Over 75 nonprofit leaders attended the OneOC  Breakfast of Champions for a candid conversation with representatives from Goodwill, South Coast Repertory and Make-A-Wish Foundation on what worked and what they wished they’d done differently during their leadership transition.\n\n\n\nFrank Talarico President/CEO, Goodwill of Orange County\nJon Storbeck Board Chair, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County/Inland EmpireVP, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort\nPaula Tomei Managing Director, South Coast Repertory\n\nLessons learned:\n

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  • If you don’t have a “plan” start working on one now
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  • It’s a process which can take close to a year and requires partnership, shared vision and being explicitly clear on values and strategy
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  • Engage a professional search firm to help with executive level hiring
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  • Prepare a comprehensive communication plan to inform donors and the community
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  • Remember it’s a personal transition as well as a professional transition, don’t ignore that aspect when on-boarding a new executive
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\nAccording to a Bridgespan Group survey, leadership development and succession planning for senior leader positions is the single greatest organizational weakness nonprofits face.  This news would be cause for concern under any circumstances, but is particularly troubling given the intensified demand for leaders that many of our nonprofits are (or soon will be) facing.  More than two-thirds of nonprofit executives plan to quit their jobs within the next five years, according to a recent Compass Point survey.\n\nWhether your plans are already in motion, or your organization experiences a surprise transition in the next few years, succession planning is a crucial topic to address.  OneOC offers coaching and consulting for succession planning and leadership transition.  For more information on how we might help, please contact Janine McDonald at janine.mcdonald@oneoc.org.