Elizabeth Schmidt
CHRO
Jewish Family Service of Colorado
Episode 126
Beyond Buzzwords: How People-First Leadership Thrives Amidst Rapid Organizational Change
Current chapter: Built by People podcast features insights from world's top HR leaders
Built By PeopleJune 27, 2025 · 8:15
Thesis
“Prioritizing a 'people-first' approach, especially through transparent communication and individual support, is crucial for navigating ambiguity and rapid change, particularly within mission-driven organizations where leadership must connect employee work to community impact.”
Show notes
HR Leadership Insights with Liz from Jewish Family ServicesIn this episode of the Built by People Podcast, the host interviews Liz, a veteran HR professional with over 25 years of experience. Liz shares her career journey from retail and tourism to HR roles in various industries, including real estate, telecom, and nonprofit sectors. Currently with Jewish Family Service of Colorado, Liz discusses the challenges and strategies in HR leadership, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and funding uncertainties. She highlights the importance of transparent communication, people-first strategies, and effective community collaborations. Liz also shares her experience in transitioning from for-profit to nonprofit and offers insights on managing organizational resistance to change.00:00 Introduction to the Built by People Podcast00:14 Sponsor Message: Previ Network00:38 Guest Introduction: Liz's Career Journey03:25 Challenges and Strategies at Jewish Family Service05:10 Leadership and Community Collaboration06:52 Navigating Organizational Change07:47 Final Thoughts and Parting Advice
What you'll take away
- 1Transparent communication is vital during times of rapid change and uncertainty, especially when it directly impacts employees.
- 2Prioritizing individual employee needs and conversations is essential for showing respect and navigating difficult 'people changes.'
- 3Leaders in mission-driven organizations must effectively connect employees to the impact of their work to foster engagement and purpose.
- 4Leveraging change management models like ADKAR can help leaders understand and address diverse employee needs during organizational transitions.
- 5Fostering strong community partnerships and shared values amplifies impact, particularly in crisis situations.
What most organizations get wrong
- •Many might think that the nonprofit focus may not necessarily be on competitive advantage or revenue, but there is an element of both in the nonprofit sector.
In Elizabeth's words
“I learned quite a bit about how to treat people well. How to manage uncertainty, and how to have important conversations that need to be had.”
This highlights the crucial lessons learned during a challenging period (COVID-19) that shaped her people-first philosophy.
“What I found most effective in this situation has been transparent communication. And often JFS has a hybrid work environment, so we usually have quite a few employees that are physically at the location, and I still use that management by walking around.”
Emphasizes practical, effective communication strategies in a hybrid environment during a crisis.
“The focus here at JFS, Jewish Family Service, is maximizing our reach to support the communities we serve. That in turn required our leadership to make sure that our employees are able to see the effects of their work and the impact that they're making on the people that we serve.”
Articulates the core mission of a nonprofit and how it translates to leadership's role in connecting employees to purpose.
“What I know is that people need different things during times of change, whether it be individual support, more information, training, a greater understanding of the why. And I often keep the ADKAR model of change in mind and stay guided by the awareness, desire, knowledge, ability. And reinforcement of the change for my people.”
Provides a concrete framework for navigating organizational change by understanding diverse employee needs.
“For me, it's people first. I have worked with and studied people for most of my life. This may be anecdotal, but I have noticed when I prioritize my relationships, it comes back to me tenfold. So really making sure that I stay connected with my community, learning and giving as often as I can.”
States her overarching philosophy and its personal impact, emphasizing the value of human connection.
The problems this episode addresses
- •Ambiguity and rapid change, specifically in funding sources for nonprofits.
- •Effectively communicating significant business changes (e.g., program halts, furloughs) to employees.
- •Managing 'people changes' (e.g., layoffs) with respect and individual consideration.
- •Adapting leadership styles when transitioning between different organizational cultures (e.g., for-profit to nonprofit).
- •Maintaining employee engagement and purpose in mission-driven organizations, ensuring employees see their impact.
- •Navigating resistance to change within an organization, especially when replacing long-tenured leaders.
In this episode
Built by People podcast features insights from world's top HR leaders
Built by People
Dave Schumacher has been in human resources for 25 years
How to Get Out of Your Career Trap
Jewish Family Services had to overcome a significant challenge with transparent communication
Jewish Family Services: The Challenges
Jewish Family Service moved from for-profit to nonprofit to meet community needs
Top Jewish Leaders: The Shift from For-Profit to Non
Liz says she faced resistance to change at Jewish Family Service
A Cheaper Way to Change Your Organization's Culture
Topics covered
Organizations and entities mentioned
Full transcript
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