The Discovery Pod

With all the facts around us in this age of information, have you ever wondered why we're still not any better at changing the world in terms of climate change, social equity, and the likes? Maybe facts are just not enough to nudge us to do the right thing. Maybe we need a different way to process this information.  Denise Withers , award-winning storyteller, filmmaker, author, and leadership...

The Museum of Vancouver is Canada's largest civic museum that runs in partnership with the City of Vancouver. It stewards a collection of artifacts and belongings on behalf of the city to tell stories about Vancouver through material culture and digital content. Douglas Nelson's guest is Mauro Vescera , the CEO at the Museum of Vancouver. In this episode, Douglas and Mauro discuss handling tension...

The Community-Based Research Centre  (CBRC) is a nonprofit charitable organization that promotes the health of the gay community through research and intervention development. Douglas Nelson’s guest for this episode is Jody Jollimore , the Executive Director at CBRC. Jody faced several challenges in taking over the organization and building it to scale, especially during the pandemic. What ke...

There is a better social profit representation in the government with  Niki Sharma's  election as the Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-Profits. If you're working for the non-profit sector and wish to be recognized more as a partner in the community with the government, then this episode is for you. Due to the increasing recognition of social profits in its indisp...

We have all felt the pandemic strip out human connection from all of us, but human connection has been in decline for a long time before social distancing made us painfully aware of it. If anything, COVID-19 merely intensified the loneliness pandemic that has been afflicting us for much longer. In his new book, broadcaster and philanthropist Riaz Meghji  goes deep into the five habits that we...

With the world slowed down because of the pandemic, the charity sector has been shedding light on a lot of issues, with tons of fundraising being held here and there. Though these are typically conducted with an admirable purpose, the conflict regarding disbarment quota seems to be neglected by the government. Douglas Nelson talks with Gail Picco to share her discoveries regarding this matter as t...

As technology continues to evolve according to the changing demands of users, organizations must learn to go with the flow to stay relevant and visible. And this boils down into two primary focuses: innovation and engagement. Douglas Nelson sits down with  Jan Kaderly  of A Line Strategy to discuss how organizations can utilize technology and the internet to cause significant shifts in t...

The Honourable Janet Austin  shares her views of the challenges and opportunities the pandemic brings to the global table. Ever the stalwart champion of reinforcing childcare policy and women’s equality, her position as Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia brings these two crucial issues to even greater emphasis now more than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic offers a unique opportunity for glob...

One good thing about the pandemic is that it paved the way for giving more importance to health care services for families and communities. In this episode, Douglas Nelson interviews the CEO of Surrey Hospitals Foundation TM , Jane Adams. Jane has been named one of Canada's most influential CEOs, and she's been a great builder of organizations throughout her career. Today, she shares her leadershi...

Constructing a new public gallery covers considerable funding and solid credibility of the people involved in the development. Joining Douglas Nelson in this episode is the Curator and Director of The Polygon Gallery , Reid Shier . Shier explains what The Polygon Gallery is all about and the purpose of the facility. He also talks about its history and the journey in planning the new gallery in Nor...

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 e...

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 Columbi...

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 fi...

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 transit...

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 differe...

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....

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...

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 f...

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 whi...

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...

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...

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 execut...

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 ve...

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 volunt...

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...