The Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) has kicked off a year of planning in anticipation of its next strategic plan that will be in effect from 2026 through 2029. Beginning in January with a review of MBRT’s mission, vision and values, the MBRT Board of Directors and Strategic Steering Committee joined staff for a human-centered design approach to planning. Brainstorming led to the creation of the new plan’s theme: “My Future, My Maryland,” referring to MBRT’s vision statement and statewide reach and impact of the organization.
Why should a nonprofit organization such as MBRT strategic plan? While MBRT is celebrating 32 years in operation, strategic planning forces a look into the future and provides an opportunity for the organization to assume a proactive posture. Part of the planning process scans the environment in which we work, raising awareness of stakeholder needs and issues. Planning also helps MBRT redefine its overall mission and gain consensus on objectives. With a renewed sense of direction, planning for program continuity and effective staffing becomes an integral part of intentional execution of goals. Finally, strategic planning – more than a simple business plan – puts everyone on the same page, ensuring a standard of accountability for people, programs and resources.
As part of MBRT’s strategic planning process, a 2025 MBRT Stakeholder Needs Survey is now live, and you are invited to participate as a valued stakeholder of MBRT programs – either directly or indirectly – including Next Generation Scholars, Student Ambassadors, Student Alumni programming, and MBRT’s Speakers Bureau.
The survey will assess a number of” SWOT” analysis-related items, including the following questions:
- What are the key opportunities for MBRT now and in the future?
- What are the key challenges or threats MBRT is facing in the next 3 to 5 years?
- What are MBRT’s greatest strengths?
- What are MBRT’s greatest weaknesses/vulnerabilities?
- What key MBRT initiatives are important to sustain?
- How should MBRT measure success?
You are invited to participate in the survey before March 25 by using the following link or QR code. You will not be required to self-identify but are required to select the stakeholder group you represent. Answer from your perspective, given what you know at this time about MBRT, our programming and operations, as well as the environment in which we work (Maryland). All feedback is welcomed and valued.
Responses gathered in the survey from all stakeholder groups will be synthesized for MBRT’s Strategic Steering Committee and staff to review and reference in the development of organizational goals, initiatives and key performance indicators (KPIs), to follow later this spring.
Finally, as part of the “My Future, My Maryland” strategic planning process this year, MBRT is focused on defining core values as we codify culture for deeper impact. By identifying values and beliefs that MBRT stands for, that are reflected in our behavior toward each other, students and stakeholders across the state, we can embed culture in decision-making, communications and performance.
With the MBRT Board, Strategic Steering Committee, valued stakeholders and our outstanding team of professionals who are driven by a passion to help students build their futures and businesses secure their future-ready workforce, we look forward to launching MBRT’s 2026-2029 strategic plan as one team aligned around one vision, one purpose and one set of core values we hold in the highest esteem.
