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.
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.”