Small Shifts, Bigger Direction
This week reminded me that transformation often looks less like sweeping declarations and more like a steady cadence of small shifts that build momentum.
Some were tangible fixes that had lingered too long. The people & culture team started clearing out a supply closet that had been a running frustration. The building finally agreed to adjust the thermostat (it was a frigid 62 degrees!). On paper, these seem minor. But they were energizing moments that reminded me this is a team that doesn’t just accept friction. It notices and takes action.
Other shifts focused on refining our core work. The development team refreshed our meeting cadence and prospect approach to be more targeted and effective. The program team sharpened how we explain to ourselves and to the Board what guides our advocacy around where students go to college, a reminder that these decisions are not just about data, but about values. The communications team made adjustments to our FY26 one-pager, because even slight changes matter when every word brings us closer to how we want to talk about our work with the world. The finance team took immediate steps to close out outstanding questions from FY25 financials. Not glamorous work, but the kind of clarity that gives us foundation to move forward with confidence.
And this week brought a particularly meaningful moment for our entire organization: a 2023 EMERGE alum who didn’t matriculate at graduation reached back out with a request for support to enroll in college. It’s a powerful reminder that our collective impact extends beyond traditional timelines and that EMERGE is here when students are ready to take their next step.
The Compound Effect of Small Changes
What we experienced this week mirrors what revolutionized British cycling. When Dave Brailsford became performance director, he focused on improving every small component by just 1% rather than searching for one massive breakthrough. British cyclists went from winning one gold medal in 76 years to Olympic dominance.
The power wasn’t in any single improvement. It was in how small changes compound. When you improve multiple areas simultaneously, even marginally, the cumulative effect becomes transformational. Small shifts are sustainable because they don’t overwhelm systems or people. They’re measurable, so you can see progress quickly. And they engage everyone because every team member can identify improvements in their area.
That’s exactly what I’m seeing at EMERGE. None of these individual changes (fixing a thermostat, refining an approach, responding to an alum) transforms the organization by itself. But together, they signal something significant: a culture that notices opportunities for improvement and acts on them rather than waiting for perfect conditions.
Moving Forward
If Week 1 was about listening and learning, Week 2 was about testing how quickly we can turn insight into action. The lesson is that forward motion isn’t only about the big moves that make headlines — it’s also about the daily discipline of noticing friction, identifying adjustments, and nudging ourselves closer to the organization we’re becoming.
As you notice areas of friction in your own work, consider what small shift could create momentum. What’s your 1% improvement for this week? The transformation we’re building happens one purposeful change at a time.
