Human Resources For Small Business

Matty Berryessa, Executive Director of Serendipity Center, shares his journey from a difficult upbringing to leading a therapeutic school for students with complex needs. Drawing parallels between supporting students and staff, he implements trauma-informed practices focused on emotional safety, trust, and predictability. Despite resource constraints, Matty maintains boundaries between work and home life while advocating for sustainable mission-driven work that prevents vulnerable students from falling through the cracks.   TAKEAWAYS Leaders should apply trauma-informed principles to workplace management, recognizing that adults are "better rehearsed kids" who perform best in environments with safety, predictability, and trust. Setting personal boundaries is essential for sustainable leadership in emotionally demanding work, as exemplified by Matty's practice of mentally transitioning before arriving home. Mission-driven organizations like Serendipity face unique challenges in resource acquisition while mai