The Discovery Pod

What happens when you put the minds of 20 CEOs in one space together? The amount of wisdom would be mind-blowing. Letting you in, Senior Associate of The Discovery Group and respected leadership coach Margaret McNeil, joins Douglas Nelson in sharing some of the thoughts and inspirational ideas from 20 CEOs during their recently led Roundtables just this January 2021. They exchange stories of what transpired there and share some of the tactical tools that these leaders are using in their respective organizations. From the heightened expectations to lead better this time of COVID-19 to being vulnerable, adaptable, and resilient, Margaret and Douglas cover different facets of being a leader now more than ever. 

While people in the community have been doing their part to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still important to seek health care when necessary. As President & CEO of the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR), Dr. Bev Holmes is focused on the funding, production, and uptake of health research and healthcare-related evidence in British Columbia. On today's show, Dr. Holmes is with host Douglas Nelson to discuss the impact of COVID-19, the pandemic response among indigenous people who use drugs, and widespread impacts on BC's health research capacity and workforce. She shares how concerned she is about the effects of the pandemic on the research community and how the pandemic has really heightened uncertainty for researchers at a critical point in career development. 

In the social profit sector, trust is the biggest thing that mediates relationships between boards and leadership teams, but it’s not always easy to measure. At the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation, Scott Elliott believes that the starting point for trust building is authenticity and integrity. Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Scott and his team of silent warriors are waging a softer fight against an older pandemic and the larger social issues that have always gone along with it. Joining Douglas Nelson on the show, he shares some of the challenges of leadership and maintaining board relationships at a time when everyone in the sector is forced to do a lot of things differently.

Even though many people struggle to make ends meet during these trying times, especially on the financial side, today's chaotic situation revealed one unique character of humans: the desire to connect through giving. Jenny Marsh of the Vancouver Public Library Foundation proved this to be true when they launched a fundraising campaign to improve their building and support their transition to the digital realm. She shares with Douglas Nelson how they successfully raised money just by getting in touch with their cardholders and how the foundation's board leveraged philanthropy to acquire financial support from the government. Jenny also explains the one thing she did not expect to find when fundraising: a meaningful connection with people that even money cannot satisfy.

The year we have all endured is now over, and 2021 greets us with its own set of opportunities and uncertainties. If 2020 has taught us anything, it would be that sometimes things change so much that what we planned for the beginning of the year may not turn out exactly as we wanted it to. It shouldn’t discourage us from making plans, however. If anything, it tells us that we should take a different approach in annual planning that will give us more time and resilience whatever comes our way. In this episode, Douglas Nelson shares a story of one of the clients he has worked with at The Discovery Group over the last couple of years. This story resonates with leaders across the social profit sector who are now confronting the challenge of setting goals and deliverables for the new year. Make sure to listen in as this episode sets the tone for the rest of the year!

As an organization grows in scope and scale, it would need to fill an increasing number of roles, especially in senior leadership positions. Executive search experts like Christoph Clodius help these organizations find talent that perfectly fits their vision, mission, goals and specific needs. Christoph has been leading the executive talent management for Ketchum Canada Inc. for nine years. He is also currently the Vice President at The Discovery Group. He joins Douglas Nelson on the show to explain the whole executive search process, from what organizations look for in candidates to how these people are brought on board. 

Making a great impact is one of the main goals of a social profit organization. But as with its nature, you have to pull a number of strings in order to make things work—from coordinating with donors to organizing fundraisers and more. Needless to say, the job entails a lot. Yet, with a heart that is ever-willing to serve, nothing is quite impossible. In this episode, Douglas Nelson sits down with Laura Syron, the CEO of Diabetes Canada, to talk about her interesting story that provides a great education for how to build a leadership career in the social profit sector. Laura takes us way back to her role at Heart and Stroke, and then forward to this day where she is putting all the elements of social profit leadership together in one package. This conversation is surely not to miss, most especially if you want to learn the ways to become a great leader who inspires and makes the impact they want. 

Founded at a time when social media was limited to Friendster and MySpace, Stupid Cancer soon grew to become the largest cancer support community for young adults in the world. Diagnosed with cancer when he was 21, Matthew Zachary did not set out to start an organization, but to spearhead a movement, an edgy, disruptive brand that has never existed before in the world of cancer. As you will soon find out, Stupid Cancer is the best name there could ever be for this platform without having to cuss. But boy was he, in his own account, the most unqualified person for the job! Joining Douglas Nelson on the podcast, he shares how he eventually learned the ropes of running a nonprofit, the things that he learned along the way, and the future directions the organization is going.

Formed with a humanitarian intent around a mission, a big issue, or a great opportunity, nonprofits and philanthropic organizations are noble causes. However, many fall along the wayside and fail due to them being unable to overcome many of their challenges. Limited funding and the pressure to show results and scale their impact are just two of the most common problems nonprofits face, both of which can be remedied with the right infrastructure. On today’s podcast, Douglas Nelson brings on A. Nicole Campbell, the Founder and CEO of Build Up Advisory Group, a firm that helps brave philanthropies and nonprofits scale their impact by strengthening their grant-making and organizational structuring. Nicole explains the role of infrastructure in holding an organization's vision and mission up and in allowing that organization to advance and support its charitable mission, goals, and priorities.

A registered non-profit based in Victoria, Power To Be creates nature-based activities for vulnerable populations, focusing on children, youth, and families living with cognitive, physical, financial, and social barriers. Joining Douglas Nelson on the show today is Tim Cormode, the CEO of Power To Be. Tim has been involved in youth work and the non-profit sector for nearly 30 years. He shares the story of how their charity began and grew into a community. He also talks about their programs and how they’re created to use nature as a vehicle to see what's possible and to inspire others to think beyond their barriers and be great citizens in the community.

This year has been a pivotal time for charity organizations and even the more established names are not spared the challenges. Despite the hardships, however, Variety, the Children’s Charity remains committed in fulfilling its mission, especially in this time of utmost need. Coming into a leadership position with a strong background in fundraising, CEO Cally Wesson gives the organization the kind of leadership that is sorely needed during these challenging times. Listen to her interview with Douglas Nelson, where she shares the work she has been doing to engage donors to continue contributing to their cause. She also shares how she engages her team to do their specific tasks that contribute meaningfully to the bigger picture of where the organization is heading. 

One area that contributes to the turnover in the social profit sector is its hesitance to invest in leadership development. Many people who can’t find leadership opportunities in the sector either search for a greener pasture next door or find a different role altogether. Having successfully transitioned in her career from being a fundraiser to CEO in the social profit sector to becoming an executive coach, Diane Lloyd of Inspired Results Group sits down with host Douglas Nelson to share her career journey and what her thoughts are when it comes to closing that gap in leadership training and development. She talks about the skills needed for leaders, the importance of having a coach, and the ways CEOs can go about asking their board for a budget. What is more, Diane also shares her thoughts on the current pandemic and how leaders can navigate in this tough time.

Music is becoming an antidote to COVID-19 and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra takes the challenge of keeping its traditions in a radically changing world. When the pandemic hit us in early 2020, organizations all around the world have been evaluating their mission and aligning it with changed circumstances. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the performing arts, as the pandemic took away the very basis of their existence – their audience. Having been thrust into leadership just when the world began to shift, VSO President and CEO Angela Elster led the orchestra in steadfastly committing to their mission of creating, curating, and connecting irresistible musical experiences for their audiences in whatever form. Thus was born TheConcertHall.ca, the VSO’s new virtual home for a virtual season. Listen in as Douglas Nelson quizzes Angela about the genesis of this virtual solution as well as her other brilliant initiatives inside the organization.

Making that shift from the corporate sector to the social profit sector can be surprising, especially when you’re already an accomplished leader. Mark Breslauer, the CEO of the United Way of Greater Victoria, did exactly that and in this episode, he shares with host, Douglas Nelson the transitional piece that attracted him to make that move. He talks about how it is working with donors, a volunteer board of directors, and his team. UWGV is a leader, influencer, and difference-maker in the lives of people living on Vancouver Island. Mark lets us in on the behind the scenes of what they do and how he is leading the change in his organization, especially with the current COVID-19 situation. 

Are you wondering how animal charities are faring in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic? In British Columbia, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SCPA) is trying its best to rethink their strategies and campaigns so that they can continue to be of service despite the challenges. The pandemic is a tough time for charities, who are struggling to reconcile the increased demand of their services with the potential loss of some of their fund sources. Chief Development Officer Shoni Field joins Douglas Nelson on this episode to talk about how the organization is responding to these challenges. A big part of this is building a culture of digital maturity and adopting a lower risk model of operations. Listen and learn more about who BC SCPA used these pivots to thrive in the midst of crisis.

What’s in a name? For President and CEO Joanna Kerr, the name change from Tides Canada to MakeWay is much deeper than just being just an attempt to solidify brand identity. It represents a bigger pivot from being a service-based organization to being a purpose-based organization. It represents the adoption of a more laser-focused approach on service that aligns everything to the purpose of making nature and communities thrive together. It represents a commitment to focus on empowering communities to create global impact. Joanna explains the deeper significance of this transformation with Douglas Nelson.

The busiest season for social profit is upon us, but with everything that has happened in the first three quarters of 2020, especially the COVID-19 pandemic, things aren’t exactly breezy for the sector. What can we learn about the way we do things today that can help us navigate the challenges and uncertainties of the future? Joining Douglas Nelson to talk about this is one of Canada’s premier philanthropy lawyers, Mark Blumberg of Blumberg Segal, LLP. In this timely conversation, Mark gives charity organizations some useful advice on media relationships, funding and finances, mergers and more. Mark argues that the coming months and years are a good time for entrenched organizations to really reflect on the way they have always done things and spearhead a much-needed reset in the sector. Listen to the episode and find out why.

Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that afflicts a significant part of our aging population, yet we still have a lot of catching up to do in addressing the needs of people who are living with it. The Alzheimer’s Society of BC envisions an ideal society that is free of Alzheimer’s and dementia. In recognition of the fact that the vision may be many decades away from realization, the Society endeavors to funnel funds to research, healthcare, and general service – all geared towards eliminating the stigma against Alzheimer’s, making people living with the condition feel like they are part of the community. How has the Society been putting this mission into action in the many decades of its existence? How is it faring amidst the radical changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic? Joining Douglas Nelson on the podcast, the Society’s CEO, Maria Howard, tells us how deep relationships with the donors, caretakers, and people living with dementia are helping them excel in their service.

Like all forms of education, music education has been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the closure of physical campuses and the increased reliance on distance and online learning. How do music schools manage to do this? The Sarah McLachlan School of Music is such a success story in this regard, as Interim Executive Director, Jen Rose, relates in this interview with Douglas Nelson. Jen attributes their successful pivot to a culture of transparency, which pervades every aspect of the organization. Using the tools and resources that they have at their disposal, Jen and her team did not let the pandemic stop their passion for bringing music to the young people in their community.

Immigrating to another country is no easy feat—from the time you’ve decided to move to the moment you finally arrive. How do you settle down? How can you create new relationships? How can you start on the path towards the life you want? Olga Stachova, CEO of MOSAIC, helps people who are in this challenging journey. MOSAIC is one of Canada’s largest settlement organizations supporting newcomers as they’re building their new life in the country. Olga sits down with host, Douglas Nelson, to share with us the wonderful work they have been doing and how they are coping with the pandemic and moving forward. She taps into the many weaknesses of the society that have been revealed during this time, providing us great information about the many inequities faced by newcomers, especially when it comes to scarce job opportunities. She then shares with us how they have been keeping the team working together and reaching out to the board. Tune into this episode to learn more about the amazing work over at MOSAIC and gain wisdom on treading the rough waters brought on by the pandemic.

In unprecedented times, such as with the current COVID-19 pandemic we are all in, finding precedent is one of the most important tasks of a leader in an organization. Ezra Shanken, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, is someone who is all too familiar with this challenge, and in this episode, he sits down with host, Douglas Nelson to talk about how the pandemic has impacted the work of his organization over the last couple of months. Leading the third-largest Jewish community in Canada, anyone could just imagine the hard work it entails to listen to its members and understand their needs and keep the organization afloat. He shares with us what he is doing differently as the CEO, how he is pulling his team together to execute their mission, and how they are overcoming the unique challenges they are currently facing. Follow along in this great discussion to know more about how Ezra is staying on top of this pandemic and move from response to recovery.

A lot of people have been working hard to pivot their organizations, their fundraising, their messaging, and the missions of their organization in response to the pandemic. One such organization that has pivoted successfully despite the numerous challenges is Ocean Wise, a global conservation organization that inspires millions of people to take action to improve the health of our oceans. Joining Douglas Nelson on the show today is Jeremy Douglas, the Vice President for Development at Ocean Wise. Jeremy talks about the organization’s initiatives and the pivot they’ve made to continue operating in this unprecedented time.

Men’s health remains to be an underserved advocacy in the social profit sphere despite alarming statistics of men suffering from preventable chronic health problems like heart disease and obesity. Led by its President, Wayne Hartrick, the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation (CMHF) is on a mission to inspire men to live healthier lives by being more proactive in modifying their lifestyles. CMHF breaks through the barriers of communicating with men on health issues by engaging them in content relevant to them. Join in as Wayne sits down with Douglas Nelson on the show to discuss the things CMHF is doing to advance this advocacy. They also talk about men’s mental health, men’s health during COVID-19, and reconnecting with the fatherhood role.

As the world keeps changing, research continues to provide understanding and knowledge about the things that affect us in our daily lives. It keeps us informed and, in times of crisis, prepared. In a global health crisis, the power of research—especially medical research—is undeniable. However, we can’t deny the fact that it can be quite costly. Responding to this concern, a group of community citizens who believed that investment in research would improve health outcomes created the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation. In this episode, Douglas Nelson invites its CEO, Joanne Bath, to share with us the interesting work they are doing in the organization and how they are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Joanne takes us inside their partnerships and donor relationships, as well as her journey of growing into this space and how she is taking charge of impacting social change and improving people’s lives.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted almost every single aspect of our lives, and everything has to be put on hold as we struggle to survive the crisis. Burnaby Hospital Foundation had just launched the largest campaign in their history, raising $30 million for redevelopment, when the pandemic struck and forced them to shift focus. Kristy James was right there at the forefront of the pivot as the foundation’s CEO. With its dedicated team, magnanimous board, and generous donors, the hospital was able to launch an unprecedented emergency response that showcased the power of a cohesive community. Kristy tells the story of how they managed to do this as she joins Douglas Nelson in this episode.

Engaging with the community, of course, is one of the most important aspects of running a social profit organization. But this engagement naturally differs between organizations, and over time must evolve to respond to the needs of the times, especially in times of extraordinary crisis. Douglas Nelson is joined by Christine Bergeron, Vancity‘s Chief Member Services Officer. Douglas and Christine talk about how organizations can and should be engaging with the community they purport to serve. With the critical importance of community engagement in directing an organization, make sure you’re looking at every possible angle.

One of the silver linings in the COVID-19 crisis is the fact that we see a lot of people stepping up to donate in any way they can to the fight against the pandemic. Victoria Hospitals Foundation makes sure that these donations go where they are needed the most. Using all resources available to extend its reach, the dedicated people in the foundation have essentially become frontliners in healthcare philanthropy. Avery Brohman sits at the helm of the foundation as its Executive Director. She joins Douglas Nelson in the show today to share the work they had done in the foundation and how it has inspired her to become the best leader she can be in this honorable cause.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a far-reaching and present danger that affects every sector on every level. Assuming roles of leadership in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic is bound to be tough because, on top of the usual transitional activities, there’s the additional task of keeping everything running as smoothly as can be, undaunted, in the face of an international crisis. Douglas Nelson is joined by Trish Barbato, the President and CEO of the Arthritis Society. Douglas and Trish discuss the tactics you must consider when assuming leadership of an organization during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trish is an inspiring and courageous leader and her words will help you muster the strength to lead in this difficult time.

For many organizations and social profit groups, attaining sustainability that’s authentic and equitable is both a challenge and a mission. However, many organizations are working towards this goal consistently, whether on a large scale or a community level. Douglas Nelson is joined by Mark Gifford, the CEO of the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia. Douglas and Mark discuss the concept of attaining sustainability in relation to issues such as inequality and climate change. Mark’s perspective on the issues is refreshing, empowering, and something you definitely don’t want to miss!

The importance of continued social profit cannot be underestimated for organizations in any kind of field. Especially in times of crisis, it’s important that voices of organizations be heard to continue accruing this so-called social profit such that in the long run, the organization has something to work with on that end. Douglas Nelson runs down how organizations can continue building social profit during public emergencies. While the concept of social profit may be difficult to wrap one’s head around at first, the contingency measures that Douglas shares are sure to keep your organization’s social engines running as smoothly as can be expected.

The COVID-19 presents a seemingly insurmountable challenge for players in the social profit sector to continue providing their services and managing to stay afloat. Funding has always been an issue for these organizations, but it has become more so in a time when their services are needed the most. Today’s guest, Sandra Richardson, the CEO of the Victoria Foundation, joins Douglas Nelson to tell the story of how the foundation committed to a partnership with an individual donor and local media to raise funds for the community’s COVID-19 response. Sandra shares how different people in the community are doing their best to respond to the needs of frontliners and the vulnerable population, and how these stories encouraged people from all walks of life to do their share and give back to the community.

Although no one could have predicted the immensity of the crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the social profit sector is in many ways inherently geared towards responding to situations like this. This is especially true for United Way of the Lower Mainland, which has made moves to decentralize its operations and involve the community more. Michael McKnight, the organization’s CEO, talks with Douglas Nelson about how United Way is coping with the challenges being faced by the sector in this unique crisis and makes reflections about what the post-pandemic world would be like for the sector. He also talks about the ongoing partnership between United Way and three of the biggest organizations in the sector in Vancouver in an unprecedented collaborative effort to pool massive resources in response to the crisis.

Leading a hospital foundation such as VGH and UBC in Vancouver entails dedication, pride, and honor to serve a community seeking for quality health care. In this episode, host Douglas Nelson talks to Angela Chapman, the CEO of Vancouver General Hospital (VGC) and UBC Hospital Foundation, who shares her experience as an SVP who transitioned to become the SEO of the organization. Having experienced raising funds on a global scale, Angela explains how different countries vary in their attitudes toward fundraising. She also shares what teamwork and collaboration really means and talks about how she’s incorporating personal mission statements and actual day-to-day work in the social profit sector.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has undeniably disrupted almost all of our lives. Along with the rest of the world’s business sectors, many social service organizations have found themselves operating with far from normal business models. This episode is very timely with the current situation. Host, Douglas Nelson, talks with the Executive Director of the BC Center for Disease Control Foundation for Public Health, Kristy Kerr. Here, Kristy shares with us the response that her organization has been taking in the face of the COVID-19 Pandemic. She takes us to the early days of planning and preparation for the emergency situation and the ways they have been motivating their donors to make gifts to the emergency response fund. In this time of uncertainty, organizations such as the BCCDC Foundation must hold up and show people that there is light at the end of the Pandemic. Tune in to this insightful conversation.

Most concepts of leadership are taken to be monolithic, without much variation in between fields. But the field of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership is one that’s unique in many ways, especially if considered side-by-side with leadership in a business or corporate setting. Susan Phillips is a Professor at Carleton University who serves as the Director of the school’s Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership program. Douglas Nelson speaks to Susan about the distinctive and specific coverage of the program’s curriculums, especially as it relates to real-world applications. In a world that’s increasingly dependent on the support of philanthropic and nonprofit institutions, it’s important that there are proper educational opportunities for their future leaders.

STARS Air Ambulance has been saving and changing many lives. Not only by way of responding to medical emergencies but also through Philanthropy, inspiring others to help as well. The CEO behind this great organization, Andrea Robertson, is here in this episode to talk with Douglas Nelson about the origin story of STARS and how it maintains its enviable model and loyalty from corporate partners within the sector. She takes us across the art of fundraising, working with the board, and staying within your niche. What is more, Andrea then reveals some of the secret sauce that put their organization up with success.

Running a foundation, in principle, shouldn’t be that much different from being at the top of, say, a large corporation, but the truth is, there’s a delicate line that you constantly have to be toeing. Because foundations are philanthropic institutions, there are certain expectations about your goals, your operations, and who benefits from the resources you’re expending. Dick Vollet is the President and CEO of the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation in Vancouver, Canada. Douglas Nelson interviews Dick about how the foundation operates vis-à-vis other similar foundations. From assembling a board to what people expect of philanthropy, Dick and Douglas cover the basics of running a foundation.

There are many ways through which an individual or organization can measure the impact of philanthropy on the lives of the people it purports to affect. But at the end of the day, sometimes, what really matters most is that the change exists and is happening at the moment, and continues to happen. Andrew Chunilall is the Chief Executive Officer of Community Foundations of Canada, which focuses on creating system-level change on the issues that matter to Canadians. Douglas Nelson interviews Andrew about how foundations can create big changes in society. Make a big change in society today!

Charity work is already a noble move. Rescuing charities takes nobility up a notch. Today, Douglas Nelson talks to Paul Latour, a motivational speaker and the creator of HeroWork Society, a program that inspires people, communities, and companies to come together to help renovate charities. Paul talks about how he formed HeroWork, its benefits, actions, and values. Paul’s four Cs to a successful event and step-by-step guide for infrastructure renewal have guided them not just physically transform organizations but psychologically transform them as well. Learn how Paul and his team have helped evolved a group to a community that lifts up each other for a greater cause.

When stepping into a bigger role, you have to be prepared to fill in the shoes—or even better, improve what has been worn out and make it new. When Danielle Dunbar took on the role of Chief Development Officer at the University of Saskatchewan, she needed to pull together the team from a decentralized structure. Just as we hear a lot about in developing programs at universities and even large healthcare institutions, Danielle had to create a change in the culture, change the culture of philanthropy. Now, the University of Saskatchewan has been growing year-over-year. In this episode, Danielle goes deep into the details of the changes she has implemented that ensure reaching their goals, from coordinating the dean and staff to having great and sincere relationships with donors with their fundraising programs. Gain some great wisdom from Danielle and see through the value of looking long-term than the day-to-day.

Leadership moves. With this, many leaders often find themselves going from one organization or sector to another. For some, going through the motions of change can be quite difficult, especially on the aspects of adapting. Guest for this episode, Terry Kellam, is very familiar with this. From being at the University of British Columbia for seventeen years, Terry decided to move and become the executive director of the Mount Royal University Foundation. He shares with us how he approached the transition, particularly where the program represented more potential than achievement and went from a transactional fundraising mindset to one that is more focused on building long-term relationships. Furthermore, Terry then tells us how he builds a strong relationship with the new president and donors and engages his team.

Many typical or traditional hospital foundations are confined to the four walls of the hospital. The BC Women’s Health Foundation, however, has taken a different path. BC Women’s Health Foundation is British Columbia’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the full spectrum of women’s health. On today’s show, Douglas Nelson interviews its CEO, Genesa Greening, about the elements of their foundation’s success and how it’s recognizing and addressing women’s unique healthcare needs.

The Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion is a national charitable organization that helps the individuals and organizations they work with be inclusive and free of prejudice and discrimination. They also generate awareness, dialogue, and action for people to recognize diversity as an asset and not an obstacle. Michael Bach, the Founder of CCDI, represents a very important issue in the social profit sector. Today, he joins Douglas Nelson to talk about the institute and how he got it started.

A lot of people who grow up professionally within an organization wonder at some time or another whether they need to leave the organization in order to advance their career. Saifa Koonar, however, chose to stay. Saifa is the CEO of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation in Calgary, Alberta. She’s been at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation for many years. Today, she joins Douglas Nelson to share her journey with the organization from her first day to becoming the CEO.

Human trafficking is a crime that is quite overlooked sometimes as people do not think it is still happening in this day and age, but it does happen and is growing fast, especially when people do not pay much attention to this issue. In this episode, Douglas Nelson interviews musician and philanthropist Paul Brandt who spearheaded the #NotInMyCity movement under his Buckspring Foundation. Listen to the podcast as Paul sheds light on his mission to educate the human trafficking issue that is growing rampant in Canada.

How do you tackle challenges head on when you have very big shoes to fill? In this episode, host Douglas Nelson talks with Jim Hickman, the Chief Executive Officer of Center for Youth Wellness, about his profound responsibility of stepping in for California’s first Surgeon General and continuing to build on the great work she started at the Center for Youth Wellness. Jim gets down on how their organization is changing the way care is delivered in America, and shares how he’s bringing along the management team, the people who provide the care, and the board to move with an expanded view of the organization in this direction. He also shares how you can keep your focus on the mission of your organization rather than getting lost in the process of the change.

A successful company is more than simply having a great CEO. A CEO needs to be backed up by an effective board as well. After leaving the commercial sector, Caroline Riseboro went to work for NGOs such as World Vision and The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Her experience in both foundations led her to become the CEO of Plan International Canada. In this episode, Caroline discusses the strategies she put into place when she came to Plan. She stresses the importance of choosing your board carefully, having an effective management team, and teaching them that failure is okay. 

Kevin Keohane, the CEO of Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Foundation, talks about CHEO Foundation’s mandate and how they strive to serve the community and help CHEO deliver the care that children need. Kevin shares the fundraising strategies and activities that keep the Foundation moving forward, and discusses the importance of building a diverse foundation around the community it serves. Learn how Kevin approaches leadership, and why he believes that aligned leadership and being on “the trailing edge” is critical to the Foundation’s success.

Being the new guy has always been difficult, whether in your social circle, at school, or at work. Having one of the highest positions in an organization doesn’t make you immune from this. Instead, it mandates you to build healthy relationships early on. Mike Meldrum, the CEO of Calgary Health Trust, shares the story of how he got over this obstacle in his early days as CEO. He talks about the very first steps that he did knowing the situations he’d be put in. Mike focuses on how building good relationships, not only with the higher-ups but with those below you can make running an organization a lot easier.

Bringing cultures together is one of the challenges a newly appointed leader experiences. Andrea Seale, the new CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society, is the right person to walk us through such encounters after being appointed as an Executive Director and then permanent CEO of CCS. As a top leader, being able to approach anyone and any issues is quintessential. Sharing how she handles the management team as well as organization issues at work, Andrea discusses her approaches in working with the board and her ways of handling varied problems. Learn more about this woman’s dynamic role and how she is helping millions through her leadership.