In this episode of PhilanthroThink, Jonathan Harline and Titilayo Adedeji speak with Annabel White, founder and co-CEO of Dragonfly Ventures. Annabel reflects on inheriting family wealth at a young age, learning how finance works over time, and building a more values-led approach to philanthropy and investing.

The conversation explores impact investing, environmental and human health, trust-based philanthropy, unrestricted funding, and blended finance. Annabel also shares why she believes community-led solutions matter and why capital should be put into motion where it can do the most good.

Thank you to IG Private Wealth Management for a grant to make the PhilanthroThink Podcast series possible.

Takeaways

-Annabel White inherited family wealth through a trust structure linked to a media business in London, Ontario.
-She learned finance slowly and practically by asking questions and showing up to meetings.
-Dragonfly Ventures grew from her belief that wealth could be managed differently.
-Her work connects environmental health, human health, and community well-being.
-Dragonfly screens out investments that do not align with its values.
-A blended finance partnership in Clyde River stands out as one of her most meaningful examples of community-led work.
-She believes unrestricted funding helps organizations respond to real needs.
-Her wider view is that money should circulate more broadly to support stronger communities.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to PhilanthroThink
00:42 Introducing Annabelle White and Dragonfly Ventures
01:26 Inheriting wealth at 19
04:10 Learning finance and taking responsibility
08:22 Trust structures, autonomy, and family wealth
10:13 Why Dragonfly Ventures took a different path
12:30 Environmental health, land, and mission
17:09 Screening investments through values
18:53 Sponsor segment: IG Private Wealth Management
22:31 Environmental health and public health
24:58 Community-led solutions and blended finance
29:11 Unrestricted funding and trust-based philanthropy
30:12 How to build trust-based relationships
32:13 Annabel’s view on capital and circulation
35:04 Eric Peterson’s question on long-term action
37:22 Annabelle’s question for the next guest
38:02 Closing reflections

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Guest

Annabelle White
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabelle-white-351766203/

Dragonfly Ventures
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dragonfly-venture-holdings/?originalSubdomain=c

Hosts

Jonathan Harline
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathankharline/

Mandy Pui
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandy-pui-2259617b/

Titilayo Adedeji
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/titilayoadedeji/

Mekayla Dionne
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekayla-dionne-57b091234/

Production

Keenlii
Website: www.keenlii.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keenliico/

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About PhilanthroThink

PhilanthroThink is a podcast series from Carleton University’s Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership program. Each episode features wealth creators, philanthropic leaders, and innovative thinkers sharing insights on the challenges and opportunities shaping the sector in Canada and beyond.