Is your organization stuck in its ways, or evolving with purpose?
In this special Season 6 finale of the Purpose & Profit Podcast, co-hosts Dave Raley and Carly Berna return to the mic — just the two of them — for a deep, candid conversation about one of the most important (and misunderstood) dynamics in any mission-driven organization: the difference between your mission and your model.
Whether you're leading a nonprofit, scaling a startup, or rethinking your business strategy, this episode is a must-listen. Dave and Carly unpack why confusing your mission with your model can lead to stagnation, and how the most innovative leaders learn to pivot without losing purpose.
Key Topics Include:
Mission vs. Model: Why your mission should be timeless, while your model must evolve. Using examples like Subway, Krispy Kreme, and Apple, the hosts explore how outdated models can undermine even the best intentions.
The S-Curve of Innovation: Dave explains the S-curve lifecycle and how organizations must continually create new curves to avoid decline, and ultimately, irrelevance.
Blockbuster’s Big Miss (and Other Cautionary Tales): What leaders can learn from once-dominant brands that failed to adapt, and why even beloved nonprofit models may be overdue for reinvention.
Barriers to Change: From founders clinging to “what used to work” to sacred cows and organizational blind spots, they reveal the most common reasons leaders resist necessary change.
How to Know When It’s Time to Shift: It’s not just about revenue decline. Learn the key internal and external signals that it's time to rethink your model before it's too late.
Practical Innovation Frameworks: Dave shares a four-step method — Identify, Prototype, Launch, Scale — to help organizations test and implement new models with confidence.
This is a powerful conversation for leaders who want to future-proof their mission and spark new growth. Don’t miss it!
Discover more at purposeandprofitpodcast.com/podcast.
And stay tuned for Season 7, coming soon with something new: video! We’re adding a visual layer to the podcast, so you'll be able to watch conversations with guests on YouTube. We can’t wait to share what’s coming next!
Purpose & Profit Podcast is brought to you by:
Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.
