Do One Better with Alberto Lidji in Philanthropy, Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship

Gemma Mortensen, Founder and Co-Creator of New Constellations, on imagining and creating better, more beautiful futures

New Constellations’ Founder and Co-Creator, Gemma Mortensen, joins us to advocate the value of big ideas, unconventional thinking, convening diverse stakeholders and imagining better futures.

New Constellations was created to hold and grow new, experimental spaces for people to examine the moment of upheaval we are living through, and to imagine and begin shaping the better futures that can emerge from it; futures in which humanity and the planet flourish together.

If you appreciate the power of creative thinking that is not constrained by preconceptions or overly concerned with convention, this episode is for you.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) UK Executive Director, Laura Kyrke-Smith, on supporting refugees in the UK

Laura Kyrke-Smith is the IRC’s Executive Director in the UK and she joins us to discuss their work in supporting refugees and asylum seekers in the UK who come from Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Iraq, Sudan and beyond.

This episode follows the earlier interview with David Miliband, President and CEO of the IRC, which aired in April 2021 and provided a global outlook of the IRC’s work.

The IRC in the UK provides support through various activities, including orientation for newcomers, employment counselling, peer mentorship and leadership training.

They have five key outcome areas including health; education; economic wellbeing and empowerment; safety (including child and women’s protection); and power (helping their clients be part of the decision-making on matters that impact their lives).

This episode is for anyone who is interested in the humanitarian space and who would like to learn of key initiatives that are helping refugees achieve a better life.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

John May, Chief Executive of Cats Protection, on the Power of Volunteering

Join us as we sit down with John May, Chief Executive of Cats Protection, one of the largest animal welfare organizations in the UK.

Our conversation focuses on the power of volunteering and its evolution in today's world. Whether you're a people person or prefer the company of animals, whether you have a lot of time or just a little, there's likely a volunteering role out there for you.

Drawing on his extensive experience as the former Secretary General of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation, John shares his insights into how volunteering can transform lives and improve our world.

Don't miss this inspiring episode where we learn about the incredible work of Cats Protection and how anyone can make a difference through volunteering.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

Gary Haugen, CEO & Founder of International Justice Mission (IJM), on Protecting People Living in Poverty from Violence

Gary Haugen is the CEO & Founder of International Justice Mission (IJM), a global human rights organization that works to protect the poor from violence.

The context here is not one of war, conflict or mass atrocities but, rather, the everyday violence present in many low-income and marginalized communities around the globe, such as gender violence, forced labor, human trafficking, sexual violence, police abuse and land theft.

The issue is multifaceted, and so is our conversation. Are the proper laws in place to protect a country’s citizens? Is there political will to protect those who are most marginalized? Are laws being enforced? Are social norms exacerbating the problem?

IJM was founded 26 years ago and today has around 1,500 staff based in 30 offices across the globe. IJM works with national governments and local stakeholders. Their teams are local and include lawyers, criminal investigators, trauma social workers and local advocates.

This episode looks at poverty from an angle of violence prevention. The conversation will inform you and provide insight on IJM’s drive to transform local justice systems to protect those living in poverty.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

President and CEO of Women’s World Banking, Mary Ellen Iskenderian, on women’s financial inclusion

Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women's World Banking joins us to discuss the importance of women's financial inclusion.

We look at the topic of women’s financial inclusion from various angles, including digital literacy, social norms and impact investing, and we also look at some of the research that tells us that this is not just a moral imperative but also an objective that makes commercial sense.

Women’s World Banking is a 44-year old global non-profit organisation and they currently work with 65 partners in 36 countries. Their partners include a range of organisations, such as mainstream banks, FinTechs, mobile money provides and non-bank financial institutions that recognise the commercial potential of serving low-income women in a responsible and sustainable way.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

Chairman of the JDRF T1D Fund, Sean Doherty, on driving cures for type 1 diabetes through venture philanthropy

Sean Doherty is the Chairman of the JDRF T1D Fund — a venture philanthropy fund aimed at creating a market in type 1 diabetes (T1D)  by using capital and expertise to convince venture capital, biotech and pharma to make the investments needed to cure T1D.

In 2015, there was virtually no private investment in T1D; there was a gap between scientific advancements and the delivery of solutions to the people who need them.

Today, the JDRF T1D Fund is one of the largest disease-focused venture philanthropy funds in the world, with $175m in assets and their philanthropic dollars are spurring private investment to ultimately secure the billions needed to generate cures.

This episode showcases venture philanthropy and impact investment; it provides an overview of the funding and technologies being focused to tackle type 1 diabetes; and provides much insight on how philanthropy can catalyse private investment.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

Director at the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at Bayes Business School, Alex Skailes, on mergers within the charity space

Alex Skailes heads the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at Bayes Business School (formerly known as Cass) and, on this episode, we explore the nature and drivers of mergers within the charity and non-profit world; we dive into the opportunities, challenges, incentives and research.

Whether you’re based at a non-profit organisation, a for-profit commercial venture or both (or neither!), this episode will inform you and equip you as you ponder mergers.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

Executive Director of data.org, Danil Mikhailov, on building the field of data for social impact

Danil Mikhailov is the Executive Director of data.org — a nonprofit organization that is a platform for partnerships and is helping to build the field of data for social impact. They work with organizations from all over the world to increase the use of data in order to improve the lives of millions of people.

At data.org they embrace a socio-tech perspective and appreciate that it’s not just about the tech... it’s also about the humans… those who collect the data, those who use the data, those from whom the data is collected.

We look at the work of data.org, explore how data can be leveraged by small and large organizations alike and consider the implications of artificial intelligence, such as the recently-launched ChatGPT AI tool.

If you’d like to understand how to leverage data for social impact and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) this episode is perfect for you!

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

Bernhard Kowatsch, Head of the Innovation Accelerator of the UN World Food Programme, on embracing innovation and technology to solve the world’s biggest social impact challenges

Bernhard is the Head of the UN World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator, which he created in 2015. 

We explore the work of the Innovation Accelerator and the World Food Programme (WFP) more broadly. The WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with 20,000 staff worldwide, working in more than 120 countries — saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

The Innovation Accelerator sources, nurtures and scales start-ups and nonprofits working to achieve Zero Hunger, and has run 18 accelerator programmes for external partners, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Humanitarian Grand Challenge, and other UN Agencies, with more planned.

This is a great episode for anyone who has an entrepreneurial spirit and is eager to tackle social impact challenges by leveraging innovation and technology.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

Rocket Learning: Unlocking the Potential of Early Childhood Education with Digital Solutions

Co-founder of Rocket Learning, Namya Mahajan, joins us to share an extraordinary journey and remarkable work.

Rocket Learning is a non-profit organization on a mission to revolutionise early childhood education (ECE) and early childhood development (ECD) in India by working closely with governments, parents and caregivers to create strong digital content that helps children develop during their early years.

In this episode, we explore Rocket Learning's remarkable journey, from their idea to the impact they have today. Namya Mahajan's personal and professional journey is compelling: growing up in India, gaining both an undergraduate degree in applied mathematics and an MBA from Harvard University, followed by a return to India to work at McKinsey & Co and then venturing into the social impact space, first at the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) and then co-founding Rocket Learning.

With a mission to help children aged 3 to 8 years, Rocket Learning creates strong digital content for parents and caregivers to engage in useful and playful learning experiences with their children. 

Leveraging WhatsApp as their communication platform, they currently serve one million children in seven states in India, but despite this they still sometimes refer to themselves as a "pilot at scale" due to the immense need for their services in the country. 

In this episode, we explore their successful market entry, digital content creation, and scaling strategies, as well as their remarkable journey from idea to impact.

They have successfully secured funding and support from a range of organizations, including the Central Square Foundation, ACT Grants, the Veddis Foundation, the Harvard University Impact Fellowship Fund, MIT Solve, World Economic Forum, Google.org, Microsoft, Amazon, and Capgemini, among others.

Join us for an inspiring conversation on the power of digital solutions for early childhood education and development, with Rocket Learning.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

Founder & CEO of Maanch, Darshita Gillies, on mobilising capital towards sustainability

Darshita Gillies is Founder and CEO of Maanch, an impact management platform. They inform asset managers, corporations, philanthropists and funders on impact tracking and impact management within an ESG and sustainability context.

Maanch is a B Corp that is leveraging technology for good and embracing an innovative approach. The focus in this episode is on mobilising capital towards sustainability and the conversation is of interest to a wide audience.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

Founder and CEO of Hello Tractor, Jehiel Oliver, on leveraging technology to help Africa’s farmers

Jehiel Oliver, Founder and CEO of Hello Tractor explains how they’re leveraging technology and innovative financing to help Africa’s farmers close the yield gap between what they grow versus what the global averages are across key commodities.

Hello Tractor is an agricultural technology company connecting small-holder farmers to farm equipment owners with excess capacity. 

Their technology involves a small tracking device that goes onto the tractor; it gives the farm equipment owner the ability to remotely monitor and manage all aspects of their tractor, including location, how much the tractor is being used, fuel consumption, theft protection —which is a big issue — and maintenance needs of the tractor.

Farm equipment owners can opt into entering their equipment into a marketplace and improve efficiencies for all concerned.

This is a fascinating episode shedding light on how business can be a force for good and address a range of issues from more efficient food production to empowering local communities and helping to transform Africa into a global breadbasket.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for a full transcript and for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

Co-Founder and CEO of Sanku, Felix Brooks-Church, on small-scale food fortification in East Africa

Felix Brooks-Church is Co-Founder and CEO of Sanku, a social enterprise and non-profit focused on combatting malnutrition through food fortification in East Africa. They operate out of Tanzania and Kenya.

Sanku works with local stakeholders in rural and marginalised communities to fortify staple foods by adding nutrients, vitamins and minerals; aiming to improve health outcomes in the process.

In this episode we get behind-the-scenes insight into Sanku’s work and the value of food fortification. We learn how they’re able to reach the ‘last mile’ in rural settings through a ‘small-scale’ food fortification approach; we look at their business model, and the technology and logistics that underpin the work they do.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, Jonathan Reckford, on tackling housing poverty

Habitat for Humanity International’s CEO, Jonathan Reckford, sheds light on their efforts to tackle housing poverty in more than 70 countries by looking at the challenge through both equity and climate lenses.

Jonathan provides insight on how former US President Jimmy Carter became a key supporter of their work and gives us a behind-the-scenes overview of this transformative non-profit with $2 billion in annual revenues.

Habitat’s work involves innovative finance, extensive volunteering, philanthropy, advocacy and much more. They work with families who can’t get a conventional bank mortgage and who are often in highly marginalised communities.  

We learn about volunteering and the concept of “sweat equity”; we get an overview of the ethical investments that support Habitat’s work; and we are presented with the dynamics of today’s global housing crisis. 

Housing affordability has become shockingly out of reach for many and this episode is for anyone who wishes to understand the solutions being deployed to address this crisis and how they can get involved in making a positive difference.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

Caroline Fiennes, Director at Giving Evidence, on the need for more research on how to give

There is a robust body of research on 'what' donors fund. However, many questions around ‘how’ to fund need to be researched and explored more thoroughly.

If you have $100 million available to fund a cause, do you give it all in one grant, do you make a handful of large grants or do you make a high number of small grants?

In this episode we explore some of the big questions on how to fund; consider a range of dynamics, such as transaction costs and grantee perceptions; and call for more research in this field.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

CEOs of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in Canada (Stephen De-Wint) and Australia (Peter Kaye) on the power of non-formal education to transform lives

Peter Kaye AM ESM and Stephen De-Wint, CEOs of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in Australia and Canada respectively, talk about the work of the Award locally and across more than 100 countries. 

They provide first-hand insight into how the Award embraces non-formal education and transforms lives.  This broad conversation looks at diversity, equity and inclusion; volunteering and mentoring; alumni engagement and connecting with the corporate world.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

Chief Executive of the British Red Cross, Mike Adamson, on systems leadership and strategic partnerships

Mike Adamson is Chief Executive of the British Red Cross, an organisation with 4,000 employees, 15,000 volunteers and an annual income in 2022 of £400M.

In this episode we explore the British Red Cross’ key focus areas, their roll in systems change and their approach to driving forward strategic partnerships. 

We also explore the importance of fostering trust between diverse organisations and stakeholders so as to create strong, collaborative impact.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

CEO of the NASSCOM Foundation, Nidhi Bhasin, on tech for good and digital literacy in India

Nidhi Bhasin, CEO of the NASSCOM Foundation, joins us to talk about tech for good in India and initiatives to drive digital literacy.  The NASSCOM Foundation is part of the NASSCOM ecosystem — the biggest industry body representing the tech industry in India.

Much of their focus is on going deep into rural areas and reaching that ‘last mile’. Inclusion is at the core of their strategic thinking.

Digital literacy is a broad area and is of relevance to a range of segments including the elderly, girls and women, and those of limited resources.  Many elderly individuals in rural India don’t know how to use a smart phone or make online payments. And, many women from marginalised communities are poorly informed about their rights and have a limited understanding of government information and schemes designed to help them.

This episode provides insight into how technology and philanthropy come together in India to improve digital literacy and social outcomes.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

Nick Grono, CEO of the Freedom Fund, on modern-day slavery and human trafficking

This episode looks at modern-day slavery and we host Nick Grono, CEO of the Freedom Fund — a collaborative fund tackling slavery and human trafficking globally.

Many people think of slavery as something from 200 years ago but, in reality, it is a serious problem plaguing our world today — not just in developing countries but in the UK and US as well.  The scale and prevalence of the problem is eye-opening.

Nick Grono shares insight on key trends and statistics, and causes and solutions to this problem -- indeed, slavery takes many forms and we explore some of the most common issues.

We also look at how the Freedom Fund works with grassroots organisations, collaborates with diverse stakeholders, and fosters knowledge-sharing to raise awareness, improve advocacy and encourage effective policy.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

Shonali Banerjee of the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy at Cambridge Judge Business School on the Global North / South power imbalance

We discuss the power dynamics of Global North / Global South philanthropy and explore the Centre’s work and research.

Shonali leads the Centre’s research agenda on philanthropy in global growth markets, specifically Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. She is an expert in global philanthropy for development, and her previous work focused on the implications of new financial instruments in philanthropy and giving.

The Centre for Strategic Philanthropy (CSP) within the University of Cambridge Judge Business School is dedicated to enhancing the impact of strategic philanthropy both within and from global growth markets. 

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 200+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

Celebrating our 200th episode with insights from Siya Kolisi, David Lynch, David Miliband, Paul Polman, Julia Gillard, Bob Moritz, Cherie Blair and Keith Barr

As we celebrate our 200th episode we bring you insights from Siya Kolisi, David Lynch, David Miliband, Paul Polman, Julia Gillard, Bob Moritz, Cherie Blair and Keith Barr.

Let’s not be daunted by the scale of the challenge. Things are only unmanageable if we don’t manage them.  We should find purpose and work for more than just ourselves.

Thank you for downloading the 200th episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for insightful case studies and interviews on philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

Phyllis Kurlander Costanza, Co-founder and President of OutcomesX, on building a marketplace to buy and sell social outcomes

OutcomesX is transforming social impact into an investible asset. They’re creating the infrastructure to standardise, price, trade and verify social impact credits, and building a marketplace to buy and sell social outcomes.

We explore their innovative work and also take a look at the disconnect between growth in ESG funds and stagnation in the drive to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on nearly 200 case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

CEO of Generation, Mona Mourshed, on supporting adults to achieve economic mobility

Generation is a global non-profit supporting adults to achieve economic mobility; they provide training and placements into careers that individuals would normally find inaccessible. 

They operate in 16 countries across the globe, have helped more than 70,000 individuals and support those who are unemployed, underemployed or need to learn new skills. 

In this episode we also take a close look at the challenges faced by those in their mid-careers who constitute a disproportionate number of the long-term unemployed. We look at the misconceptions and opportunities to unlock real value.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on nearly 200 case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

President and CEO of International Crisis Group, Comfort Ero, on conflict prevention and resolution

This episode focuses on global conflict prevention and resolution and we are joined by Comfort Ero, President and CEO of the International Crisis Group.

The International Crisis Group provides independent analysis and advice on how to prevent, resolve and better manage deadly conflict, combining field research, analysis and engagement with policymakers across the world in order to effect change in crisis situations.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on nearly 200 case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

CEO of New Philanthropy Capital (NPC), Dan Corry, on the impact agenda

On this episode, Dan Corry sheds light on the work of New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) and we explore the impact agenda from a range of angles, including:

(1) How does the impact agenda relate to trust-based philanthropy? 

(2) Is impact measurement is too top-down?

(3) Are randomised control trials (RCTs) preferable to quicker, more iterative alternatives?

(4) Is there enough risk-taking in philanthropy and what can policymakers do to incentivise it?

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on nearly 200 case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

 

CEO of Asthma + Lung UK, Sarah Woolnough, on managing a large-scale merger

We explore the merger between Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation, which resulted in the creation of Asthma + Lung UK.  

We look at the pros and cons, the opportunities and the headaches that Sarah Woolnough has been coping with and driving forward as CEO of Asthma + Lung UK.

Sarah provides a truly candid view and this episode is particularly useful for anyone contemplating, managing or wishing to learn about mergers within the non-profit space.  

From branding and governance to CRM systems and auditing, you’ll find this interview informative and full of actionable suggestions.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on nearly 200 case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

CEO of Thrive at Five, Aida Cable, on driving forward early childhood development in the UK

Thrive at Five supports parents and communities through collective action across the public, private and voluntary sectors, so every child reaches a good level of development at age five. 

Aida Cable brings a wealth of experience in the early childhood development space. Prior to joining Thrive at Five she worked at The Royal Foundation of the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and now Prince and Princess of Wales. 

We explore the state of affairs in early childhood development in the UK and how Thrive at Five is convening and mobilising diverse stakeholders to drive forward this field.  Aida shares key statistics and explains why now more than ever we need to focus on children’s early years.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our website at Lidji.org for information on nearly 200 case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. Please leave us a rating and a review to help others find this show.

 

CEO of Charity Navigator, Michael Thatcher, on evaluating and rating thousands of charities

Charity Navigator is an organisation that evaluates charities and provides in-depth, objective ratings and analysis of the financial health, accountability and transparency of 200,000 charities. They also facilitate the giving process.

Charity Navigator is a household name for many leaders in the philanthropy and non-profit space. 

They have just launched a new website and new functionalities. Michael Thatcher provides excellent insight on how they work and how their rating and analysis can help you improve the world and ensure donor funding goes to higher-performing organisations. 

Charity Navigator aims to democratise philanthropy and make it easier for anyone to give irrespective of their means.

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our website at Lidji.org for information on nearly 200 interviews and case studies with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. Please leave us a rating and a review to help others find this show.

 

CEO of the British Asian Trust, Richard Hawkes, on impact investing, development impact bonds, risk-taking and more

The British Asian Trust was founded in 2007 by His Majesty King Charles III and a group of British Asian business leaders, to tackle widespread poverty, inequality and injustice in South Asia.

Richard Hawkes sheds light on the work of the British Asian Trust, especially around development impact bonds across a range of thematic areas including skills and employability, and girls’ education in South Asia.

The British Asian Trust is entrepreneurial and happy to embrace sensible risk-taking in the international development space.  We learn about how they’ve innovated and how they’ve embraced impact investing to help drive forward the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

The British Asian Trust focuses on five thematic areas: education, livelihoods/jobs, mental health, child protection and conservation.

Thank you for downloading this episode of The Do One Better Podcast. Visit our website at Lidji.org for information on nearly 200 interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. Please leave us a rating and a review to help others find this show.

 

Ewan Kirk, Co-Founder of the Turner Kirk Trust and former Partner at Goldman Sachs, on philanthropy and risk-taking

Ewan is a philanthropist with a head for numbers and we look at the interaction between philanthropy and risk. The question: Is the world of philanthropy too risk averse?

Ewan is the Chairman of the Management Committee of the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Chairman of DeepTech Labs, and a Non-executive Director of BAE Systems. 

He argues that philanthropic capital should have the highest risk tolerance. It's important to encourage grantees to take risks, to let them know it’s ok to experiment and to give them permission to fail.

We look at a specific case study and encourage others to consider how they embrace risk in their philanthropy.

Thank you for downloading this episode of The Do One Better Podcast. Visit our website at Lidji.org for information on nearly 200 interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. Please leave us a rating and a review to help others find this show.