Zoë Whyatt

I help charities and social enterprises become more strategic, resilient and impactful.

My work focuses on theory of change, strategy and governance, and I take on interim roles as well as project-based work.

Theory of Change: I love helping teams move from ‘we know it works’ to ‘we know exactly how, when and where it works best’. This shift leads to better decisions about how to spend your time and energy, and clearer impact reporting that can open up new routes to funding.

A theory of change process could be for a project, programme or your organisation as a whole.

I can also help develop & implement evaluation frameworks, impact reporting platforms, and advise on the new SORP reporting guidelines.

Strategic Direction: I can support you to design and navigate a high-quality strategic review, tailored to your organisation, your team’s capacity and your overall goals.

I’ll encourage you and your team to frame the right questions and explore them with curiosity and courage. I take an agile approach to make best use of time, stay open to ideas and create momentum.

Tools we might use include: theory of change, scenario planning, tensions and trade offs, stop-stay-start, capability analysis, business model canvas, financial stress test, SWOT/PESTLE, horizon planning.

Good Governance: A strong and effective board is key to your organisation having meaningful and lasting impact. I work directly with Boards to conduct skills reviews and look at decision making processes, group dynamics and culture. I can also help improve board reporting, meeting formats and outcomes, terms of reference and compliance.

Clients

Homes for Good, 38 Degrees, Women in Prison, Give A Little, Centre for Youth Impact, Reprezent, The Conduit Club, Dartington Social Design Lab, Generation Change

Qualifications

MBA – Strathclyde Business School (Distinction)

Graduate Certificate in Social Impact – Melbourne Business School (Class Award)

Bsc (Hons) Psychology – University of Leeds

Experience

As CEO (SecondBite, 38 Degrees, Homes for Good) and as Chair (WorkingRite, Year Here) I’ve successfully navigated rapid growth, national expansion, complex change and closure. I know what it takes to start something up and what to do when things start to slow down.

I’ve designed and led strategic reviews from the inside as CEO, the outside as a consultant and participated as a board member.

I’ve delivered theory of change training to charities around the UK on behalf of the Centre for Youth Impact, and developed many TOCs with charities and social enterprises across a variety of sectors, including campaigning, conservation, youth participation, employability, justice and housing.