit, NGO, community group or social enterprise, knowing where to find reliable resources to guide you on your first stages of the do-good journey can be confusing and disheartening. At The Ākina Foundation, […]
Guest blog: Anna Guenther, Co-Founder and Chief Bubble Blower at Pledgeme — I often get asked about how to get something started. Uncertain entrepreneurs, bored public servants, conviction filled activists all struggle with this. As stupid as it sounds, what I tell them all is that sometimes you just have to jump. You need to […]
We all know amazing things can happen when great people work together, so imagine what might emerge if more of our charities, social enterprises and businesses did the same. You don’t need to dream! We’ve scoured our Land of the Long White Cloud to find five fantastic examples of ‘do good’ collaboration. Tackling issues fro […]
While we promote the notion of there being magic in working in a do good environment, it is different when talking about the value of magic itself. Science gives us clear answers to deal with challenges. Which is all well and good – except that we’re not very scientific creatures. Our brains have this funny […]
With this month’s theme on Mental Health we wanted to share Twice Podcasts chat with Marianne and Murdoch, as they discuss Mental Health, Refugees and Beer. Get the inside and authentic stories of two fine sorts driving people-powered change and working to double NZ’s refugee quota. With beer on the side. Marianne is a self-described […]
With this month’s focus on social enterprise, I dug into Twice Podcast’s treasure trove of chats to bring you a story about Ants and Silvia – makers and doers of good business – and members of Enspiral. Enspiral is a decentralised network of people ‘working on stuff that matters’. They share frank and useful learnings on their journeys […]
Last year I purchased some beautiful diaries for a range of friends and contributors to Do Good Jobs. I loved the fact that my purchase also meant a child somewhere in New Zealand also received a notebook at school too – win-win! Since then I’ve become mildly addicted to my FRANK diary, a diary that […]
Following on from last week’s blog with Good Sort, Anake Goodall, we asked for his thoughts on Kiwi examples of a really good social enterprise.
If someone in Aotearoa New Zealand was to be given the honorary title of godfather of social enterprise, Anake Goodall would be pretty high on the list. The Christchurch based ‘doer’ self-describes as “bringing what I can to wicked problems.” “I’w really interested in governance for social change, and being a driver at the community […]
From roadie wannabe to accounts superstar, and now the People and Capability manager at Fred Hollows – working to ensure there is a solid team in place to ensure no one stays needlessly blind in the Pacific. I chatted with Good Sort Becca to get her thoughts on the not for profit space, HR insights […]
Guest post: Alanna Irving — “What is it that makes you a leader? Why is it you who often takes the lead?” This question was posed to us, a group of relatively young people at different points in our professional journeys, by our facilitator, Suze Wilson, at the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Rethinking Leadership hui. […]
Life-hacking, marketer and a do-good job success story (hoo-rah!). Gina spends her time at Lifehack – an experiment ground for improving youth wellbeing. She shares her career story, pivots and the time her job title included Chief Popcorn Maker… Where were you working before you started this job? I’m from Berlin and after studying […]
About a year ago, I profiled my good friend and co-working desk buddy Ashlee on her role with Neighbours Day Aotearoa. Since then she has left behind weekend scrambled eggs on sourdough brunches in favour of snorkelling, bushwhacking, 27-degree heat with “one million percent humidity” and the “best job” she’s ever had volunteering with Volunteer Service Abroad […]
If you’ve ever road tripped around Oamaru in summer there’s a good chance you have noticed the sunflowers. Rosedale Farm in Weston is an Instagrammer’s delight, the sweeping yellow fields some of the most extensive in the country. It’s more than a pretty picture however. Since the first crop of sunflowers was planted on the family farm […]