Welcome to Plan, Do, Grow — the podcast for charities and third sector organisations who want practical, no-fuss advice to build stronger plans, deliver better services, and grow their impact. I’m Christine Brown from Future Excel, and in each short episode, I’ll share simple tools, reflections, and tips to help your organisation take its next step — wherever you are on the journey.
Plans don’t create impact unless they’re used.
In the final episode of the Plan, Do, Grow mini-series, Christine Brown from Future Excel shares practical ways to keep your strategic plan visible, useful, and relevant long after it's written.
You’ll learn how to:
✔ Make your plan part of everyday conversations and decision-making
✔ Assign ownership to key priorities
✔ Track progress without overwhelming your team
✔ Build in time to reflect, adapt, and celebrate what’s working
✔ Create a learning culture that embraces change and growth
Whether you’re managing a small team or leading a growing organisation, this episode will help you move from “we made a plan” to “we’re using it to guide everything we do.”
🎧 Tune in and make your plan a living, breathing part of your organisation’s success.
21 Apr 2025
Episode 6: Mapping the Difference You Want to Make (Theory of Change)
Get clear on how your work leads to real impact.
In this episode of Plan, Do, Grow, Christine Brown from Future Excel demystifies the Theory of Change — showing how this simple, structured tool can help you plan more confidently, evaluate more effectively, and communicate your impact with clarity.
You’ll learn how to:
✔ Start with the end in mind — and work backwards
✔ Map your inputs, activities, outcomes and long-term goals
✔ Uncover the assumptions behind your work
✔ Use the framework to strengthen funding bids and team alignment
✔ Review and refresh your Theory of Change to keep it relevant and useful
Whether you’re starting from scratch or revisiting an existing Theory of Change, this episode offers a step-by-step guide to help you make it a living, strategic tool.
🎧 Listen now and put your impact into focus.
16 Apr 2025
Episode 5: Goal Setting That Guides Your Work
Because vague goals don’t move things forward.
In this episode of Plan, Do, Grow, Christine Brown from Future Excel dives into the practical side of setting goals that actually guide your organisation’s day-to-day work — not just look good on paper.
You’ll learn how to:✔ Anchor your goals in your mission and strategic priorities
✔ Use the SMART framework to create clear, measurable outcomes
✔ Involve your team to build ownership and insight
✔ Break goals down into manageable actions
✔ Keep your goals visible, reviewed, and useful over time
Whether you're creating a new business plan, launching a project, or simply need clarity on your direction, this episode helps you move from wishful thinking to focused action.
🎧 Listen now and start setting goals that stick.
16 Apr 2025
Episode 4: From Mapping to Meaningful Engagement
You’ve mapped your stakeholders — now what?
In this episode of Plan, Do, Grow, Christine Brown from Future Excel helps you turn your stakeholder map into something truly practical: a clear, manageable communication and engagement plan that actually works.
You’ll learn how to:✔ Segment stakeholders by what they need and how they prefer to engage
✔ Build a simple stakeholder communication matrix
✔ Tailor your methods without overcomplicating
✔ Start small and stay realistic
✔ Close the loop to build trust
✔ Keep your engagement plan alive and evolving
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed about how to stay connected to all the people who matter in your work — from funders and partners to service users and volunteers — this episode gives you the practical tools to do just that.
🎧 Tune in and take the next step from insight to action.
14 Apr 2025
Episode 3: Stakeholder Mapping Made Simple
Planning is only as strong as the voices you include.
In this episode of Plan, Do, Grow, Christine Brown from Future Excel breaks down the power of stakeholder mapping - a practical tool to help third sector organisations clarify who matters most and how to involve them in meaningful ways.
You’ll learn how to:
Identify a wide range of stakeholders beyond the usual suspects
Use a simple influence/interest grid to map them
Spot gaps, overreliance, and underrepresented voices
Use stakeholder insights to shape your priorities, risks, and planning
Connect the exercise back to your strategic framework
Whether you're launching a new project or refreshing your strategy, this episode gives you a clear process for making stakeholder engagement purposeful and not just polite.
🎧 Listen in and rethink who’s in the room when you plan.
14 Apr 2025
Episode 2: SWOT Without the Eye Roll
Make your SWOT analysis more than a tick-box exercise.
In this episode of Plan, Do, Grow, Christine Brown from Future Excel takes a fresh look at the classic SWOT tool and shows how it can actually drive better planning, sharper decision-making, and clearer priorities for your organisation.
You’ll learn how to:
Set a clear focus for your SWOT
Ask the right questions to dig deeper into each quadrant
Involve the right people to capture diverse insights
Spot useful connections between your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
Use your SWOT to inform business planning, goal setting, and risk management
Whether you’re planning a new project, preparing a funding bid, or refreshing your organisational strategy, this episode gives you practical ways to bring your SWOT to life.
🎧 Listen in and take your analysis beyond the post-it notes.
13 Apr 2025
Episode 1: Why Planning Still Matters (Even When You're Busy)
Planning doesn’t have to be perfect but it does need to be purposeful.
In this first episode of Plan, Do, Grow, Christine Brown from Future Excel breaks down why strategic planning still matters even when you’re flat out with delivery, short on time, or working with limited resources.
You’ll hear:
Why a simple plan is often more powerful than a lengthy one
Two practical frameworks to shape your thinking
Common planning pitfalls to avoid
A quick team exercise you can try this week
A reminder that you don’t need to be a consultant to lead a great plan
Whether you’re building your first organisational plan or refreshing an old one, this episode will help you take those first steps with clarity and confidence.
🎧 Hit play and start planning with purpose.
13 Apr 2025
Trailer - Plan Do Grow Podcast from Future Excel
Bite-sized advice for charities and third sector organisations that want to move forward with purpose and grow their impact.
Christine Brown is the founder of Future Excel and a Fellow of the Institute of Employability Professionals. With over 30 years’ experience supporting the development of charities, community based businesses, and public sector organisations, she specialises in turning strategy into clear, achievable action.
Christine is passionate about helping organisations grow their confidence, strengthen their planning, and deliver impact with practical tools and no unnecessary jargon.
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