As companies increasingly aim to address social issues alongside maximizing profit, they enter areas traditionally managed by governments and nonprofits. This trend will likely foster more partnerships between businesses, the public sector, and nonprofits. Exploring what businesses and nonprofits can learn from each other is crucial for facilitating these collaborations.

Learning from a former diplomat and NGO executive

Tune into this PLA podcast episode with Beris Gwynne, former diplomat, aid official, NGO executive, and Founder of Incitāre International, based in Geneva, Switzerland. She shares insights from her 35-year career on the dynamic relationship between the private and non-profit/public sectors, which she sees as critical for achieving Sustainable Development and Climate Goals.

We discuss the key differences and complementary strengths both sectors offer, and whether the distinction between profit and non-profit remains meaningful as we look to the future.

Some key takeaways

• Nonprofits have experience in thinking beyond short-term cycles and focusing on social impact.

• Businesses can learn from nonprofits about long-term thinking and the management of complex project, impact measurement, long-term thinking, and stakeholder engagement.

• Nonprofits can learn from business in terms of innovation, agility, and reducing bureaucracy.

• Partnerships between the public, private, and nonprofit sectors remain crucial for addressing global challenges. Self-awareness, a deep understanding of history, collaboration and shared values are key to creating a better world.

• Change is needed in both NGOs and businesses to address sustainability and social impact challenges, e.g. new business models are needed to mobilize finance for sustainable practices and rethinking new ownership and governance models are necessary in the evolving landscape of partnerships and ecosystems.

Our conversation outline

00:00 Introduction: Exploring What Businesses Can Learn from Nonprofits (and vice versa)

~15:13 Beris Gwynne's Background and Experiences in the Nonprofit Sector

~31:32 Differences and Similarities: Learning from Each Other in the Age of Sustainability

~43:37 Lessons for Business: Mediating Power Differentials and Rethinking Economic Paradigms

~47:21 The Value of Partnerships and Collaboration for a Better World

~49:06 Developing New Business Models

~51:36 Learning from Nonprofits

~01:03:23 New Ownership and Governance Models

You can find a shortened written version of this conversation here.

Would you like to learn more about the work of Beris Gwynne and get in touch with her?

• Contact Beris over LinkedIn

• Visit Beris’ Webpage Incitāre International

Would you like to learn more about the topic and Partnering Leadership?

• Here you’ll find the mentioned PLA podcast about Partnering Strategies.

• If you’d like to learn more about the Partnering Leadership Academy offerings, please feel free visit our offering page, our free resources page and sign-up for our quarterly community news.

About the PLA Podcast guest expert series
Tune into our unplugged conversations about rethinking business with a partnering core. This podcast is designed to share personal insights and experiences with valuable experts and contributors on various aspects of partnering leadership. It's intended to provide personal reflections, experiences and guidance for inspiring us to rethink, navigate, and create impactful professional partnering in increasingly networked economies and societies. This podcast is hosted by Dr Eva Bilhuber Galli, the founding host of Partnering Leadership Academy, a place to rethink business with a partnering core.