In Conversation with Tjada D’Oyen McKenna – CEO, Mercy Corps
🎙️ Join our CEO John Pepin as he explores the world of Philanthropy with Tjada D'Oyen McKenna. Listen now to find out more about Mercy Corps and its CEO.

🎙️ Join our CEO John Pepin as he explores the world of Philanthropy with Tjada D'Oyen McKenna. Listen now to find out more about Mercy Corps and its CEO.
Join our CEO John Pepin as he explores the world of Philanthropy with Ray Coyle. Listen now to find out more about Energise Africa and its CEO.
Join our CEO John Pepin as he explores the world of Philanthropy with Dr Carol Homden CBE. Listen now to find out more about Coram and its CEO.
Join the Philanthropy Impact Podcast this week as our CEO John Pepin meets with Theodora Hadjmichael, CEO of Responsible Finance. Learn how Theodora discovered her passion working in Responsible Finance, and examples of how her organisation has transformed the lives of the people they work with. Listen to learn more!
Discover how a simple act of kindness grew into Mary’s Meals, a global movement feeding millions of children every school day. In this episode of the Philanthropy Impact Podcast, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow OBE shares lessons on generosity, resilience, and reimagining philanthropy for lasting impact.
Join us for a conversation with Ross Piper , the new CEO of The Fred Hollows Foundation , as he shares insights from his journey across corporate finance, humanitarian leadership, and impact investing. In this episode, Ross reflects on leading a global eye health charity into its next phase of growth, the role of innovation and partnerships in creating lasting impact, and how philanthropy can drive meaningful change in global development.
In this episode, Kris Gibbon-Walsh, CEO of FareShare, recounts his unexpected path from academia to leading the UK's largest food redistribution charity. He explains how FareShare tackles food poverty and waste by connecting surplus food from farms and manufacturers to vulnerable people through a network of 8,500 local charities, generating significant social and economic value. Gibbon-Walsh also outlines future plans, including expanding employability programs and leveraging technology, emphasizing the vital role of partnerships and philanthropic support in their success.
Simon Bishop, CEO of BBC Media Action, details the charity's mission to provide trustworthy information and development-focused media to 100 million people globally, distinct from BBC News. He shares his career journey driven by a passion for international development and highlights the severe challenges facing public interest media, including funding cuts and journalist safety. Bishop emphasizes the importance of impact measurement and advocates for unrestricted philanthropic funding to enhance long-term effectiveness and foster a better global media ecosystem.
Elizabeth Hart, CEO and Founder of Legacy Wealth Advisors, discusses her firm's unique holistic model, integrating wealth management, succession planning, and family wellness. She highlights industry shortcomings, her personal drive to prioritize client needs over revenue, and the critical role of family harmony in preserving wealth across generations. The discussion covers tailored investment strategies, values-based discussions, and the transformative impact of their Family Wellness Program.
Tim Wainwright, CEO of WaterAid, shares his journey from the corporate world to leading global efforts in providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. He explains how WaterAid addresses the worldwide water crisis, exacerbated by climate change and urbanization, through collaborative partnerships with communities, governments, and businesses. The discussion also covers WaterAid's diverse funding, the sector's underinvestment, and their new Resilient Water Accelerator designed to catalyze large-scale financing for critical water projects.
Monica Brown, Director of Philanthropy at Ludlow Trust, shares her personal journey, rooted in a challenging childhood and influential role models, that propelled her into a career dedicated to positive change through charitable giving. She highlights Ludlow Trust's work in providing tailored philanthropic advice, guiding clients to align their values with their giving strategies, and navigating the increasing demand for socially conscious investments. The discussion also explores significant generational shifts towards more activist and transparent approaches in philanthropy, signaling a hopeful future for impactful giving.
Juliet Agnew, Head of Philanthropy at Barclays Private Bank, discusses her career path, rooted in early charity work and family values, that led her to transform philanthropic advice. She highlights Barclays' three-pillar model of educating, inspiring, and connecting clients to effective giving, addressing the growing demand from younger generations for values-based financial engagement. The episode also covers the development of Barclays' public "Guide to Giving" and offers advice for a career in philanthropy, emphasizing relationships and a nuanced approach to guiding donors.
Janie Oliver, CEO of Stewardship, shares her path from finance to leading a major UK donor-advised fund, detailing a significant strategic transformation to enhance agility and collaboration. She explains Stewardship's commitment to impact investing, including loans to churches and UN SDG-aligned projects, while also exploring the personal values rooted in her South African upbringing that drive her passion for social justice. The episode highlights the challenges and opportunities in measuring social impact and inspiring others to pursue purpose-driven careers.
In this interview, Alex Amouyel, President and CEO of Newman's Own Foundation, details the organization's distinct model of using 100% of product profits for philanthropic endeavors, navigating the complexities of business and social impact. She shares her inspiring career path from science to leading major social good initiatives, emphasizing the power of purpose over passion. Alex also elaborates on the foundation's strategic plans, including bottom-up impact measurement and supporting Indigenous food justice, offering insights for everyday individuals to become philanthropists.
Neil Heslop, CEO of Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), shares his unique journey from a 25-year career in telecoms to non-profit leadership, navigating early discrimination as a blind individual. He discusses the distinct challenges of the charity sector versus corporate life, his strategic vision for transforming CAF into a global force, and the organization's significant growth in charitable contributions. The episode concludes with reflections on current global trends impacting philanthropy and the importance of inclusive leadership.
Peter Barack shares his evolution from an early volunteer to a seasoned philanthropist focused on systemic change. He explains Propel Philanthropy's role in spotlighting and advocating for social impact infrastructure organizations, emphasizing the leverage of catalytic and last-mile funding. The conversation delves into the challenges these foundational groups face in securing funding and how aligning investments with broader societal good can amplify impact.
Daniel Brewer, founder and CEO of Resonance, shares his journey from engineering to pioneering social impact investment. Resonance manages property funds to house vulnerable people, leveraging institutional capital and a unique lease model with housing partners. The discussion covers the company's growth, challenges in accessing mainstream finance, and future plans for tenant empowerment and sustainability efforts.
CEO Sarah Soar shares her extensive journey in investment management, from an accidental start to leading Hawksmoor. She emphasizes the industry's transformation, the vital role of mentoring, and her commitment to fostering diversity. The conversation also delves into how financial advisors must adapt to clients' growing demand for values-based investing and the importance of genuine client listening.
In this episode, Danyal Sattar, CEO of The Big Issue Invest, shares his deep motivation for a career in social finance, shaped by early experiences with global economic systems and refugee crises. He outlines the innovative work of Big Issue Invest in funding social enterprises and charities, emphasizing how they act as "plumbers" connecting capital to urgent social needs. Sattar also explores the historical context of social investment, the importance of aligning financial assets with social good, and the future growth plans for impact-driven funds.
Darshita Gillies, Founder and CEO of Maanch, joins the podcast to define responsible, sustainable, and impact investing, highlighting their distinctions and the evolving regulatory landscape. She explores current market trends, the influence of generational values on investment decisions, and Maanch's technological solutions for tracking impact. The discussion concludes with insights into the vital role of professional advisors and the transformative potential of AI in shaping the future of investment management.
Christina Ljungberg and Natasha Müller delve into how women with transformational wealth are reshaping philanthropy and social investment. They share personal journeys, emphasizing blended finance, de-risking stigmatized health areas like menstrual and mental health, and the evolution from traditional charity to strategic impact investing. The conversation also highlights the critical role of advisors, the power of peer networks, and the need for a holistic, values-aligned approach to drive systemic change.
This podcast episode explores the concept of "money for good," featuring insights from experts in philanthropy, impact investing, and digital finance. It defines values-driven wealth management and discusses the evolving expectations of wealth holders, especially younger generations, who seek to align their investments with their values. The panel reviews recent research highlighting how traditional advisory firms often fall short in meeting these needs and offers strategies for increasing giving, client engagement, and leveraging technology for social good.
The discussion delves into the changing landscape of private client advisory, driven by a significant wealth transfer to younger generations and women of wealth. Experts highlight the critical role of technology in enhancing advisor-client relationships, improving transparency in philanthropy, and differentiating between client "needs" and evolving "expectations." The episode emphasizes that innovation often means simplifying processes and strategically integrating digital tools to provide relevant, values-aligned services for clients' donor and impact investment journeys.
This episode explores the B Corp movement, its certification process, and the growing interest from companies in adopting purpose-driven, stakeholder-aligned business models for positive social and environmental impact. Darshita Gillies chairs a panel with Amy Clark and Oliver Hunt to discuss B Corp certification, its history, and its increasing relevance. They share personal and organizational experiences, detailing the rigorous assessment process and how B Corp status fosters trust and accountability. The discussion also covers the benefits and challenges of certification, particularly for financial firms, and clarifies why charities cannot attain B Corp status.
Chaired by Bonnie Chiu, this episode features leaders from Big Society Capital, Big Issue Invest, and Resonance discussing social investment. They examine its position within the capital spectrum, its crucial role in creating lasting social and environmental change, and how it interacts with mainstream finance, philanthropy, and government. The panel also addresses market volatility and the sector's resilience and future growth.
The podcast delves into the evolving landscape of digital giving, featuring experts from Perpetual Altruism, Oxford Risk, and Oxfam. Discussions cover how NFTs can create perpetual revenue streams for charities and the role of behavioral science in hyper-personalizing donor experiences. The panel also addresses the practical challenges for charities in adopting cryptocurrencies, including regulatory compliance, volatility, and the current ineligibility for gift aid, while highlighting the transformative impact of blockchain in humanitarian aid.
This podcast session delves into the crucial role of policies and resources in fostering philanthropy and impact investing. Experts discuss the current downward trend in charitable giving and examine the challenges in the relationship between government and the third sector. They propose strategies for effective policymaker engagement, including the idea of a philanthropy commissioner, and reflect on the media's often negative influence. The overarching theme is the imperative for cross-sector collaboration to achieve sustainable societal impact.
Chaired by John Pepin, this episode features Rena Greifinger, Derek Bardowell, and Russell Prior discussing the complexities of trust-based philanthropy. It delves into Maverick Collective's new pooled fund model, which shifts power to grassroots organizations, and Derek's concept of reimagining philanthropy through a reparative lens. The panel also emphasizes the vital role professional advisors play in helping clients navigate their philanthropic journeys and foster long-term, impactful giving strategies.
This discussion delves into the multifaceted role of philanthropy in education, particularly in addressing equity concerns highlighted by the recent Schools White Paper. Panelists examine the current challenging landscape, including funding cuts and post-COVID attainment gaps, advocating for a holistic "ecosystem" approach that integrates academic support with mental health, social skills, and community services. They emphasize the importance of data-driven, scalable, and collaborative interventions that empower young people and challenge structural inequalities, urging philanthropists to listen to experts.
Eleanor Winton, founder of Foresightfully, discusses her journey from law to future-focused consulting, emphasizing how exploring alternative futures and challenging assumptions are crucial for better business and social impact. She highlights the differences in purpose and risk-taking between charities and corporations, and provides vivid examples—like deep-fried crickets and whiskey elements—to illustrate how organizations can make future trends tangible and foster a "curiosity quotient" to adapt cheaply and effectively. The conversation also touches on the widening gap between technological acceleration and human adaptability, urging a focus on ensuring technology serves human aims.