If you’re seeking roles in executive search, diversity leadership, or interim management within the social impact, education, or housing sectors, their perspectives offer invaluable advice for aspiring leaders.
Welcome to Day 2 of the 12 Days of Boyden series! Today, we spotlight Boyden’s experts in the social impact sector: Karen Daly-Gherabi and Suresh Lal. Navigating the complexities of the social impact sector requires visionary leaders equipped to tackle financial pressures, regulatory challenges, and rapidly evolving work models. In this Q&A, Karen Daly-Gherabi, an expert in diversity, inclusion, and leadership recruitment across the public, education, and third sectors, and Suresh Lal, a specialist in interim housing sector management, share their insights on leadership trends, challenges, and opportunities in 2024 and beyond.
Q: What was a key achievement for you in 2024?
Karen: Delivering exceptional candidates for tough leadership searches, helping organisations overcome challenges and meet their goals.
Suresh: Joining the team in September to build a new practice and introduce fresh offerings for clients was a significant accomplishment.
Q: What challenges did you face this year?
Karen: Financial distress and staff burnout, coupled with economic uncertainty and regulatory changes, made 2024 a challenging year.
Suresh: Building a new practice while tackling critical sector issues like maintaining ageing housing stock amid tighter regulations and limited resources.
Q: What trends will shape the future of the social impact & housing sector?
Karen: In higher education, trends include lifelong learning, policy evolution, and rebuilding social contracts with communities. In the third sector, technology integration, financial pressures, and talent competition will dominate.
Suresh: Technology, AI, and data are transforming how housing providers interact with residents, enabling proactive solutions. Fresh leadership perspectives from both inside and outside the sector will also drive innovation.
Q: What critical skills will leaders in the social impact & housing sector need in 2025?
Karen: Agility, emotional intelligence, and commercial acumen, combined with a strong mission-driven approach, will be essential skills for leaders in 2025.
Suresh: Leaders must deeply understand their stakeholders and balance financial strategies with social impact to thrive.
Q: What advice would you give to leaders navigating challenges in the social impact & housing sector?
Karen: Focus on resilience, collaboration, and lobbying for government support. Learn from best practices and innovate to achieve more with fewer resources.
Suresh: Be adaptable and bold. Embrace fresh ideas, partner with diverse talent, and create a culture that thrives in hybrid work environments.
Q: How is hybrid work impacting leadership?
Karen: Hybrid models make it harder to engage teams and build organisational culture.
Suresh: Hybrid work challenges leadership’s ability to foster engagement while maintaining strong cultural foundations.
Q: What changes do you anticipate in work models by 2025?
Karen: Budget cuts and redundancies will reshape how organisations operate, demanding innovative solutions.
Suresh: The housing sector will focus on amplifying resident voices through technology, improving services and repairs while navigating resource constraints.
Karen and Suresh emphasise that the future of leadership in the social impact sector relies on resilience, agility, and forward-thinking. Their insights provide a roadmap for professionals seeking to lead change in diversity recruitment, education reform, housing management, and beyond.
