$25 for Spokes Members/ $35 General Admission

Includes boxed lunch from Aloha Catering

Advance registration by May 1 required

This session is primarily intended for full-time, paid CEOs and Executive Directors of San Luis Obispo County nonprofits.

In addition to Spokes’ monthly ED/CEO Roundtables held on Zoom, we've introduced a new quarterly, in-person roundtable series designed to offer deeper connection, shared learning, and peer support. These sessions include lunch, a short facilitated program, and guided discussion.

May program details:

Leadership transitions are inevitable, yet many nonprofits delay succession planning until a change is already underway. Executive leadership and strategy consultant Lisa Breen Strickland of Strickland Strategies will share practical approaches to preparing organizations for future leadership transitions, followed by a live Q&A and organic peer discussion. Participants will explore when and how executive directors can begin thinking about succession planning, how to develop internal leadership capacity, and how boards and executives can work together to ensure a smooth and successful transition.

Discussion points will include:

—When and how nonprofit leaders should begin succession planning

—Preparing internal leaders or a “second-in-command” for future executive roles

—The board’s role in executive transition planning

—Moving from reactive leadership transitions to intentional leadership development

—Common challenges organizations face during executive transitions

As with all Spokes roundtables, this session is participant-driven and grounded in a shared Participation Agreement:

Values: Empathy and appreciation • Sharing and participation • Leadership and celebration
Expectations: Confidentiality • Respect and listening • Trust and accountability

Presenter: Lisa Breen Strickland

Lisa is the founder and Chief Strategist of Strickland Strategies, where she provides fundraising, coaching, and strategic consulting to nonprofit organizations and their leaders. A former nonprofit Executive Director and Chief Development Officer, Lisa brings firsthand leadership experience and has personally navigated multiple executive succession transitions. She works with organizations and C-suite professionals on succession planning, board development, and strategic planning to strengthen leadership culture and build long-term organizational capacity.