Pros
Effective at fundraising There are some incredibly smart, committed people within the team who genuinely want to drive change.
Cons
I saw firsthand how disconnected the organisation is from the executive team. The CEO is out of her depth — frequently hires experienced leaders only to dismiss them if they challenge her thinking. Over time, she has surrounded herself with compliant yes-people who lack the ability to deliver. Strategic planning took 12–18 months and resulted in convoluted frameworks that are poorly communicated and impossible to execute. There is little to no internal alignment, and cross-functional work is undermined by poor leadership and vague priorities. The CEO is one of the least respected leaders I’ve worked with — across all levels. Employee morale is low, and psychological safety has deteriorated significantly. The Board Chairman appears unwilling to address the CEO’s performance, despite years of cultural damage.