403: The Great Game of Business (and how to apply it to your nonprofit) with Sarah Olivieri

In this solo episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership , Sarah Olivieri shares key lessons from the influential book The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack—and why its principles apply just as powerfully to nonprofits as they do to for-profit companies. At its core, the idea behind the "great game" is simple: organizations perform better when everyone is engaged in the work of improving the business. Not just leadership. Not just managers. Everyone. Too often, only a handful of people in an organization are expected to think strategically and make decisions, while the rest of the team is tasked with executing instructions. But when only a few people are using their brains to solve problems and make improvements, the organization is leaving enormous potential untapped. Sarah explores how leaders can begin unlocking the intelligence of their entire team by creating systems that encourage participation, collaboration, and shared responsibility for results. She also highlights two powerful principles from the book: First, the power of gamification. When people feel like they are playing a game they can win together—whether that means reaching fundraising goals, improving efficiency, or increasing impact—they become more engaged and invested in the outcome. Second, the importance of financial transparency and literacy. When people understand the numbers that drive an organization—cash flow, revenue, expenses, and impact—they are able to make better decisions and contribute more meaningfully to the mission. This approach ultimately leads toward what's known as open-book management, where financial information is shared widely so teams can see how their work contributes to the organization's success. The result? Stronger collaboration. Better decisions. And a team that truly feels ownership over the mission. If you want a smarter, more engaged team, this episode will challenge you to think differently about how you involve your people in the work of running the organization. In This Episode, You'll Learn Why organizations perform better when every team member uses their brain to improve the business How gamification increases engagement and teamwork Why winning as a team is more motivating than internal competition How understanding financial numbers helps teams make better decisions Why transparency often builds trust rather than risk The core idea behind open-book management Who This Episode Is For This episode is especially helpful for: Executive directors leading growing teams Nonprofit leaders who want stronger engagement from staff Organizations working to build a high-performance culture Leaders who want their teams thinking like owners About Your Host, Sarah Olivieri Bold, strategic, and refreshingly human… Sarah Olivieri is the go-to expert for conversations on aligned leadership, outcome delegation, and sustainable growth. She brings wit, warmth, and real-world wisdom to mission-driven founders, visionary CEOs, and change-makers who want more clarity, more joy, and more results. Most leaders hit a wall when success depends on them holding it all together. Sarah helps them change that by redefining leadership around outcomes instead of activity, empowering teams to own results that scale and freeing leaders to focus on the vision that drives them. A former director of three nonprofits and founder of five businesses, she has a rare ability to spot opportunity where others see chaos, shift stuck patterns, and build organizations that support both legacy and life. Sarah leads with the same mindset that made her an award-winning sailor: iterate on what works, stay focused in the storm, and never forget the joy of the journey. Links Website: saraholivieri.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarah-olivieri Be sure to

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403: The Great Game of Business (and how to apply it to your nonprofit) with Sarah Olivieri is an episode from Inspired Nonprofit Leadership by Mary Hiland.

This episode is 10:15 long.

This episode was published on Mar 16, 2026.

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