368: Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity with Donna Dupont
Description
What if your nonprofit could anticipate the future instead of reacting to it? In this episode, futurist and strategist Donna DuPont shares how leaders can build future literacy—the skill of reading change before it happens. We explore how to turn uncertainty into opportunity, overcome resistance to change, and design flexible strategies that thrive even in chaos. If your team feels stuck reacting to crises, this conversation will help you plan with confidence, not fear.
Episode Highlights
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04:25 Understanding Future Mindsets
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06:57 Empowering Nonprofits Through Strategic Foresight
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09:03 The Power of Great Questions
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09:40 Collective Intelligence and Workshop Insights
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15:09 The Rise of AI: A Case Study in Weak Signals
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22:24 Opportunities in Crisis
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24:43 Building a Case for Change
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25:25 Understanding Dissatisfaction and Vision
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27:26 Taking Action and Iteration
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29:48 Navigating Uncertainty with Foresight
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33:01 Evaluating Processes and Outcomes
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38:42 Prototyping and Innovation
Meet the Guest
My guest for this episode is Donna Dupont, Founder and Chief Strategist of Purple Compass, is an award-winning designer and futurist with over 25 years of experience collaborating with leaders.
She helps organizations build future literacy, navigate uncertainty, and drive impactful change. Combining systems thinking with strategic foresight, she empowers leaders to mitigate risks, enhance preparedness, and seize opportunities for innovation, transformation, and resilience.
Recognized with seven government awards, Donna's work spans critical areas like climate change, health security, and emergency management, with her futures research earning accolades from the Canadian Defence and Security Network and the Association of Professional Futurists.
Connect with Donna:
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