From Profits to Purpose: Lessons from Both Worlds

A few weeks ago, I was catching up with an old colleague from my for-profit days. After exchanging updates, she said, with genuine shock, “I can’t believe you’ve survived two years in a nonprofit. And you’re still there?”

I laughed, but her comment stuck with me. Two years into this transition, I realised I had indeed “survived”—and, more importantly, I had learned so much.

Her question made me reflect on what I had learned from working in both sectors.

After two decades in the for-profit world, switching to the non-profit sector two years ago was like stepping into a parallel universe where the acronyms are different, but the fundamentals are surprisingly familiar. People often think that for-profits and non-profits are as different as Wall Street and Woodstock, but the truth is that they share a lot more DNA than we give them credit for. And at the heart of both? People, Performance, and (yes, you guessed it) Paisa/Money.

People: The Common Denominator

Regardless of whether it’s a hedge fund or an NPO, one universal truth remains: people make or break an organisation. Employees, leaders, stakeholders, customers, partners, grantees, beneficiaries—whatever you call them—are the heartbeat of any enterprise. In both sectors, we deal with team dynamics, leadership challenges, engagement strategies, and the eternal struggle to convince people to read emails all the way through. (Seriously, if you’ve made it this far, congratulations!). Hiring in the for-profit world meant battling competitors with deep pockets. In nonprofits, it’s about finding people who are deeply passionate and willing to work within a nonprofit budget. The good news is although purpose attracts incredible talent, mere passion doesn’t pay the rent and bills, and we still need to ensure competitive, equitable compensation. It’s a balancing act that I think both sectors wrestle with.

Performance: The Metrics Might Change, but the Pressure Stays

The for-profit world loves a good KPI and/or OKR. Sales growth, revenue targets, efficiency ratios—if they can be measured, they will be measured. At Nonprofits, we have our own version of this. Donor retention rates, program impact, community reach—the pressure to deliver results is just as intense. The key difference? Success isn’t measured in dollars earned but in lives impacted.

And let’s be honest: While “changing the world” sounds romantic, the reality is that tracking impact can be harder than tracking sales. You can’t always quantify the ripple effect of empowering young women or creating a safe space for marginalised communities. However, just like in the for-profit sector, the expectation to show tangible progress is non-negotiable.

At the end of the day, workplace culture determines success, whether you’re working for shareholders or social change. Do people feel valued? Are they growing? Do they enjoy what they do? These questions matter in every sector. What’s different is the storytelling—for-profits tell stories of market wins; nonprofits tell stories of impact. But in both worlds, people stay when they believe in what they’re adding value for.

Paisa (money): The Necessary Evil (or Good?)

Ah, money. Let’s be honest: no organisation runs on goodwill alone. For-profit organisations aim for specific revenue targets, whereas nonprofits focus on securing grants, donations, and funding. The stress levels are about the same. Whether you’re wooing investors or writing a grant proposal that doesn’t make your eyes cross, securing resources is a constant hustle. And while for-profits have products or services to sell, non-profits have missions to champion. Either way, financial sustainability is the name of the game.

Why This Matters?

To my ex-colleague (who I am very sure is reading this), while we may not have stock options or quarterly earnings calls, we have something even better: a front-row seat to the power of young people transforming their own lives. Now, that is something worth investing in.

Having worked in both sectors, I no longer see them as opposites. Instead, I see them as two different points on the same spectrum. Each has something to learn from the other: nonprofits could borrow more efficiency, and for-profits could use a little more mission-driven heart.

Whether you come from the for-profit world or the non-profit space, one thing is clear: great organisations—regardless of their tax status—are built on the same principles. People, performance, and yes, even money. It’s how and why we use them that makes all the difference.

So, to those wondering if they should make the leap between sectors—do it! You’ll find familiar challenges, new perspectives, and maybe (just maybe) slightly fewer emails.

Or not. Some things are universal.