Five Good Ideas Podcast

We can all agree that the world has changed in the last few years – and so have workplaces. Today, managers are facing a workforce shaped by changing demographics, shifting expectations, and growing pressures outside the workplace. In this Five Good Ideas session, Dave McKechnie, Toronto Office Managing Partner of McMillan LLP and an expert in all areas of employment and labour relations law, offers practical strategies for managers who want to lead effectively in this new environment. Session handout Five Good Ideas 1. Introspection. What are your strengths and blind spots as a manager? What are your strengths and blind spots as an organization? 2. Intention. Be deliberate in setting not just your goals or an employee’s goals but the steps to get there. 3. Improvise. Be flexible as not all your employees are coming with the same experiences. 4. Include. Be hyper-conscious of your words, actions, and behaviours. Are there unconscious biases that you have that you need to address? 5. Insulate. Control what you can control. You need to be conscious of the outside world, but you cannot control it. Resources Suzanne Wertheim, The Inclusive Language Field Guide, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2023 Simon Sinek, Start with Why, Penguin, 2009 Season 1, Episode 9 (“3:00 PM”) of “The Pitt” Amy Poehler’s podcast, “The Good Hang” Second City & Comedy Bar Corporate Improv Training Sessions (or equivalent outside of Toronto) The text, podcast, and transcript are provided for general information purposes only. They are neither intended as, nor should be considered, legal advice and readers, viewers, and listeners should not make any decisions based on this material alone. Rather, a qualified lawyer should be consulted. © McMillan LLP 2026. Access more Five Good Ideas sessions at: https://maytree.com/strengthening-communities/five-good-ideas/. 

Collaboration with other organizations can build your organizational capacity, amplify your impact, and help you serve more people – but only if you get it right. Successful collaboration starts at home – with your board and senior leaders building the right internal culture, competencies, and systems before you approach potential partners.  Liz Weaver, former Co-CEO of the Tamarack Institute, and Linda Mollenhauer, Chair of Ignite NPS, joined Elizabeth McIsaac, president of Maytree, as they shared practical stories and ideas to help you choose the right collaborations, show up as a strong partner, and avoid common pitfalls. They drew from free resources in The Collaborative Organization – tools you can use right away.  Liz and Linda's five good ideas: 1. Look inward. Culture matters. The values your board and leadership hold shape how others see you as a partner. 2. Understand the why. Get clear on what strategic benefits collaboration will bring to your mission. 3. Be intentional by managing opportunities and mitigating risks. Treat collaborations like investments – assess fit and protect your organization. 4. Get your own shop in order. Make sure you have the internal capacity and systems to deliver on commitments. 5. Put it in writing. Create a board policy that guides how and when you collaborate. For the resources and a video of the session, visit: https://maytree.com/five-good-ideas/five-good-ideas-on-how-to-become-a-collaborative-organization/.

Jake Hirsch-Allen, head of Partnerships at The Dais, a public policy and leadership think tank at Toronto Metropolitan University, joined Elizabeth McIsaac, president of Maytree, for the latest Five Good Ideas session to share his five ideas on how to adopt generative AI responsibly and effectively. Drawing from the Responsible AI Adoption for Social Impact (RAISE) program – a national initiative through which Jake has trained over 500 non-profit professionals across Canada – Jake explored when and how to use AI, the risks you need to understand, and why your organization’s data matters more than you think. Jake’s five good ideas: 1. Experiment using AI 2. Beware of the risks 3. Identify AI use cases 4. Create an AI use policy 5. Value your data For the resources and a video of the session, visit: https://maytree.com/five-good-ideas/five-good-ideas-on-how-to-think-responsibly-about-generative-ai/

Dr. Megan Conway, President and CEO of Volunteer Canada, joined Elizabeth McIsaac, President of Maytree, for the latest Five Good Ideas session to share her five ideas on how to re-engage your volunteer community and attract new supporters. Megan talked about how to meet the changing needs and motivations of today’s volunteers, remove barriers that keep people from participating, and reconnect with those who have volunteered with you in the past. Megan’s five good ideas: 1. Design volunteering for belonging, not just help 2. Treat access to volunteering as a design and equity issue 3. Reframe volunteering as contribution, skill building, and participation 4. Invest in volunteer infrastructure as a public good 5. Make volunteering visible in civic leadership and policy For the resources and a video of the session, visit https://maytree.com/five-good-ideas/five-good-ideas-to-attract-and-keep-volunteers/.

In the face of changing government policies, deepening inequality, and community crises, charities must act forcefully to respond to their clients’ needs. They need to be fearless and use all of their tools to advocate and manage risk. The Neighbourhood Group Community Services and Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre experienced a trial by fire in 2025 that tested their resolve – they faced both the threat of closure and the actual closure of their supervised consumption services, resulting in a legal charter challenge to protect health care in their community. Two leaders came through more determined to act boldly to improve conditions for the people in their community. In conversation with Elizabeth McIsaac, Angela Robertson and Bill Sinclair presented their five ideas on how to be fearless, change how organizations work, and listen to our most vulnerable communities. - Angela Robertson is Executive Director or Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre - Bill Sinclair is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Neighbourhood Group Community Services - Elizabeth McIsaac is President of Maytree Five Good Ideas 1. Build a fearless board 2. Defend your rights and values 3. Understand the importance of data and evidence 4. Embrace unusual allies and media 5. Take a new approach to risk management For the resources and a video of the session, visit https://maytree.com/five-good-ideas/five-good-ideas-for-building-fearless-organizations/.