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
04:25 Understanding Future Mindsets
06:57 Empowering Nonprofits Through Strategic Foresight
09:03 The Power of Great Questions
09:40 Collective Intelligence and Workshop Insights
15:09 The Rise of AI: A Case Study in Weak Signals
22:24 Opportunities in Crisis
24:43 Building a Case for Change
25:25 Understanding Dissatisfaction and Vision
27:26 Taking Action and Iteration
29:48 Navigating Uncertainty with Foresight
33:01 Evaluating Processes and Outcomes
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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