Category Archives: Strategy
Our Social Impact: Realize 2021-22 Impact Report
“We bring value to our members, clients, and partners by reinvesting in, engaging, and collaborating with the communities we serve.” 2021/22 has been a year of growth and new ventures. As the world around us has shifted and adapted to the new needs and norms of the workplace, we have been listening closely to theContinue reading “Our Social Impact: Realize 2021-22 Impact Report”
Realize Employee Experience Survey Insights: What We Learned in 2022
Driving workplace change starts with listening to our people. In early 2022, we heard from 281 employees working at five purpose-driven organizations in BC who participated in the first annual Realize Employee Experience Survey. These organizations ranged in size from 20 to 500 people and were primarily non-profit organizations. Using the Realize Employee Experience Framework,Continue reading “Realize Employee Experience Survey Insights: What We Learned in 2022”
The Value of Taking a People-Centred Change Management Approach
Last updated on March 28, 2024 Every organization goes through change – it is inevitable. In fact, change should be a regular part of every organization’s operations to remain successful and competitive. When we begin to think about instituting change or commencing change initiatives, it is essential to practice effective change management. At the heartContinue reading “The Value of Taking a People-Centred Change Management Approach”
Realize is a 2022 Best for the World™ B Corp!
We are thrilled to announce that Realize has been named a 2022 Best for the World™ B Corp in recognition of our exceptional positive impact in two categories: Governance and Workers! Best for the World is a distinction granted by B Lab to Certified B Corporations (B Corps) whose verified B Impact Scores in theContinue reading “Realize is a 2022 Best for the World™ B Corp!”
The Problem of Burnout
Last updated on March 28, 2024 Burnout is a popular word that has been used to describe chronic work stress. While it may sound like yet another buzzy term that’s constantly thrown around, the numbers are real and daunting. Gallup reports that three out of four employees experience burnout at their jobs. The prevalence ofContinue reading “The Problem of Burnout”
Making a Difference: Realize 2020-21 Impact Report
“We believe people are the heartbeat and that culture is foundation of all world-changing organizations.” This is the core principle of the work we do here at Realize – putting people and culture at the centre of everything we do. 2020/21 has been a year of unprecedented change. As we have all had to continuouslyContinue reading “Making a Difference: Realize 2020-21 Impact Report”
Designing Hybrid Workplaces for Human Moments
How might we design a new hybrid workspace that fosters collaborative, innovative, and spontaneous “human moments”? This was the topic we dove into at our “Design Hybrid Workplaces for Human Moments” workshop we led with passionate leaders and change makers from multiple sectors and across Canada and the U.S. Together we ideated solutions and sharedContinue reading “Designing Hybrid Workplaces for Human Moments”
Designing A Workspace From a People Lens
Teams worldwide are grappling with what to do with their office space now that we’ve experienced either fully remote work or a hybrid model. You might be asking yourself, “Do we save money and ditch the office?” while at the same time worry that your cultural glue might fall apart without a physical space. OrContinue reading “Designing A Workspace From a People Lens”
Shared Services: A Solution for BC Non-Profit COVID-19 Recovery
In March, we heard from 84 non-profit leaders across BC to learn about how COVID-19 has impacted them and what their priorities are for recovery in 2021 and beyond. The survey revealed that the operational areas where COVID-19 had the most negative impact on were people and culture (80%), program operations and ability meeting clientContinue reading “Shared Services: A Solution for BC Non-Profit COVID-19 Recovery”
Systems Thinking: Big Picture, Win-Win Solutions
Our world is becoming increasingly interconnected. Systems thinking is a holistic method that helps determine collective actions to solve complex issues by focusing on the interactions of all elements within a system. While our individual efforts can seem like a drop in the bucket, by identifying where we are within a system, we can allContinue reading “Systems Thinking: Big Picture, Win-Win Solutions”
Dear Non-profit Board Member: Are You Harnessing or Hindering Innovation?
Dear Non-profit Board Member, Let me start this letter by thanking you sincerely for agreeing to serve on a non-profit. It’s incredibly important work. You’ve chosen to sacrifice time with friends and family. You may even have given up an opportunity to make money — possibly a lot of money. Instead, you’ve chosen to volunteerContinue reading “Dear Non-profit Board Member: Are You Harnessing or Hindering Innovation?”
Earth Month Challenge: Co-Create A Sustainable Future
Climate change is one of the most pressing problems facing our world today. It affects everyone – from families worrying about their children’s futures to global economies. So, it is in the interests of everyone that we pursue systemic change that averts climate catastrophe and unlocks the potential of green growth. April is Earth Month.Continue reading “Earth Month Challenge: Co-Create A Sustainable Future”
We’re Closing In August
We’re closing down this August. Not permanently – but for the first time in our 22 years of practice, Realize is closing our practice down in the middle of August for a week. But why? We can hear many of you asking. What’s the point of closing in the middle of August? Is it forContinue reading “We’re Closing In August”
Hopes and Fears: Establishing Creative Unity
Many people often feel excited and a bit nervous at the start of a new project. Does everyone’s work styles mesh easily together? What are the team and individual goals around this initiative? How familiar and comfortable are you and your team with each other’s communication styles or quirks? The Hopes and Fears activity isContinue reading “Hopes and Fears: Establishing Creative Unity”
Designing Your Ultimate Competitor Today: What Would They Look Like?
2020 sucked. Let’s just call that out. But the future is still bright and who’s to say that 2021 can’t be our best year yet? To kick things off and flex our innovation muscles, in this week’s Innovation Hour, we created an alter ego of our perfect competitor. Let’s dedicate 2021 to not just competingContinue reading “Designing Your Ultimate Competitor Today: What Would They Look Like?”
10 Months Later: State of the Victoria Workforce
2020 has been a year of massive change and disruption around the world. It’s hard to believe that just shy of 10 months ago, the WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic in March 2020. I feel very lucky to have a job which can be done remotely, since many do not. Many more have eitherContinue reading “10 Months Later: State of the Victoria Workforce”
School Reopening Delayed: 5 Ways To Support Working Parents
It’s a tough and confusing time for everyone right now, especially working parents. When the B.C. Ministry of Education announced a full return to school for all K-12 students, parents and teachers alike responded with a wave of concern. A recent survey showed 49 percent of parents across the province are not comfortable sending theirContinue reading “School Reopening Delayed: 5 Ways To Support Working Parents”
Leadership Succession Planning: Securing the Future
“A person who does not worry about the future will shortly have worries about the present.” Ancient Chinese proverb Here is a sobering thought: over 50% of non-profit and private sector boards do not have a formal CEO succession plan in place. The obvious question is: Why? Put simply, many boards find leadership succession planningContinue reading “Leadership Succession Planning: Securing the Future”
Being Financially Prepared for the “New Normal”: Back to the Basics
Effective financial management is a vital part of the business recovery process. Primarily, it’s about going back to basics to ensure you have a strong foundation and just taking things from there. The lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic will shape our organizations for generations to come. Here are six quick tips on how toContinue reading “Being Financially Prepared for the “New Normal”: Back to the Basics”
Re-Solidify Your Culture in the “New Normal”: 3 Ways to Bolster Culture Through Purpose
As we’re slowly and cautiously starting to reopen and navigate our “new normal”, there are a lot of frank and potentially difficult conversations and work to be done. What is your work culture going to be like as laid off employees are brought back? How much trust is there between staff and leadership? Is everyoneContinue reading “Re-Solidify Your Culture in the “New Normal”: 3 Ways to Bolster Culture Through Purpose”
Building Culture in Times of Uncertainty
The future is extremely uncertain for many of us right now. As leaders, it’s easy to focus on and worry about the livelihood of the organization you’re helming and to latch onto protecting the financials and start cutting costs wherever it’s feasible. However, it’s important to not forget who makes the core of your organizationContinue reading “Building Culture in Times of Uncertainty”
7 Options for Socially Conscious Procurement in Greater Vancouver
Here at Realize, we’re incredibly passionate about using our procurement practices to support local, socially conscious organizations. Before we work with a new supplier, we go through a vetting process to make sure their values and practices align with ours. To share the love, we thought we’d share our list of qualified social suppliers: MillsContinue reading “7 Options for Socially Conscious Procurement in Greater Vancouver”
Realize Strategies Recognized As A “Best For The World: Overall” B Corp For The Fifth Year In A Row!
Every year with the “Best For The World” honoree list, B Lab recognizes the top 10% of B Corps from around the world who are generating the greatest environmental, community, governance, customer, worker, or overall impact through their businesses. We are absolutely thrilled to share that we are on the B Corp “Best For The World” honoree list forContinue reading “Realize Strategies Recognized As A “Best For The World: Overall” B Corp For The Fifth Year In A Row!”
We’re A Certified Living Wage Employer!
We’re proud and excited to announce that Realize Strategies is now a certified Living Wage Employer! Here at Realize, we take pride in doing everything we can to ensure our team members have fair and competitive salaries and benefits. That’s why we are proud to share that we have a longstanding internal policy that the ratio of compensationContinue reading “We’re A Certified Living Wage Employer!”
Social Purchasing Lessons from The Buy Social Canada Summit
Realize CEO John Kay shares his takeaway from the 2017 Buy Social Canada Summit. Every day Canadians make thousands of purchases. Coffee. Paper. Clothing. But how often do we stop to think about the impact of our purchases? Who made those clothes? Who benefits from the purchase of a morning latte? The December holidays seemContinue reading “Social Purchasing Lessons from The Buy Social Canada Summit”
ANNOUNCEMENT: We’ve just gained certification as a B Corporation!
For those who don’t know what a B Corporation is, they are organizations certified by the non-profit organization B Lab, to meet rigorous standards of accountability, transparency, and social and environmental performance. It’s a corporate standard – think Fairtrade coffee or LEED construction. At the root of B Corp philosophy, is the triple bottom lineContinue reading “ANNOUNCEMENT: We’ve just gained certification as a B Corporation!”
7 Signs of A Healthy Organization
In our many years of working with purpose-driven organizations of all sizes and across multiple sectors, we’ve learned that some organizations tend to be stronger than others. These organizations all have 7 traits in common and their programs, employees, clients, and bank accounts are healthier because of it. In general, there are 7 elements thatContinue reading “7 Signs of A Healthy Organization”