The Discovery Pod

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.

The Royal BC Museum Foundation is looking for a builder—a connector who can turn vision into impact. In this episode of Opportunity Spotlight, Christoph Clodius talks with Cristi Main and Robert Peterson about the Foundation’s new Director of Development role, why it’s vital to the Museum’s future, and how the right leader can help rekindle trust and excitement around this beloved BC institution.

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.