FAQs
What's your BHAG*?
*Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal (BHAG) wa originally coined by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies. BHAG basically represents a long-term goal that is guided by your company's core values and purpose.
Unlike vision statement, BHAGs are riskier but ultimately more impactful. They shift focus to the bigger picture, pulling people out of short-term thinking. BHAGs are intentionally large-scale, bold, and high-stakes items. They serve as fuel for long-term success by exciting and energizine people. They also provide a foundational cornerstone to achieve something purposeful and meaningful for the future.
So what is the BHAG at Business English for Social Impact? Well, our BHAG has two parts:
(1) To expand the range of resource opportunities available to social impact organizations in Central Europe and Eastern Europe
(2) To increase the social, cultural, and economic understanding of the importance and value of social impact services within (and beyond) the region.
A well-thought-out BHAG should have a better-than-50% chance of success and a time frame of at least ten years. So we're going to keep aiming high while working hard on the ground to achieve good things all around.
What do you actually do?
I work across four main areas: strategic planning, program development and capacity building, fundraising and development, and English-language communication coaching for leaders and teams.
As a consultant, I help teams clarify direction, navigate uncertainty, and make hard decisions. As a trainer, I design and lead practical workshops that build skills and shared understanding. As an advisor, I offer critical input to leadership teams on structure, governance, partnerships, and positioning. And as a mentor, I work one-on-one with founders, directors, and mid-career professionals as they grow into larger roles.
Every organization differs in terms of their needs and capacities. Sometimes it's a small project or short-term activity. Sometimes it's a large program or long-term intensive effort. Our primary commitment is to deliver solid and consistent results, ensuring that each client receives the utmost benefit from our expertise and time.
Whether we’re mapping strategy, rethinking a program model, refining a grant proposal, or developing internal capacity, I bring a grounded, plainspoken approach—honest, collaborative, and shaped by real experience in the field.
What type of organizations do you work with?
Clients include non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), non-profit organizations (NPOs), social enterprises, foundations, philanthropies, charities, associations, community groups, social businesses, cooperatives, and public benefit organizations.
Whether it is a one-time consultation or longer-term relationship, we enjoy building support for social impact organizations at every stage of their development.
What's up with that name?
Originally I started with "Business English for NGOs", mostly out of practicality. Our roots are with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Central and Eastern Europe, going all the way back to the late 1990s. The name was short, simple, and clear (but honestly not the most exciting).
The first organizations we were fortunate to have as clients sought help with their fundraising strategies and materials. These groups possessed limited English-language capacity required for grant proposals, funding applications, and other communications.
Our initial clients also want to gain more insights and perspectives on how social impact takes shape beyond writing and speaking so that they and their stakeholders could embrace often abstract concepts in more strategic ways. Over time, we gained opportunities to work with a wider range of organizations aiming for social change including philanthropies/foundations, charities, advocacy groups and social enterprises.
Demand for English language coaching and communications training continued to grow, particularly among individuals and small groups that want to improve their speaking and presentation skills to reach newer and more diverse audiences.
Eventually we changed the name to "Business English for Social Impact". Again, not the most exciting choice (we know, we know). But it reinforces our focus on helping social impact organizations facing communication challenges and resources gaps.
So are you an English language teacher, interpreter, or translator?
We are not teachers, interpreters, or translators. Instead, we work primarily with social impact leaders and teams to enhance their confidence with specific English language communications skills.
Do you work for free?
We do not offer services on a pro bono or free basis. We know that budgets and costs are often a primary factor for social impact organizations exploring change. Therefore we are dedicated to exploring mutually beneficial and cost-effective options that ensure organizations can reach their goals.
Business English for Social Impact is truly passionate about ensuring social impact organizations can reach their goals. We also value the quality of our work and professional experience, and take great pride in our ability to provide top-level services for each client.