Sharing Hard-Earned Lessons on Career Growth | Editor of Genesis 2 | Follow for Weekly Insights to Help You Navigate Transitions with Confidence and Purpose

I reckon most charities run on two things. A whole lot of passion, and some scramble behind the scenes.

As a not-for-profit COO, I build the operational backbone that turns that scramble into coordinated action so vision comes to life without burning people out.

In practice, that looks like:

🟢 Turning ambitious plans into clear, weekly execution

🟢 Making it obvious who does what, when, and how

🟢 Simplifying systems so the day-to-day actually feels manageable

🟢 Tightening how things are run and reported so everyone supporting the mission can trust the numbers and the decisions

🟢 Protecting the human side of the work - pace, workload, and wellbeing.

When those pieces line up, you get something rare in this sector: a team that can do more with less and stay human while they do it.

I share thoughts here on the practical side of making a difference:

Leadership, remote teams “doing the work” with limited budget, and the messy reality behind strategy decks.

The thoughts and reflections I share here are my own, drawn from my experience working across the sector.

If you’re working to make a difference and want to compare notes or sanity-check an idea, you’re welcome to connect.

Paul Chen

Finds a way to get things done | Eclectic Inquisitive | Tech Enthusiast | Unchained Writer | Creating Order Out of Chaos | Data Lover | Task Slayer

Why "No Capes"?

Teachers used to ask me "where is your cape?" when I entered their classroom, because I was their hero. I showed up and fixed their problem. But the truth is you don't need to be a superhero to transform learning.

You need space to breathe.

I'm here to show educators how to be superheroes without capes.

The problem is that the education system is choking on the promise of excellence. 

I help K-12 schools breathe again. 

⚡How?
Lead with curiosity → Listen and empathize
Define the problem → Identify options (tools, training, or something else)
Brainstorm solutions → Find existing tools or build custom ones
Iterate and adapt → Year-long implementation support (not one-and-done PD)
Refine → Ongoing coaching on tools you already use while fostering growth mindset and a culture of play

❓Why?
Get time back to educators so they can invest in students the way they want to.

Because I'm driven by a single axiom: 
Be better tomorrow than I was today. 

My journey uniquely positions me in this work:

My undergraduate study in Music Theory, History, and Archaeology reinforced pattern recognition. This helps me identify the root problems.

My master's work on community memory and identity taught me how to combine various threads into a cohesive story and sort chaos into clarity. This helps me not only identify the root of problems, but innovate unique, practical solutions that work outside of ivory towers. 

I learned technology by doing. I didn't learn it by the book, but learned what actually works in practice. Sometimes the textbook answer is wrong, but I'll find a solution that works, even if that means it isn't more tech but less tech.

What makes me tick?

Metacognition and knowledge transfer (I apply knowledge from one area to the next)
High Neuroplasticity (I learn and can adapt rapidly)
Courage to challenge the status quo (Complacency leaves us stagnant, I'm always looking for a better way to do things)
Substance over surface level (I think deeply and show up authentically)

What people say about working with me;

🫂"You make me feel safe."
🧠"Sometimes I don't have the brain power for a 'Job' conversation."
🆘"Makes tech practical and user-friendly."
🔎"You presented a breadth of knowledge with excellent inquiry learning. I greatly appreciate your kindness, knowledge, and true joy in sharing what you've learned."

**Views expressed are my own and do not represent my employer or affiliated organizations.**

Job Christiansen

I leveled up ⚡ 

I spent the last 3 days learning the basics of Agile Project Management from MAX Technical Training!

Thank you to our trainer for the depth of knowledge, experience, and accessibility of concepts through real world examples. 

Now that I've tasted the fruit of project management, I'm itching for more.

#agile #projectmanagement #professionaldevelopment #lifelonglearning

Ladder and steps kinda guy who dreams in stardust | Helping educators and leaders align EdTech with learning, not the other way around⚡No Capes Learning

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This is probably radical, but what if K-12 schools weren't just places for children to learn, but for whole communities to learn?


What if schools saw it as their responsibility not just to educate children, but the parents too?


Everyone is interconnected. 


⛔Trying to teach children as if they exist in a vacuum just doesn't make sense.
 

✅Reinforcing skills with parents that will support the learning process does. 


What does this look like?


💡a few ideas off the top of my head:

- weekly newsletters to parents that actually cause them to think, not just stay informed on what their child is learning

- evening workshops for Q&A and hands-on engagement with topics and lessons

- PBL for all ages with a component inviting parents to participate and build in the project

- takehome activities that explain the why and provide a curiosity questioning routine for families to learn and apply a lesson together

This is how thriving learning communities are built. 

This is how community is built. 

This is how villages come together. 

#k12education #community #lifelonglearning

"To build radical momentum, it's essential to accept it requires you to get a little weird."

Ashley Kesner posted this quote earlier this week and I can't stop thinking about it. 


So it ended up on my whiteboard. 

Because I want to keep moving forward, but get stuck when I feel out of place. 

Ahem. 

That's the WHOLE point. 

We can't make change through conformity. 

We need to get a little weird. 

Or a lot weird.

I'll figure it out. 



So here is a weird little selfie of me on this frigid Friday. 


#Fridayselfiecrew

Last week, I kicked off this series with one question:

What makes a workplace great (for the people who work in it)?

I identified seven core pillars that consistently show up in workplaces people actually want to be part of.

This week, we’re diving into pillar one: Feeling Valued.

So, how do employees feel valued?
Ask 100 employees, and you’ll probably get 100 different answers.

But responses tend to fall into four key components:

💲 Fair Compensation
• Salary and wages are a tangible representation of value
• When compensation doesn’t match the work completed, employees feel taken advantage of
• No matter how often you say “thank you,” misaligned pay undermines appreciation

💬 Having a Voice
• Employees feel valued when they’re invited into conversations and decisions
• Their input contributes to real change
• A voice isn’t just being heard, it’s influence and meaning

🎉 Being Celebrated
• Celebration can be public or private. Takeaway? Personalization matters
• Examples: handwritten notes for those who value words, gift cards for tangible recognition, high fives or hugs for those who respond to physical touch, public acknowledgment for project contributions
• The goal: make employees aware their work actually makes a difference

🫂 Sense of Belonging
• Hardest to measure, but critical for fulfillment in the workplace
• Belonging comes from real connections and an environment that fosters inclusion
• Encourage it through group lunches, space for casual conversations, real collaboration and teamwork, and transparent practices that make everyone feel wanted

Bottom line:
When employees feel valued, they show up enthusiastic, engaged, and ready to contribute.

💬 I’d love to hear from you:
Is there an aspect of feeling valued I missed?

#workplacewednesdays #workplaceculture #leadership #value

taplio

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Job Christiansen

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