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A website focused on leadership, management, innovation, and life lessons from a grey-haired guy who's been around a while. I call it The Leadership Atlas because leaders often feel like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders – like Atlas, the Greek god of strength and endurance. Also, an atlas is a map collection, which is a pretty good metaphor for the leadership guidance you’ll find here.

New Report Published

Accelerating Generative AI for Nonprofits

Capacity building and infrastructure investments in the social sector are crucial but undervalued by many funders. I view generative artificial intelligence as a powerful opportunity to improve the sector’s effectiveness. The purpose of this field report is to explore the current use of generative AI in US nonprofit organizations and identify opportunities to expand and accelerate adoption. Interviews were conducted from April through June of 2025 with 25 practitioners, trainers, and funders. Funded by me, this report was written by Devi Thomas with fiscal sponsorship from Apples and Oranges Arts.

Want to reach out? Please use the form below or email aiinfo@markzitter.com

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Here’s a 6-1/2 minute podcast summarizing the highlights of this report:

00:00 / 06:35

PERSONAL ARCHIVE

The One Thing Your Team Actually Needs from You

I co-chair a national collaborative of accomplished entrepreneurs. At a recent meeting, the CEO of a mid-sized company asked the group “How do I get my employees to think I care about them so they’ll be motivated to go the extra mile?” It was a question that everyone present wanted the answer to. I raised my hand and said, “I’ve found that the best way to make my people think that I care about them is…to actually care about them.” It was a bit of a wise guy answer, but it was

1 day ago3 min read

Stop Wasting Everyone's Time in Meetings

Ever left a meeting and thought, “That was a waste of time”? You’re not alone. Over 70% of employees rate meetings as a waste of time; only 11% find them productive. That’s a failure of leadership.

Sep 294 min read

Can I Trust You?

I had several occasions to hear former Secretary of State George Schultz speak. He discussed different issues each time but he always...

Sep 124 min read

How Entrepreneurship is Like Surfing

No, this analogy isn’t about staying afloat, or skimming across issues without diving deep, or facing waves of crises. It’s a way of thinking about a company from an investor’s perspective.

Aug 204 min read

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ABOUT MARK

I’m a former serial entrepreneur, a venture partner at two VC firms, an advisor to a private equity firm, an angel investor in multiple young companies, and a nonprofit board chair. Feel free to reach out if I can be helpful to you or your organization or if you'd like to provide feedback on something you see here.