In this episode of The NFP CEO, Michelle and Danielle unpack the CEO’s role in a strategic planning day - a critical moment for setting direction and aligning the board, executive team, and staff.

We discuss whether a CEO should also try to facilitate (spoiler: it’s tricky), when to bring in an external facilitator, and how to decide who belongs in the room. You’ll hear practical advice on structuring the day for board engagement, balancing ambition with realistic outcomes, and ensuring the outputs become a usable strategic plan rather than just good intentions.

Other highlights include:

• Choosing the right facilitator: sector knowledge vs fresh perspective.
• The importance of preparation, agendas, and pre-work.
• How to capture discussions so strategy decisions don’t get lost.
• Using strategy days to strengthen board–executive relationships and team culture.

If you’re a nonprofit CEO or aspiring leader, this episode will help you run a strategy day that delivers clear priorities, stronger alignment, and practical outcomes.

Related Episodes:

Making Strategy Days Count - The CEOs Role

The CEOs Role in Strategic Planning

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: The NFP CEO: Overview | LinkedIn

Website: thenfpceo.com.au

Michelle Cutler: Michelle Cutler | LinkedIn

Danielle Ballantine: Danielle Ballantine | LinkedIn