Three Years, Three Lessons
This month marks three years since we launched Nexus Cooperation, a small firm with big ambitions to contribute meaningfully to supporting Canadian and international organizations deliver on their mandates. Like any young organization, we’ve learned a lot in a short amount of time: about the field, about people, and about ourselves.
Here are three lessons that have shaped how we work:
1) Be Curious
Over the past three years, we’ve worked on an incredibly wide array of projects — from policy planning and local governance in West Africa, to biodiversity conservation in Latin America, to municipal climate partnerships, and asset management and affordable housing here at home. One of the most rewarding parts of this work is the constant opportunity to learn. Every client, every context here in Canada or abroad, every challenge brings something new to explore. Curiosity isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.
This mindset matters even more in a field that never sits still. The sectors that we have worked in and continue to work in will not be the same in 1 year, let alone 10 years. From the rapid rise of AI tools to shifting global priorities, we’re operating in an environment defined by change. 2025 alone has already brought new political leadership in the U.S. and Canada, and with it, evolving priorities. People change their minds. Policies shift. New tools emerge. Staying curious keeps us agile, creative, and better equipped to adapt, and ultimately, to deliver work that’s meaningful and future ready.
2) The World Is Wide, But This Field Is Small
While our work takes place in Canada as well as across many continents, it’s a surprisingly tight-knit world. We’ve always known that relationships matter; that how you treat someone matters as much as the work you are trying to do together. Certainly, the last three years have reinforced that our sectors run on good, meaningful relationships, and that paths cross more often than you’d expect. Some of the very people we worked with in previous roles (looking at you, FCM, co-operative, international development, and human rights colleagues!) have since moved into new organizations, countries, and capacities.
One of the most rewarding surprises of building Nexus has been reconnecting with those familiar faces in unexpected places. Whether it’s teaming up again on a new project or simply swapping insights across roles, these connections remind us that investing in people pays off, often in ways you won’t see until months or years down the line.
They also remind us of the importance of solidarity: of showing up for each other not just as professionals, but as partners working toward common goals.
3) People First
When we started Nexus, we had one non-negotiable: we wanted to enjoy the people we work with. That simple rule has guided how we’ve built our team, how we choose our partners, and how we show up in every project.
We didn’t just want to do good work, we wanted to do it with people who inspire us, challenge us, and bring positive energy to the table. Over time, that guiding principle has become a defining part of our identity. We’ve learned that how we work with people matters just as much as what we deliver. The most successful outcomes we’ve seen have come from spaces where trust was mutual, communication was honest, and everyone felt heard.
In a sector that can sometimes prioritize outputs over relationships, we’ve found that putting people first isn’t just good values, it’s good strategy. Listening, empathy, and respect go further than any framework or tool.
To everyone who has believed in us, collaborated with us, and grown with us over these three years — thank you. We’re proud of how far we’ve come and energized for what’s next.
Here’s to the journey ahead.
— The Nexus Team