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

Lisa Pearce, Chief Executive of British Wheelchair Basketball, talks about parasports, the new Women’s Premier League and considers whether one could integrate the Paralympic and Olympic Games

 

Great Britain is very strong on the global stage of wheelchair basketball. The men’s team are currently the reigning World Champions and European Champions, and the women’s team are the Silver World Medalists and European Silver Medalists. The teams are very excited about the prospects and opportunities at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

In the UK there are around 17,000 people who play wheelchair basketball. And there is a new campaign, called Inspire a Generation, aimed at doubling participation with a strong emphasis on working across communities in the UK, upskilling community leaders to bring wheelchair basketball to their communities, along with developing school packs and resources for teachers so that everyone can get involved no matter where they live. 

Interestingly, out of the 17,000 people who play wheelchair basketball, 21% are non-disabled — therefore it’s truly an inclusive sport for all. And, there is demand for another 70,000 new players.

The global audience for the Paralympic Games in Rio was 4.1 billion, which was a 127% increase since 2004 and had coverage in more than 150 countries. 

This begs the question, why can’t we create the sort of professional league environment one sees in other sports, like football, cricket, tennis and hockey? 

There is a new women’s premier league in the pipeline for wheelchair baseball — a world-first — London Phoenix being the Capital’s franchise. The women will lay the foundation for this over the next three years and then men’s franchises will come in as well.

This is great for communities to come together and, importantly, to increase the visibility of the sport. It helps to challenge people’s perceptions around disability and create an inclusive environment so everyone can thrive. Having an active league with frequent, elite competition is also important for the sport to truly flourish and talent to come to the fore.

The Paralympics is gaining a huge support base and we explore whether there’s scope to integrate the Olympics with the Paralympics. It’s a question on many people’s minds.

Visit The Do One Better Podcast website at Lidji.org for more information.

 

Lord Jack McConnell, former First Minister of Scotland, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss recent cuts in UK foreign aid, international sustainable development and the McConnell International Foundation

 

We start the conversation by getting Jack’s views on the cut in UK foreign aid from 0.7% of National Income to 0.5% and this month’s House of Commons vote  on the matter.

He notes that every other G7 country is increasing its foreign aid this year, not decreasing it, and if there was ever a case for the UK to decrease its foreign aid it's not in the year of a global pandemic and the most important climate change summit since 2015. It's terrible timing and it's in the wrong direction. 

We also discuss the leading role of the private sector in embracing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) these days and broaden out the discussion to explore the future of Scotland within the Union, the importance of global education and even delve into the world of single malts for a lighter touch.

For a full transcript of this conversation visit The Do One Better Podcast website at Lidji.org

 

Baroness Helene Hayman, Member of the UK House of Lords and Co-Chair of Peers for the Planet, and Senator Mary Coyle of the Senate of Canada, join Alberto Lidji to discuss climate and political action

 

In this episode we talk about the climate crisis and learn about ‘Peers for the Planet’ which is the House of Lords’ Climate and Biodiversity Action Group, launched in 2020 — bringing together more than 120 Members of the House of Lords who want to put the need for an urgent response to climate change and biodiversity loss at the top of the political agenda.

We also look at international knowledge-sharing on climate action between the UK’s and Canada’s upper houses of parliament and hear how Senator Mary Coyle in Canada and Baroness Helene Hayman in the UK are collaborating and learning from each other in order to leverage their respective platforms to tackle the climate crisis.

For anyone who is interested in driving forward legislative change to tackle the climate crisis and fostering international collaboration in this field, this episode will be of particular interest to you.

For a full transcript of this conversation please visit The Do One Better Podcast website at Lidji.org

 

Shloka Nath, Executive Director of the India Climate Collaborative and Head of Sustainability at the Tata Trusts sheds light on India’s first major philanthropy collaborative focused on climate change

 

The India Climate Collaborative (ICC) is an India-led platform founded in 2018 by a group of philanthropies interested in continuing to accelerate India’s development, while also exceeding its climate goals.  The Tata Trusts is one of India’s leading philanthropic foundations and an instrumental actor in driving the ICC forward.

In this episode, we learn of the fight against climate change within an Indian context and the collaboration between philanthropists and diverse stakeholders that is leading to innovative thinking and additional funding in this field.

For a full transcript of this episode, visit The Do One Better Podcast website at Lidji.org

 

Jo Swinson, Director of Partners for a New Economy and former Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the UK, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss transforming traditional economics to tackle the SDGs

Partners for a New Economy is a donor collaborative founded by the Oak, MAVA, Marisla and KR foundations, and today also includes the Ford Foundation and Laudes Foundation.

This conversation is for anyone who believes existing economic systems need to be improved if society is to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

Jo Swinson is the former leader of the Liberal Democrats in the United Kingdom. From 2012-2015, she served as Business Minister in the UK, and in 2009, she co-founded a cross-party group of MPs to work collaboratively on new economic thinking and well-being economics.

In this fascinating conversation, Jo sheds light on her current work, political experience and her personal narrative. 

For a full transcript of this episode visit The Do One Better Podcast website at Lidji.org

 

Mike Barry, former Director of Sustainable Business at M&S and founder of Mikebarryeco, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss the latest trends in sustainable business and their numerous social implications

 

This is a conversation full of fascinating details, insight and observations that present the listener with invaluable context on what’s required if we are to avoid a climate catastrophe, achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensure we don’t leave large segments of society behind.

We hear how, ultimately, no matter how good the policymaking, nor how innovative the new technology, we won’t achieve success if we don’t entice the world’s citizens to change their behaviour — with sustainability front and centre — and ensure mass global engagement.

From traditional beef burgers, to plant-based burgers and even laboratory-grown meat; from the Race to Net Zero to the invaluable role of efficient cities in tackling the SDGs — you will thoroughly enjoy this episode and gain much useful information in the process.

A full transcript of this interview is available by visiting The Do One Better Podcast website at Lidji.org

 

Bob Moritz, Global Chairman of PwC, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss stakeholder capitalism, ESG (environmental, social, governance) and how the corporate world is embracing the sustainability agenda

If you want a front-row seat to see and understand how large corporates are approaching stakeholder capitalism and ESG, this episode is most certainly for you.  

On 15th June 2021, PwC announced a massive ESG push. They’ll be investing $12bn and creating 100,000 new jobs to boost ESG expertise for clients. So, this podcast interview isn’t just theoretical; there’s real consequence to everything you’ll hear in this episode.

PwC spans 155 countries and includes more than 284,000 people — a professional services network, providing audit, tax, consulting, and deals services around the world, in order to build trust and contribute to productive solutions for the world’s most pressing problems.

For a full transcript of this interview, visit The Do One Better Podcast website at Lidji.org

 

 

Charles Delingpole, Founder and CEO of ComplyAdvantage, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss how to leverage technology and data to tackle ESG risk

A must-listen episode for anyone who is interested in social entrepreneurship and combining for-profit activities with social good.

ComplyAdvantage is a market leader in the use of technology, machine learning and big data to automate and scale solutions that help organisations and individuals mitigate ESG (environmental, social, governance) risk; in the process helping to tackle money laundering, human trafficking and other crimes. The firm is a commercial venture with a strong social purpose at its core and they have secured over $100 million in funding from the likes of Goldman Sachs, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and Index Ventures.

We discuss a range of topics, from international sanctions and political exposure to adverse media and reputational risk. Charlie provides insight into the company, their solutions and his own trajectory and personal narrative.

Charles Delingpole has a strong entrepreneurial track record, having previously co-founded MarketFinance, a corporate financial solutions company that raised $59 million in funding, and the world’s largest student discussion forum The Student Room when he was 16.  He holds an MA in Politics from Trinity College, Cambridge, and a Masters in Management, Strategy, and Finance from the London School of Economics.

For a transcript of this episode visit The Do One Better Podcast website at Lidji.org -- where you will also find information on over 100 interviews with remarkable leaders. Please subscribe and share -- thank you.

 

Cameron McCollum, Director of the Sudreau Global Justice Institute, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss access to justice for vulnerable populations in the Global South

 

We discuss access to justice in developing countries; the current state of affairs in specific countries in Africa and opportunities for improvement.

 

The Sudreau Global Justice Institute ("SGJI") is an international human rights organization NGO based out of Pepperdine University. SGJI partners with governments around the world to advance the rule of law and provide access to justice to vulnerable populations. They believe that a healthy justice system is key to eradicating systemic suffering and unlocking a community's potential. A well functioning justice system not only protects the vulnerable, it is also the foundation upon which it becomes possible for all other forms of community development to flourish.

 

They currently have an active partnership with the Ugandan government to pilot the nation's first Public Defender's Office, and they continue to train and provide strategic assistance in Uganda's implementation of plea bargaining into its criminal justice system. In addition, they have a team in Accra, Ghana where they are working alongside the Ghanian government and the U.S. State Department to further similar plea bargaining and access to justice initiatives.

 

For a full transcript of this interview, visit The Do One Better Podcast website at Lidji.org - Please click the subscribe button on your favourite podcast app and share widely with others. Thank you.

 

Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change and Managing Director at MacArthur Foundation, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss multi-million dollar competitions, philanthropy markets and funder collaboratives

 

A must-listen episode for anyone who seeks truly innovative and collaborative thinking in philanthropy.

 

Lever for Change is a new nonprofit affiliate of the MacArthur Foundation, created to accelerate large-scale social change around the world. The organization develops and manages customized, open and transparent competitions that connect donors with bold solutions to global challenges, while strengthening the most highly rated ideas emerging from these competitions and catalyzing big investments through its Bold Solutions Network. 

 

In addition to her role at Lever for Change, Cecilia oversees the MacArthur Fellows and 100&Change, MacArthur’s competition for a $100 million grant to help solve a critical problem of our time. 

 

For a full transcript of this interview visit The Do One Better Podcast website at Lidji.org  Please click that subscribe button on your favourite podcast app and share widely with others. Thank you.

 

Chair of EY Foundation, Patrick Dunne, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss the dynamics of corporate and governance boards. Great insight from Patrick’s book, “Boards”, and nearly 30 years experience at 3i

 

If you have to work with boards this episode is for you.  We tackle highly topical questions:

 

• What are some of the main challenges with boards?… 

• What’s the relationship between the chief executive and the board?…. 

• Is there much of a difference between board members within a for-profit context vs a nonprofit context?… 

• What about recruiting new board members?…

• More...

Patrick is an experienced Chair and serial social entrepreneur who has extensive experience of working with boards in Europe, Asia and North America.  Early on in his career at 3i he built a resource of over 600 experienced directors who were appointed to over 2,000 boards for 3i across numerous countries.  The programme he established became widely recognised as a model of adding value and a leader in best practice.

 

For a full transcript of this interview, visit The Do One Better! Podcast website at Lidji.org  Please subscribe and share widely with others. Thank you.

 

David Lynch, filmmaker and creative genius, joins Alberto Lidji to talk about Transcendental Meditation, consciousness, his foundation’s work and the ups and downs of his personal journey

 

This episode is an absolute must-listen for fans of David Lynch and those craving wellbeing through meditation. David speaks from the heart, with abundant passion and an infectious self-assuredness about consciousness and the power of Transcendental Meditation to do away with the negatives in one's life while letting in boundless positivity.

We learn about the work of the David Lynch Foundation, helping bring TM to the world, and also hear about David's creativity, successes and failures -- and how he has overcome the most challenging times.

David lets us in on those earlier moments in his life when he felt unsatisfied with a success he perceived as hollow, and we also hear of challenging moments in his career, such as following the film Dune — a “giant failure” by his own account — where he notes that had it not been for that “inner strength from meditation, from transcending every day, I might have wanted to check out.”

Since 1973, David has been practising Transcendental Meditation — and he has never missed a meditation since then — meditating 20 minutes twice a day.  While skeptical at first, David notes that TM has quite simply transformed his life.  “Just meditate regularly, go about your business the same way you would, and watch things get better.”

For a full transcript of this fascinating conversation, visit The Do One Better! Podcast website at Lidji.org — Please click the subscribe button on your favourite podcast app and share widely with others — thank you!

 

Facebook’s Head of Social Impact & Health Partnerships, Anita Yuen, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss their initiative to connect billions of people to authoritative information on COVID-19 vaccines

 

Anita sheds light on Facebook’s COVID Information Center, where people can access authoritative information about COVID-19 vaccines, and she goes on to explain how they have been partnering with the World Health Organisation (WHO), non-profit organisations and governments around the world to make sure there is accurate and credible information for people about COVID-19 vaccines.

The discussion also delves into Facebook’s work around blood donations in more than 29 countries and how the platform has facilitated $5 billion in donations for good causes.  Anita provides a candid look at social good campaigns at truly global scale.

Visit The Do One Better! Podcast website at Lidji.org for a full transcript of this episode.  Please click the subscribe button on your favourite podcast app and share widely with others — thank you!

 

Sir Peter Gluckman, former Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand and Director of Koi Tū, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss the interaction between science, policymaking and diplomacy

Sir Peter was Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2009 to 2018, serving three Prime Ministers: John Key, Bill English and Jacinda Ardern. He’s also the Director of Koi Tū — the Centre for Informed Futures — a New Zealand based think tank looking at some of the most pressing issues impacting our world.

In this episode we talk about the role of chief science advisors, how science and policymaking work together and the interaction between science and diplomacy — a discussion that takes place within a backdrop of declining public trust, increasing misinformation and the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For a full transcript of this episode visit The Do One Better! Podcast website at Lidji.org — please click the subscribe button on your favourite podcast app and share widely with others. Thank you!

 

Executive Director & CEO of Together for Girls, Daniela Ligiero, talks about their work in tackling violence against children and their invaluable, national Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys

 

Together for Girls is a global, public-private partnership dedicated to ending violence against children, especially sexual violence against girls.

The partnership includes five UN agencies, the governments of the United States and Canada, several private sector organisations and more than 20 country governments in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, working together to generate comprehensive data and solutions to this public health and human rights epidemic.

Together for Girls, in partnership with the CDC — the US Centers for Disease Control — has conducted their Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys in 24 countries.  They now have data for over 10% of the world's population under 24 on this issue and are the single largest repository on sexual violence data for children, adolescents and youth. 

This is a fascinating conversation on a sobering topic, underpinned by optimism and a sense of urgency.  Daniela sheds light on the global context of violence against children and clearly articulates the work being done to tackle it. 

Visit The Do One Better! Podcast website at Lidji.org for a full transcript of this interview. Please click the subscribe button on your favourite podcast app and share widely — thank you!

 

Denis Mizne, CEO of the Lemann Foundation, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss how to achieve quality public education in Brazil for every child

 

This episode is of particular interest to anyone who cares about driving forward quality education at scale in a global context. While the Lemann Foundation is based in Brazil, its work is of interest to philanthropists, NGOs and social entrepreneurs across the globe.

Denis sheds light on the Foundation’s work, ranging from operations to grant-making, and provides a solid overview of the current state of affairs in Brazil’s education system and the opportunities for improvement.

The Lemann Foundation was launched in 2002 by self-made Brazilian entrepreneur Jorge Paulo Lemann, who is one the world’s most prolific private investors and philanthropists.  Lemann’s private equity firm, 3G Capital, boasts a portfolio that includes the likes of Anheuser-Busch, Burger King, Heinz, Kraft, SABMiller, and Tim Hortons.

Visit The Do One Better! Website at Lidji.org for a full transcript of this conversation. Please click the ‘subscribe’ button on your favourite podcast app and share widely with others — thank you!

 

David Miliband, President & CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and former UK Foreign Secretary, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss the plight of refugees and displaced persons globally

 

David served as the youngest UK Foreign Secretary in three decades, driving advancements in human rights and representing the UK throughout the world. His accomplishments have earned him a reputation, in former President Bill Clinton's words, as "one of the ablest, most creative public servants of our time.”

David talks candidly about the invaluable work of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the plight of refugees and displaced persons, and sheds light on the differences between being the foreign minister of a permanent member of the UN Security Council and leading one of the worlds most impactful NGOs.

The IRC was founded by Albert Einstein, who was in Princeton, in the USA, when Hitler came to power. And he founded the International Rescue Committee, the Emergency Rescue Committee at the time, in the 1930s, and he founded the organisation out of a burning sense that while he was safe, so many others were not safe from the Nazis. 

The IRC is an organisation whose purpose is to help people whose lives are shattered by conflict, persecution and disaster. They work in 40 countries, in what David calls the ‘arc of crisis’, from the war zone in Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, through to the internally displaced, the homeless in their own country, who have had to flee to the houses of cousins or strangers in refugee hosting states.  The IRC is an $825 million a year organisation, with 13,000 employees.

David sheds light on his journey, from UK politics to the NGO world; he delves into the differences between the two and the benefit of having experienced both.  He describes the IRC as an organisation that is about solutions rather than suffering.

For a full transcript of this conversation, visit The Do One Better! Podcast website at Lidji.org

Please click the ‘subscribe’ button on your favourite podcast app and please share widely with others — thank you! 

 

Amy Klement, Managing Partner of Imaginable Futures — a venture of the Omidyar Group, Founded by Pierre and Pam Omidyar of eBay fame — discusses unleashing human potential through learning

 

If you ever wondered how a Silicon Valley mindset rooted in social entrepreneurship can improve global education, then this episode is for you.  A fascinating look at an organisation that is quite different from traditional philanthropy.

Imaginable Futures is a philanthropic investment firm that combines impact investing and foundation grant-making in order to unleash human potential through learning.

Imaginable Futures spun out of the Omidyar Network a little over a year ago, where they were previously the Education initiative of Omidyar.  They were founded and are funded by Pam and Pierre Omidyar — who is also the Founder of eBay.

Amy worked for eBay, where she served as VP of product strategy and operations, and was previously one of PayPal’s earliest employees in the late 1990s. Today, she leads Imaginable Futures.  She provides great insight and projects very positive energy. 

Visit The Do One Better! Podcast website at Lidji.org for a full transcript of this episode. Please click the subscribe button on your favourite podcast app and share widely with others. Thank you!

 

Paul Polman, Co-Founder of IMAGINE and former CEO of Unilever joins Alberto Lidji to discuss CEO engagement in sustainable business and creating ‘tipping points’ in specific industries to drive change

 

"Redesigning how business could be and should be, to the benefit of society, is a very important thing."

We tackle a diverse range of topics, from climate change and inequality to his outlook on life and the observation that some people think greed is good but, longer term, generosity will always win.

This is a multifaceted and candid conversation. We hear how his potential to drive forward greater change in global development is actually stronger now than it was when he was still at Unilever. 

We also get a glimpse into his youth, where he notes without any hesitation that: "I wanted to be first a priest and then I wanted to be a doctor, I ended up with serendipity in business, I wouldn't do it again, today, I wouldn't go into business, necessarily, but I always felt more of an urge to help other people."

Paul Polman sheds light on his efforts to engage leading corporate CEOs and to bring key industries to a 'tipping point' whereby they start to embrace sustainable business. He speaks with great passion, insight and an unmistakable sense of urgency. 

This is a fascinating conversation from beginning to end -- enjoy it and take plenty of notes!

Visit The Do One Better! Podcast website at Lidji.org for a full transcript of this conversation and insight from over 100 podcast episodes on philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.  Please click the ‘subscribe’ button on your favourite podcast app. Thank you!

 

Tackling global hunger and malnutrition. Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), presents a sobering picture and a clear path forward

On this episode we focus on global hunger and malnutrition, which is UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger).

 

We address key questions and explore the subject in depth:

 

• Should anyone be dying from hunger in this day and age?

• Must we embrace a vegetarian lifestyle?

• What is the impact of childhood stunting on long-term economic development?  

• What's the connection between food systems and the climate crisis?

• What can policymakers, corporates and citizens do right now?

 

We explore global hunger from various angles and present a clear, actionable path for policymakers, business leaders and citizens around the world to consider as we approach 2030, the target year for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

Visit The Do One Better! Podcast website at Lidji.org for a full transcript of this episode.

 

Please click the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast app.  Thank you for listening and for sharing with others!

 

Rugby star Siya Kolisi and Rachel Kolisi join Alberto Lidji to share their inspiring philanthropy journey and ambition to change narratives of inequality in South Africa through the Kolisi Foundation

 

Siya came from a challenging and humble background and, in 2018, became the first Black test player appointed Captain of the Springboks — South Africa’s national rugby team. In 2019, Siya led his team to Rugby World Cup victory.

Rachel brings a long-standing passion to serve individuals and communities across South Africa. From as early as 1990, Rachel has been involved in charitable and community development projects which have brought about transformation for many different communities.

Siya and Rachel co-founded the Kolisi Foundation exactly a year ago and are already making a huge impact in South Africa, tackling gender based violence, alleviating the hardships caused by COVID-19 and convening diverse stakeholders.

The Foundation has provided sustainable food parcels to more than 25,000 families and provided hygiene products to front-line health workers nationally, in partnership with The Nelson Mandela Foundation.

In this candid and warm conversation, both Siya and Rachel speak with great passion and articulate the nature of their work very clearly. We learn from both of them about the contexts that shaped their thinking, the challenging realities they’ve witnessed and how they’re leveraging their high-profile voices to convene partners, change attitudes and make a difference. 

For a full transcript of this fascinating conversation, visit The Do One Better! Podcast website at Lidji.org  — Download 100+ episodes in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. Please click the ‘subscribe’ button on your favourite podcast app and share widely with others. Thank you!

 

Cherie Blair and Helen McEachern join Alberto Lidji to discuss closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship, why mentorship matters and reaching 175,000 women via the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women

 

We hear Cherie’s personal story, from the positive influence of her mother and grandmother, to starting out as a lawyer in the 1970s when it was still rare for women to be actively involved in the workforce, to her time living in 10 Downing Street where she was lucky enough to travel the world and meet many great women across the world. 

Cherie felt that there was a gap in women's economic independence — women and girls — and if they could fill that gap by giving women skills, networks and the mentoring that they needed they  could really make a difference.  She set up the foundation in 2008 and now have reached approximately 175,000 women and girls in over 100 countries.

We hear how if women had the same opportunity to be entrepreneurs as men, global GDP could rise by about $5 trillion dollars.

Helen McEachern, the Foundation’s CEO, explains why they focus on low and middle-income countries, where the lack of economic parity is particularly pronounced. We also learn how they leverage technology to remove barriers and of the invaluable role of their global online mentoring programme.  Helen notes how the social norms that women face that hold them back are different in different countries and so they tailor their approach accordingly.

This is a fascinating conversation for anyone who cares about gender equality and embraces the entrepreneurial spirit. The conversation airs as the world marks International Women’s Day 2021.

For a full transcript of this conversation visit The Do One Better! Podcast website at Lidji.org  where you’ll also find 100+ thought-leadership conversations on philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.  Please subscribe on your favourite podcast app and share widely with others. Thank you!

 

Every woman must be given a chance to succeed. Vice Chancellor of the Asian University for Women (AUW), Prof Nirmala Rao, shares the impact of Bangladesh’s (and region’s) only liberal arts institution

 

An inspiring conversation for anyone interested gender equality. The Asian University for Women (AUW) was first established in Bangladesh in 2008, with a specific mission to recruit young women who have promise and potential, regardless of their background, and to offer them high quality education. 

It's a liberal arts institution — the only one of its kind in the region. It's very global in outlook and rooted in the context and aspirations of the young people of Asia, designed to address some of the inequalities endemic to the region. 

The idea for the university grew out of the World Bank and United Nations Task Force on Higher Education and Society.

For a full transcript of this podcast, visit The Do One Better! Podcast website at Lidji.org  where you’ll discover more than 100 thought-leadership podcast episodes in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. Please subscribe and share widely — thank you!

 

Julia Gillard discusses her work at the Global Partnership for Education, sheds light on her journey to become Australia’s first woman Prime Minister and argues for quality education for everyone

 

An insightful and candid conversation with a true champion for quality education for every girl and boy across the globe.  

Born in Wales, UK, Julia migrated with her family to Australia as a very small girl. She was educated at local government schools, literally at the end of her street.  

Her father had grown up in a coal-mining village and he left school at 14. He found his way in Australia as a psychiatric nurse. Her mother worked as a cook in a care home. 

Julia has always been conscious that her life chances have been defined by coming from a loving stable family, but also by going to great schools. Fortunately, those government schools at the end of her street were fantastic schools.  And if they hadn't been fantastic schools, her entire life would have been different. 

Today, Julia is Chair of the Global Partnership for Eduction (GPE), which can be thought of as a shared commitment to ending the world's learning crisis. 

It is the only global partnership and fund that focuses solely on school education in lower-income and middle-income countries. They have got around 20 years’ experience now working with partner countries to make sure that more girls and boys not only get access to school, but the education they have at school is a quality one. 

Their model for change is really about mobilising donors, the UN family, philanthropists, the private sector, everyone basically, behind country-led plans to transform their education system. 

They’re working in 76 countries around the world. It's a broad and a deep partnership for change.

Download this episode to hear much more about Julia’s remarkable work and story.

Visit The Do One Better! Podcast website for a full transcript of this episode, guest bios and useful links. Enjoy and learn from 100 episodes in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship at Lidji.org

 

President of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Larry Kramer, shares his candid views on tackling climate change, adaptation vs mitigation, the merits of divesting from fossil fuels and more

 

Larry has been President of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation since 2012. Before joining the foundation, Larry served from 2004 to 2012 as Richard E. Lang Professor of Law and Dean of Stanford Law School.

The Hewlett Foundation has an $11 billion dollar endowment and this conversation focuses on their work tackling climate change. Larry delves into the difference between the different approaches of adaptation vs mitigation — and he explains his preferences. 

We learn of the key players in this field today and different collaborations in place to drive change forward.  Only around 2% of global philanthropic funds are focused on climate, so there is a pressing need for more action from funders around the globe.

Larry speaks candidly about the importance of unrestricted funding where appropriate and provides his views on whether divesting from fossil fuels is the right thing for the Hewlett Foundation right now. The focus, ultimately, being about achieving most impact.

For a full transcript of this podcast episode visit The Do One Better! Podcast website at Lidji.org where you’ll be able to download guest bios, useful links and more than 100 thought-leadership conversations on philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.  Please click the subscribe button on your favourite podcast app and share widely with others — thank you!

 

CEO of Bond, Stephanie Draper, sheds light on the work of the UK’s network for organisations working in international development and discusses the challenges and opportunities to build back better

 

An insightful conversation that delves into the UK Government’s changes to its foreign aid budget, the termination of the Department for International Development (DFID), and co-ordinating with UK and international organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stephanie Draper has spent more than 20 years working to accelerate a just and sustainable future, with a focus on sustainable development. She brings extensive international experience of bringing sectors together to collaborate and shape a better future.

For a full transcript of this conversation visit The Do One Better! Podcast website at Lidji.org, where you’ll also be able to download guest bios, useful links and 100+ episodes on philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.

 

Dr Charlie Teo, renowned Australian neurosurgeon, talks about his foundation’s work in driving forward brain cancer research, the latest medical advances and his sense of urgency to find a cure

 

An insightful conversation with a highly passionate and respected practitioner and advocate. Charlie provides an overview of the state of affairs in brain cancer research today, sheds light on the medical advances he has witnessed since his days as a medical student and shares his optimism for much less invasive and much more effective treatments in the not too distant future.

From founding the Charlie Teo Foundation to helping set up a pro bono hospital in India, Charlie’s story will inspire and inform you.

Charlie was, and remains, instrumental in the development, dissemination and acceptance of the concept of keyhole minimally invasive techniques in neurosurgery. He runs a fellowship program that attracts over 600 applicants yearly and has trained many of the world’s leading figures in neurosurgery at distinguished centres such as the Barrow Neurological Institute and Johns Hopkins, Duke, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Harvard Universities.

He has raised over $20 million that has been used to fund research scientists both in Australia and abroad.  Charlie dedicates 3 months every year to pro bono work in developing countries.

Charlie was named as a Member of the Order of Australia (for contribution to the development of minimally invasive neurosurgery). In 2012 he was invited to give the Australia Day Address to the Nation and in 2013 was honoured to be the first non-politician Australian to address the US Congress on the need for more funding for brain cancer research.

Visit The Do One Better! Podcast website at Lidji.org for a full transcript of this conversation, guest bios and useful links. Download 100+ podcast episodes on philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. 

 

Social entrepreneur, Chris Robson, is Founder & CEO of Living With — a digital health company focused on remote condition & patient management. A conversation on success, failure + making a difference

 

Chris shares his insight on the social entrepreneurial journey and his current venture, “Living With”, which helps patients, doctors and researchers to manage conditions remotely and derive  valuable data in the process.

Chris has 20 years’ experience of building fast growth, multinational companies and products, from £0 to £50m turnover. Among other ventures, he built and floated digital agency, Syzygy, on the German Stock Exchange and co-founded Ink Publishing, the world’s largest publisher of inflight media. He holds an MBA from London Business School and a degree from Oxford University.

Visit The Do One Better! Podcast website for a full transcript of this podcast episode, guest bios and useful links.  Please click the subscribe button on your favourite podcast app and share widely with others. Thank you!

 

Director General of the MAVA Foundation, Lynda Mansson, discusses the strategic challenges of winding down a foundation that’s granting around $100m annually and will cease to operate in late 2022

 

The foundation will sunset in a couple of years’ time, and the dynamics are much more complicated than one would expect. From ensuring the foundation’s key staff are motivated until the end to sharing institutional knowledge with others and helping partners and beneficiaries thrive in the long-term.

The MAVA Foundation is a family philanthropic foundation based in Switzerland.  They were founded about 25 years ago by Dr Luc Hoffmann, who is the grandson of the founders of Hoffmann-La Roche. 

The foundation will be closing and will stop their grant-making after 2022. Over their lifetime, they have granted out more than one billion dollars.

Visit The Do One Better! Podcast website for a full transcript, guest bio and useful links.  Please click the subscribe button on your favourite podcast app and share widely with others. Thank you!

 

Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) Executive Director, Ashlee George, talks about their work in support of youth in South Africa through the lens of HIV/AIDS prevention

 

Learn how Charlize Theron, one of Hollywood’s biggest names, founded CTAOP in 2007 and is today driving a strong network of charitable partners, supporting youth in diverse ways and working with a team of professionals to help improve young people’s lives as we approach the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.

Ashlee George has been part of Charlize Theron’s team for 15 years and over the past decade has been leading CTAOP’s efforts to oversee dramatic growth, including increasing the foundation’s grant making, communities served and youth engaged — underscoring CTAOP’s vision of a future where all youth are empowered to live healthy, HIV-free lives.

Visit The Do One Better! Podcast website for a full transcript, guest bio and useful links.  Please click the subscribe button on your favourite podcast app and share widely with others. Thank you!