Claim OwnershipThe Discovery Pod
Subscribed: 12Played: 197
Subscribe
© 2019-2025 Douglas Nelson, The Discovery Group
Description
The Discovery Pod features conversations with leaders in non-profit/social sector. Join former CEO Douglas Nelson as he talks with CEOs, Board Chairs, Founders and other senior leaders about how they got started in the sector, how they work with their boards, and what remains to be done. As Managing Director of The Discovery Group, a philanthropy and governance consulting firm based in Vancouver, BC., Doug understands the complexity of leading organizations and institutions and the challenges of aligning governance and philanthropic performance. Doug has been called a ‘fundraising phenom’ by the Vancouver Sun and ‘a true innovator for a sector that can do so much more.’ Learn from the brightest and the best in the industry so you can accomplish what is most important by tuning in to The Discovery Pod today.
292 Episodes
Reverse
Transforming crisis into growth takes bold vision and courageous leadership. Katherine Hay reveals how Kids Help Phone redefined itself as an innovation-driven, data-powered mental health organization. By shifting from a traditional phone service to a leading digital platform, KHP embraced technology to protect its mission and stay relevant in a rapidly changing world. This forward-thinking approach allowed them to scale from 1.9 million interactions to over 22.5 million, maintain quality care during explosive growth, and prepare for challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. Katherine also shares lessons from key missteps, why investing in people is critical, and how partnerships—not competition—drive impact. If you want to learn how strategic innovation can future-proof your organization, this conversation delivers powerful insights.
Building resilient social profits starts with leadership that empowers. Geoffrey Kasangaki, CEO of Asante Africa Foundation, shares how the organization equips rural youth in East Africa with the skills and mindset to transform challenges into opportunities. From innovative “pay it forward” models to robust governance and a bold transition of leadership from the global North to the global South, Geoffrey reveals the strategies that sustain impact even amid shrinking donor markets and operational challenges. Learn how Asante Africa Foundation measures success through lives transformed, not just numbers reached, and why their long-term vision focuses on local ownership, data-driven decisions, and strategic partnerships.
In a healthcare landscape under strain, balancing immediate member needs with a long-term strategic vision has never been more critical. Angie Knott, Executive Director of the Midwives Association of British Columbia, shares how she leads a profession facing burnout, staffing shortages, and under-recognition while championing parity of esteem, sustainable midwifery care, and stronger integration into the healthcare system. Drawing from her own leadership journey, she explains how people-centred strategies, clear priorities, and member engagement can turn challenges into opportunities and build a vibrant future for midwifery.
What does it take to scale impact without losing sight of humanity? In this Women’s History Month conversation, Douglas Nelson speaks with Donna-Lynn Rosa, CEO of Atira Women’s Resource Society, about leading with humility, compassion, and hope. From one house four decades ago to more than 2,500 supportive housing spaces today, Atira has become British Columbia’s largest provider of housing for marginalized women, children, and gender-diverse individuals fleeing violence. Donna-Lynn shares the organization’s person-centered approach—where nearly 80% of staff bring lived experience—and its dual focus on providing immediate services and driving systemic change. She also reflects on her leadership philosophy, showing how pausing, listening, and modeling wellness are key to sustaining both people and mission while tackling gender-based violence and advocating for a safer future.
By bringing different local programs together, they become much more efficient and impactful in addressing today’s biggest social issues. Douglas Nelson continues to put the spotlight on women leaders in Canada this Women’s History Month as he sits down with Lauren Ravon, executive director of Oxfam Canada. She shares how small donations combined with long-term community development allow their organization to create philanthropic and humanitarian efforts that span across the globe. Lauren also details how their grassroots partnerships, feminist identity, and diverse team shape their unique approach in raising alarm on the world’s most critical issues. This conversation is truly an eye-opener on how tiny efforts, when collaborated and connected the right way, can create huge waves of social change.
Women in leadership are reshaping the future of work, and Heather Odendaal, founder and CEO of WNORTH, is at the forefront of this movement. What began as a single conference in 2015 has grown into a powerful national platform connecting and advancing women leaders across sectors. Heather shares the inspiration behind WNORTH, insights on the shift from corporate to purpose-driven and social profit roles, and why women are increasingly influential in philanthropy and leadership. She also underscores the importance of storytelling, quality over quantity in building meaningful conversations, and the role of peer support in mid-career growth. Plus, Heather offers a glimpse into North of Now, her upcoming international event with Virgin Unite, designed to spotlight new leadership styles and social impact.
Women’s health in Canada is critically underfunded—only 7% of national health research dollars are dedicated to it, and just 2.5% when oncology is excluded. Amy Flood, Executive Director of Women’s Health Collective Canada, joins the conversation to share how her organization is tackling this disparity through strategic partnerships, policy advocacy, and public education. From pushing for a national health care strategy for women to advance gender-based research standards, Amy highlights the urgent need for systemic change. She sheds light on the staggering $3 to $3.5 billion annual cost of unmanaged menopause symptoms, the power of making health inequities personal, and the role of evidence-based information in combating misinformation. With a growing global focus on women’s health, Amy calls for collaboration across sectors to position Canada as a leader in women’s health innovation.
From turning potato starch waste into edible packaging to redirecting over a million pounds of imperfect produce, Enactus Canada proves that student-led innovation can transform communities. President & CEO Catherine Fowler shares how this national charity empowers almost 2,300 post-secondary students across 78 campuses to tackle pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges through entrepreneurial action. Discover how their programs spark 300+ new businesses a year, create jobs, and make a positive impact on over 30,000 lives. Catherine also offers insight into leading a young, ambitious team, navigating post-secondary funding cuts, and accelerating student projects through new seed funding initiatives. Plus, get a sneak peek into Team Canada’s game-changing projects heading to the Enactus World Cup in Bangkok.
With food insecurity and waste getting worse year by year, food banks are becoming a crucial necessity in saving people’s lives. Kirstin Beardsley, CEO of Food Banks Canada, shares how they are coordinating a national network to serve local communities and save them from severe hunger. In this conversation with Douglas Nelson, she explains how food banks are mainly operated through volunteerism, their biggest problems in recruitment, and the major hurdles being faced by their frontliners. Kirstin also opens up about the challenge of staying committed to addressing the unsustainable demand for food – even when they have to make impossible choices.
Heather McDonald recently stepped into her role as president and CEO of the United Way Greater Toronto, an organization focused on growth impact and operational transformation. In this conversation with Douglas Nelson, she shares how she balances their work as a solutions finder and her task of implementing new systems to integrate her values-based leadership. Heather also discusses her major takeaways as a second-time CEO, the importance of showing up consistently, and how she leads United Way in becoming a greater force for good in the Greater Toronto Area.
The Discovery Pod is now on Season 10! Douglas Nelson shares what to expect from this next phase of the show, from what it takes to build a resilient organization in uncertain times to how leadership successions should be handled in the social profit sector. He also reveals which topics from the previous season he will continue to discuss, including the essential elements of sustaining change within a team and the most productive ways to engage with business boards.
Integrating your campaign into your strategic plan isn’t just smart—it’s essential. In this season wrap-up, The Discovery Group’s very own Douglas Nelson offers a deeply practical guide for social profit leaders seeking to align campaigns, strategic planning, and board engagement. Drawing from real organizational challenges, Douglas outlines the six essential functions of exceptional boards during a campaign and shares how to activate them effectively. From centering philanthropy in your plan to avoiding campaign-case detachment and Venn diagram confusion, this episode is a masterclass in bridging purpose and fundraising with clarity.
Explore the true meaning of innovation and its role in building meaningful partnerships and telling compelling stories within the social profit sector. Joined by Josée Thibault, Practice Lead for Philanthropy and Social Innovation at The Discovery Group, this conversation dives deep into navigating uncertainty at the board table, fostering genuine collaboration, and crafting a narrative that embraces purpose, theory of change, and donor engagement simultaneously. Discover strategies for driving progress with those willing to move forward, and learn how to leverage your organization’s unique assets to create lasting impact.
Douglas Nelson visits his hometown Calgary, Alberta and sits down with Christy Holtby, Vice President of Development of the Alberta Cancer Foundation. She talks about the billion-dollar partnership between their foundation, the Government of Alberta, and Siemens Healthineers, aimed at significantly investing in Alberta’s healthcare system. Christy looks back on how this groundbreaking partnership came together and how it could potentially elevate cancer care and research. She also explores their recent fundraising campaigns and the importance of aligning stakeholders and donors with a single, purpose-driven goal.
What does it take for a 140-year-old organization to stay relevant, radical, and rooted in justice?Today, we sit down with Amanda Burrows, Executive Director of First United, a cornerstone of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. From providing essential services like food, water, and shelter to driving real policy change through data-backed advocacy, Amanda shares how First United continues to evolve—without ever compromising its values.We explore the tension between frontline service and systemic reform, celebrate community resilience, and dig into how their legal advocacy led to groundbreaking housing legislation in BC. Plus, Amanda unpacks how deep-rooted integrity builds bridges with donors and fuels their powerful partnerships in the fight against poverty.Tune in to hear how one organization blends compassion, courage, and conviction to make meaningful impact—generation after generation.
Many indigenous students still struggle to get access to proper education even in these modern times. In Canada, registered charity Indspire is making a real difference by investing in the education of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people. Sitting down with Douglas Nelson is their president and CEO Mike DeGagné who talks about their noble mission as the largest non-government funder of indigenous education in Canada. Mike talks about their efforts to vastly improve their reach and overcome their biggest financial barriers by partnering with the right organizations. He also discusses the importance of indigenizing universities, creating indigenous student centers, and boosting student’s intellectual capacity for economic development and self-determination.
Almost everyone spends a huge chunk of their days glued to their phones and scrolling through endless online content. This engagement-rich virtual world must be leveraged by non-profit organizations when gathering charitable donations. Douglas Nelson sits down with Wen-Chih O’Connell, executive director of PayPal Giving Fund Canada, who supports charities raising funds through PayPal and other technological platforms. She explains why bringing your fundraising projects online is highly attractive to the younger generation, who desire transparency and speed above anything else. Wen-Chih also discusses how to overcome barriers to fundraising digitization and make online giving smoother and safer than ever before.
Covenant House Vancouver has been serving young people to help them get out of homelessness and provide them with everything they need to enjoy a comfortable life. Its CEO, Deb Lester, provides a glimpse of what they are doing behind the scenes to make a real difference for youth at risk. In this conversation with Douglas Nelson, she shares what it takes to be a leader in an already effective organization and what it takes to bring it to the next level. Deb talks about the role of her experiences on the frontlines of health, education, and social services in bringing people together to protect and safeguard the youth.
The Equality Fund is redefining the way we invest in gender justice by combining philanthropy, grant-making, and impact investing. Join Douglas Nelson as he sits down with Jess Tomlin, CEO of the Equality Fund. In this insightful conversation, they explore the transformative power of feminist philanthropy, the importance of funding women-led initiatives, and the role of the Equality Fund in reshaping global investment strategies to drive gender justice. Tune in and be inspired by the challenges and exhilarating possibilities of building a truly equitable world!
People often come together in public spaces, and Jen Angel ensures that these areas are functioning at their utmost best to foster healthy, long-lasting connections. In this conversation, Douglas Nelson sits down with the CEO of Evergreen Canada as she shares their mission of building spaces centered on community building, social interaction, and diversity. Jen talks about the necessary leadership approach to get everyone on common ground and rowing in the same direction. She also discusses how public spaces can reach the fullest potential by making everyone feel welcomed and inspired.
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States
hello, Are you an artist looking to boost your streams, subscribers, and listeners? I’m on the lookout for talent ready to elevate their digital presence! Share your links, and let’s connect