The Complexities of Strategic Non-Profit Governance with Bruce Anderson

The Boardroom 180 Podcast

In this episode of The Boardroom 180 Podcast, host Munir Haque delves into nonprofit governance with Bruce Anderson, an accomplished leader with extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, entrepreneurship, and board governance. Bruce shares insights from his decades of experience serving on over 21 nonprofit and professional boards, including Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan and CAA Saskatchewan. He discusses how his diverse background in academia, consulting, and executive leadership informs his governance contributions.

Bruce highlights the unique challenges of nonprofit governance, including balancing mission-driven goals with financial sustainability. He explains the diverse structures and financing of nonprofits, ranging from member dues and fundraising to revenue-generating enterprises. Bruce points out the need for boards to adapt their skill sets to address these complexities. He advocates for applying strategic thinking to nonprofit boards, emphasizing the importance of managing resources effectively and aligning marketing strategies. In talking about organizational models, Bruce explains Habitat for Humanity’s evolution from the “classic” model, where Habitat itself manages the mortgage, to newer approaches involving partnerships with financial institutions.

The discussion delves into broader governance themes, including diversity and effective leadership. Bruce advocates for meaningful diversity on boards to improve decision-making quality and better represent the communities they serve without tokenism. He stresses the balance between servant leadership and strategic guidance. Bruce points to the board chair’s responsibility for encouraging inclusive discussions and challenging groupthink to ensure sound decision-making processes and unity. Munir and Bruce’s conversation highlights the importance of patience, planning, and clear principles in navigating the complexities of organizational change, offering valuable lessons for others facing similar endeavours.

About Bruce Anderson:

Bruce Anderson joined the CAA Saskatchewan Board of Directors in October 2017 and serves on the Audit Committee, chairs the Human Resources Committee, and chaired the Investment and Acquisition Task Force. He is the managing partner and senior consultant with b-creative group and an instructor with the Hill / Levene Schools of Business at the University of Regina, where he teaches business strategy, consulting, and entrepreneurship to undergraduate and graduate students. He has served on numerous boards of directors, including as Chair of the Regina and Saskatchewan Chambers of Commerce and as Chair of the Saskatchewan Science Centre. He currently is Chair of Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan and a mentor to new entrepreneurs. Bruce co-wrote a business case on CAA Saskatchewan and the case is used by business schools across the world and also by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). Bruce and his spouse Lucie have two adult children and three grandchildren. They enjoy taking long drives to explore Canada.

--

Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:

• Website: AEEDNow.com
• Linkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.
  
  

Contact Bruce Anderson:

• Bruce Anderson on LinkedIn
  
  

Podcast Production:

• Recording: PushySix Studios
• Production Assistance: Astronomic Audio
  
  

--

Transcript

Bruce Anderson: [00:00:01] Your starting point around metrics is absolutely essential. How do we know that we're going to yield some of this result? So if we get a certain number of things donated at the Habitat Restore, for example, which things are going to yield the best profits? Which things have the best margin? Which things have the quickest inventory turn? Because these are terms that people are going as a not for profit. What do you mean inventory turn? If it sits in our warehouse, it sits in the shop there for a period of time. It costs us money. It costs us floor space. It's an opportunity cost because we could put other things that are more profitable in there. So some of these metrics that you would naturally think about have to be used.

Munir Haque: [00:00:40] Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Boardroom 180 Podcast. I'm your host, Munir Haque, an executive coach and senior board strategist. I have partnered with Action Edge Executive Development to lead their governance and political acumen division. In each episode, we meet with governance leaders and step into their boardrooms, where decisions shape the world around us. In this episode, we'll be talking nonprofit governance with Mr. Bruce Anderson. Bruce Anderson is a seasoned leader with 15 years in nonprofit leadership and over 25 years as an entrepreneur. He is a managing partner of Be Creative Group, a consultancy specializing in management and marketing, and teaches strategy and entrepreneurship at the University of Regina, where he also leads the Graduate Advanced Training and Entrepreneurship Center, or GATE. Bruce has a BCom as well as an MBA, and is a Chartered Director with the Icd.d designation and a Certified Management Consultant. His achievements include being named as a National Fellow of the Certified Management Consultants, as well as receiving the International Academic Fellow Award for Certified Management Consultants. Bruce has served on over 21 nonprofit, professional and regulatory boards, chairing ten of them, including Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan, which he guided through a merger. Currently, he is a director with CAA Saskatchewan, chairing their HR committee and serving on the audit committee. His past leadership includes chairing the Regina and Saskatchewan Chambers of Commerce and the Saskatchewan Science Center, serving on the Council for Entrepreneurial Growth and Economic Development. A mentor to entrepreneurs and passionate community leader, welcome to The Boardroom 180 Podcast, Mr. Anderson.

Bruce Anderson: [00:02:21] Thanks, Munir.

Munir Haque: [00:02:23] I always find that a good gauge of how active somebody is in the community is whether or not my kids know them. And for this I've got stories of two of my kids that have crossed paths with you. So my daughter, I think was about five years ago, during some of her onboarding at University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, that onboarding weekend, she went up, and I attended with her and we got to at least watch. I think it was a student entrepreneur competition. And at that competition you were up in Saskatoon and you were one of the judges. So that's one of my kids. And then needless to say, she's not in business anymore. She switched into one of the more social sciences and now is just starting her master's in public health.

Bruce Anderson: [00:03:11] I remember those teams well, the kids were great.

Munir Haque: [00:03:15] We were just in the audience, but I saw you from the back, and I think I came up to you afterwards. The other thing is, my son is currently finishing off his bachelors of administration at University of Regina. He's taken a handful of courses from you, and he has good things to say about you. So once again, it goes to show how much you do in the community, how well my kids know your name.

Bruce Anderson: [00:03:36] Fair enough, yeah.

Munir Haque: [00:03:39] 21 boards, that'...