Do One Better with Alberto Lidji 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.

 

Mustafa Kudrati, President and CEO of Plan International USA, on the state of the world’s girls and supporting girl-led organisations. Celebrating International Day of the Girl Child 2022!

The State of the World’s Girls 2022 Report has just been launched by Plan International and Mustafa Kudrati sheds light on its key findings.

The report is focused on girls’ and young women’s political participation, based on a survey of close to 29,000 girls and young women ages 15-24 from 29 countries. How girls perceive their ability to participate in the political process might surprise you.

Mustafa also introduces Plan International’s initiatives in Guatemala and Brazil; going beyond grant-making by supporting girl-led organisations on the ground, elevating local voices and co-designing.

We learn about Plan International’s “We are the Girls” campaign and also delve into the relevance of women’s economic empowerment in influencing girls' expected life outcomes. 

This episode is for anyone who is interested in tackling gender inequality and learning about the latest thinking in this field.

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.

 

World Sight Day Special! CEO of VisionSpring, Ella Gudwin, announces a $15M gift from MacKenzie Scott and talks about their work helping people in low-income countries access eye glasses

MacKenzie Scott’s donation to VisionSpring is the largest single private donation helping to tackle the challenge of uncorrected blurry vision in the developing world.

We look at VisionSpring's work and learn about the low levels of access to corrective eye glasses in the developing world and low-income segments.

Ella Gudwin remarks: the market for eye glasses is broken. It’s a 700-year-old technology; it has failed to disperse to the low income segment.  

Uncorrected blurry vision isn’t simply a health issue; it’s also an economic issue. Much of VisionSpring’s advocacy has been focused on raising awareness and quantifying the economic cost to national governments derived from workers who are unable to perform to full capacity due to their inability to see clearly.  This is a problem that impacts farmers, commercial truck drivers, artisans and many others.

We learn the key stats underpinning the arguments for supporting this thematic area and hear of the alliance of diverse stakeholder organisations that have come together to advocate with one voice to ensure the United Nations and national governments across the globe address and tackle this problem.

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.

 

CEO of Action Against Hunger UK, Jean-Michel Grand, on tackling acute malnutrition on a global scale

Action Against Hunger is active in 51 countries, they have 8,000 staff and assist around 26 million people annually; their turnover is around half a billion euros.

In the UK, they are part of the DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee), which brings together 15 leading UK aid charities to raise funds quickly and efficiently at times of crisis overseas.

They are focused on prediction, prevention and treatment of severe malnutrition — especially within a Global South / developing world context.

Encouragingly, there is a treatment for acute malnutrition called “Ready to Use Therapeutic Food” (RUTF) — a treatment that has evolved considerably during the past 20 years — no longer requiring clinical settings nor refrigeration — and today can cure most severely malnourished children around the world. 

However, the challenging logistics of reaching remote geographic locations and engaging within armed conflict areas present serious problems.

These problems are exacerbated by the fact many national governments intentionally conceal problems of malnutrition within their populations in order to project a more favourable image to the external world; and by the overall funding gap that must be filled in order to transform the current reality and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We also learn of Action Against Hunger’s work in supporting and empowering local communities by providing them with the tools to conduct self-diagnosis. The “Mid-Upper Arm Circumference” band (MUAC), is one example of this — a simple colour-coded measuring tape that can be used by parents and caretakers (including those who aren’t able to read) to determine whether a child is malnourished and, if so, to what degree.

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.

 

Dr Asyia Kazmi OBE, Gates Foundation’s Global Education Policy Lead: the challenges we face in education are a solvable problem!

We hear from the Gates Foundation’s Dr Asyia Kazmi on what the state of global education looks like, the work they’re doing in tackling literacy and numeracy challenges, and why achieving our education targets for Sustainable Development Goal 4 is a solvable problem.

If you are born in a high-income country, 9 out of 10 children can read by the age of 10. If you are born in a low-income country, 9 out of 10 children cannot. This is a shocking statistic and an equity issue.

Learn about the Gates Foundations’ work with global organisations, such as the World Bank and UNICEF, how they interact with national governments, what philanthropists should keep in mind when aiming to fund education and much more.

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.

 

Shaady Salehi, Executive Director of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project. What’s trust-based philanthropy all about and what are the big misconceptions?

Shaady Salehi joins us from San Francisco to discuss the work of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project and pretty much cover every angle around trust-based philanthropy.

We hear of trust-based philanthropy’s origins, how the pandemic and racial reckoning helped thrust trust-based philanthropy into the spotlight, and we look at the different interpretations and misinterpretations of what trust-based philanthropy is all about.

The journey has seen a move from transactional philanthropy to a more relational, partnership-oriented approach. Will this trend continue or will we revert back to the old ways?  This episode will answer many of your questions and prompt many new ones.

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.

 

Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng, Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town and winner of the inaugural Africa Education Medal

In September 2022, Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng was awarded the inaugural Africa Education Medal, awarded by T4 Education to “an outstanding individual who has demonstrated impact, leadership, and advocacy in the field of education”.

Hear the truly remarkable personal and professional story of Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng -- overcoming great adversity in poverty and South Africa’s apartheid, and reaching the pinncale of academia and becoming Vice Chancellor of the top university in Africa.

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.

Nick Hanauer, Founder of Civic Ventures and signatory of the Giving Pledge, on tackling income inequality through philanthropy, policy and politics

Nick Hanauer is one of the world’s most provocative thinkers about our society’s growing inequality, the dire consequences that increasing inequality creates for our democracies, and how to fix the system.

An engaging conversation on income inequality that is full of economic and political arguments on the merits of increasing wages and ensuring income inequality doesn’t lead to widespread social unrest.

Nick is a billionaire philanthropist who recognises the severity of the income inequality problem and philanthropy’s relatively small size in relation to the sums involved.

On this episode you’ll learn how Nick is tackling the issue of income inequality and how philanthropists can genuinely make a difference on this front. As a point of interest, Nick is also the podcast host of Pitchfork Economics, which is worth checking out.

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.

 

Henri van Eeghen, former CEO of Synergos, on working with networks of philanthropists and social entrepreneurs – connecting to purpose and building trust and collaboration

If you are keen on exploring the collaborative space within philanthropy and the broader sustainability agenda, this episode is for you. 

We explore collaborative networks, new voices from next generation philanthropists, identifying local leaders, building trust and the importance of listening.

Synergos was founded in 1986 by Peggy Dulany and has staff and representatives in Africa, Asia, the Arab World, Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

In 2001, Peggy Dulany co-founded Synergos’ Global Philanthropists Circle with her father, David Rockefeller, to support philanthropic families.

Synergos identifies and incubates collaborations that shift power and resources to proximate leaders, enabling the solutions to our greatest human challenges to reach scale.

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.

 

Should private schools be allowed to operate as registered charities? Two experts, Julie Robinson and Francis Green, exchange opposing views and find some common ground. Where do you stand?

Charitable status within the independent / private school sector in Britain is one of the most emotionally-charged and contentious topics. Some private schools operate as registered charities while others do not.

Alberto Lidji moderates a robust and civilised debate with Julie Robinson, CEO of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), and Francis Green, Professor of Work and Education Economics at the Institute of Education, University College London's (UCL) Faculty of Education and Society.

Julie Robinson and Francis Green hold opposing views and yet manage to identify some common ground and fruitful area for future education policy exploration.

This episode will inform you about one of the most debated topics in education reform in Britain today. It may strengthen your existing views, or tempt you to view counter arguments more favourably, or even make you appreciate this topic is not as clear cut as you may have thought.

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.

 

Chair of the Board at Refuge, Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, on tackling domestic abuse. 1 in 4 women in England and Wales will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime

A wide-ranging conversation on the topic of domestic abuse. Hetti sheds light on sobering statistics, attitudes and behaviours and describes the challenges presented by COVID lockdowns and how new technologies are impacting the field.

In England and Wales, around 2 women a week are killed by a current or former partner, and 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lifetime.

The problem goes beyond domestic violence. As Hetti points out, coercive control is the dark side of domestic abuse and often leads to the worst outcomes.

Refuge is an organisation helping those who experience domestic abuse. They run the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and also have deployed a Tech Abuse Team, who support women who are experiencing online abuse and other tech-related abuse.

Innovations in technology present serious challenges – innovations leading to the miniaturisation of surveillance technology, for instance, or software that can compromise WiFi connectivity and remotely lock doors and override temperature control and other features in one’s own home.

This episode explores domestic abuse from various angles and provides invaluable information on the state of affairs and opportunities for improvement.

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.

 

CEO of the Veddis Foundation, Murugan Vasudevan, on trust-based philanthropy in India and the importance of deploying 100% heart + 100% head to solving problems through philanthropy

The Veddis Foundation is based in India and is both a grant-maker and an operating foundation. They make unrestricted, multi-year grants and approach programs with a view to pilot, scale, institutionalise and exit.  They’re keen on investing at the intersection of policy, technology and impact.

We explore their approach to trust-based philanthropy and learn how they go about building trust among all stakeholders. We get an insider’s look at how they operate and what success looks like at the Veddis Foundation.

Before venturing into the world of impact and philanthropy, Murugan spent 20 years working at Cisco in India, and he takes the opportunity to shed light on corporate philanthropy in India and identifies gaps that present opportunities for improvement.

Murugan notes that “the future is looking bright for India” and we get a glimpse of why the philanthropy sector in India is so vibrant, exciting and full of opportunity right now.

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.