These are notes from the inside — of leadership, of change, of staying whole in the face of systems that often ask us not to be. The Olive Pages is where care and clarity meet, one reflection at a time.
The Olive Pages
Fieldnotes on care, clarity and staying whole.
“Quick Fix Culture” and the Leaders Who Keep It Alive
When leaders prioritize optics over care, staff pay the price. Let’s talk about how quick fixes undermine well-being, and how we change the pattern.
"You can’t build a culture of care while rewarding the behaviors that erode it."
When Care Is Political: The Courage to Stay Human
Systems may not reward care, but they rely on it to function. Care isn’t just kindness, it’s a stance. And a strategy. In humanitarian work, choosing to protect well-being means challenging systems that often value output over humanity. Here’s why that matters, and what it takes to stay human in the process.
"In a system built for output, choosing care is an act of quiet defiance."
Announcing ‘The Olive Work’ on Substack
Introducing The Olive Work - a new space for deeper conversations on care, clarity, and staying whole in a breaking system. Why olives? Why now? And why this matters.
"The olive branch is more than a symbol of peace, it’s a reminder of the work it takes to nurture it."
How to Support Humanitarian Staff During Prolonged Crisis
In the face of prolonged crisis, staff care must go beyond quick fixes and self-care slogans. This post offers grounded, compassionate strategies for supporting humanitarian teams who are navigating sustained stress, exhaustion, and uncertainty.
“In prolonged crisis, staff don’t need pep talks, they need protection, presence, and leadership that doesn’t look away.”
The Myth of Resilience in Humanitarian Work
We praise humanitarians for being resilient — but rarely ask what it’s costing them. This post rethinks resilience as survival, silence, and sometimes self-erasure.
"If your strength is measured only by how much you can endure, we’ve already failed you."
Your Well-being Is a Leadership Skill
Leaders who ignore their own limits model burnout as a badge. The best leaders practice well-being as a form of responsibility.
"You can’t lead others well if you treat yourself as expendable."
When Leadership Harms: The Deadly Cost of Toxic Culture in Humanitarian Work
Toxic leadership in humanitarian organizations is not just a personality flaw—it’s a safeguarding crisis. When we protect harm in power, we betray people and purpose. This post explores how toxic culture is created, why it persists, and what it’s costing us.
“Toxic leadership doesn’t happen in a vacuum. At some point, someone trained, rewarded, or promoted it.”
The Cost of Ignoring Staff Well-being in Humanitarian Work
In humanitarian work, our people are our power—but we often fail to protect them. This post explores the urgent cost of ignoring staff well-being and calls for a cultural shift that puts care, safety, and humanity at the heart of impact.
“If we neglect the well-being of those who serve, we undermine the very mission we’re trying to achieve.”
Am I Still Called… or Just Conditioned?
If you’ve ever quietly asked yourself, “Am I still called… or just conditioned?” — you’re not alone. Sometimes, staying becomes survival. This post is for those ready to ask the deeper questions about who they are becoming in the work.
“You don’t have to stay loyal to a role that no longer reflects your truth.”
We Don’t Talk About Moral Injury — But We Should
What you’re feeling might not be burnout — it might be betrayal. Moral injury is real, and it shows up when our work asks us to abandon what we believe in. We need to talk about it. And we need to heal from it.
“You can’t resilience your way out of betrayal.”
The Humanitarian Reset Isn’t Coming - It’s Already Here
The humanitarian reset isn’t something we’re waiting for — it’s already happening. What many people are calling burnout is actually a deep, quiet shift in values, clarity, and direction. The work is changing. So are we.
“This isn’t collapse — it’s contraction. The pulling back of what no longer fits.”
What Burnout Isn’t: Rethinking the real causes — and why your exhaustion might be something else entirely
We’ve been misdiagnosing burnout for years. It’s not just about working too much — it’s about working in ways that cost you too much. This is a reframing for those still trying to make it all work in systems that weren’t built for care.
“Burnout is not a personal failure. It’s a very reasonable response to long-term mismatch, moral tension, and neglect.”
Staying Whole in a Breaking System: Notes from the Frontline of Staff Care
What does it mean to stay whole in systems that are fraying? This is a reflection — and an invitation — for humanitarians, leaders, and anyone who’s tired of holding it all together alone.
“Wholeness isn’t perfection. It’s presence. It’s remembering that you matter too.”
Why Recovery Isn’t Weakness
If rest feels weak, you’ve been conditioned by a broken system. Let’s reframe recovery as an act of strength, clarity, and long-term leadership.
“Rest isn’t retreat. It’s resistance."
Signs You’re Not Resting — You’re Numbing
True rest restores. Numbing drains. Here’s how to recognize when your recovery is masking distress instead of healing it.
"What you call rest might be a coping strategy in disguise."
The Olive Pages: A Place to Be Seen, Heard, and Whole
The Olive Pages is a heartfelt space for humanitarian workers to find hope, healing, and community. Created from personal struggle and deep care, it’s about staying whole in a broken world.
“Our work is not just a job. It’s a calling that deserves care — for ourselves and for each other.”