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.
What We Carry: The Invisible Weight of Humanitarian Work
Humanitarian work asks more of people than most will ever see. Much of what staff carry stays invisible… the grief, the moral injury, the exhaustion, the pressure to be “fine.” This is why a trauma-informed approach to leadership and organizational care is essential. Not because people are fragile, but because they’re human…and the weight of this work deserves to be met with steadiness, dignity, and compassion.
Trauma-Informed Isn’t Therapy, It’s Leadership
Humanitarian work changes us. It leaves people carrying stress, grief, and moral injury that often go unseen. Trauma-informed leadership isn’t about therapy or lowering expectations…it’s about clarity, steadiness, and leading in a way that doesn’t add harm. It’s leadership rooted in reality, and it matters now more than ever.
“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."
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.”