In a recent episode of North Fulton Business Radio (Episode 872), host John Ray sat down with Deb Page, President and CEO of The Institute for Performance Improvement, to explore a powerful and timely topic: how organizations can improve performance in the face of increasingly complex challenges. The episode, titled “Improving Organizational Performance, with Deb Page,” offers an insightful and inspiring conversation that introduces a broad audience to the growing field of performance improvement facilitation.
From her roots as a high school teacher to leading human capital strategy at a Fortune 20 company, Deb Page’s professional journey is a masterclass in adaptive leadership. As co-founder of The Institute for Performance Improvement, Deb now trains and certifies performance improvement facilitators who guide organizations—from Fortune 500 companies to government agencies, nonprofits, and school systems—through collaborative change processes.
Throughout the podcast, Deb explains that performance improvement is not about quick fixes or one-size-fits-all solutions. It’s about understanding root causes, facilitating honest collaboration, and building systems that drive lasting results. She describes how organizations too often leap to solutions before fully diagnosing what’s really holding them back. Performance improvement facilitators are trained to slow that process down, build trust, and help teams align their work with the organization’s true purpose.
A key highlight of the episode is Deb’s discussion of The Institute’s flagship certification program, the Certified Performance Improvement Facilitator™ (CPIF). This program equips professionals across all sectors—corporate, nonprofit, education, and government—with the tools and frameworks needed to facilitate change effectively. Deb shares compelling success stories that show how trained facilitators have transformed underperforming teams, improved operational outcomes, and re-energized workforce engagement.
As Deb notes, “One of the most common things we hear is, ‘Why didn’t I have this training 10 years ago?’” It’s a sentiment that underscores just how practical and relevant this work is to anyone leading teams or managing change.
In addition to her work as a facilitator and trainer, Deb Page is also a published author. She recently released two books designed to support professionals in the field:
The Performance Improvement Facilitator Playbook, a practical guide for those facilitating improvement initiatives across sectors, and
Facilitating Shared Success: The Practical Guide to Leading Collaborative School Improvement (coming August 2025 from Solution Tree), which provides field-tested strategies for school leaders and educators navigating collaborative improvement efforts.
Whether you’re a public sector professional, school improvement professional, business owner, or nonprofit leader, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in improving how people work together to solve problems and achieve meaningful results.
🎧 Listen to the full episode: Improving Organizational Performance, with Deb Page
📘 Explore Deb’s books and training programs: www.tifpi.org
North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray and produced by Business RadioX®, bringing visibility to local business leaders and organizations that are driving positive impact across the North Fulton region and beyond.