Introduction

Michael Braithwaite has over 30 years of experience creating innovative solutions to better support vulnerable people. Michael joined Blue Door in March of 2019 as CEO and has since helped launch Blue Door’s first employment social enterprise called Construct, three supportive housing programs including the first safe space for 2SLGBTQ+ youth in York Region, a national housing and homelessness podcast, a merger with Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold, and is currently executing a Solutions Lab in collaboration with SHS Consulting and Habitat for Humanity to explore the journey from homelessness to homeownership.

Previously Michael worked at Raising the Roof and 360kids in York Region. As CEO of the national organization Raising the Roof, Michael launched Reside, a program to transform underutilized properties into affordable housing by engaging the social enterprise Building Up.

As Executive Director at 360kids, Michael lead the development of several innovative and collaborative initiatives including the development of the new Youth Hub, an Anti-Human Trafficking Program, the first Nightstop Housing Program in Canada, and in partnership with the York Region District School Board developed iGrad a classroom-based program whereby a teacher uses an e-learning platform to help youth complete high school.

Summary

In this episode of the Cause Leadership Podcast, Dave Hutchinson interviews Michael Braithwaite, the Chief Executive Officer of Blue Door, an organization focused on addressing homelessness and related issues in the North Toronto area. They discuss the challenges and uncertainties faced by nonprofit leaders, the importance of mentorship and governance, and the need for effective succession planning. Michael shares insights on investing in people, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the qualities that make effective leaders. The conversation also highlights Blue Door's innovative programs aimed at tackling homelessness and engaging communities in the trades, as well as the importance of long-term solutions to social issues.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Michael Braithwaite and Blue Door

03:03 Navigating Uncertainty in Nonprofit Leadership

06:22 Mentorship and Support for Emerging Leaders

09:00 The Importance of Succession Planning

12:13 Investing in People and Professional Growth

15:15 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Leadership

18:09 Qualities of Effective Leaders

21:08 Understanding Blue Door's Mission and Impact

28:09 Addressing Homelessness: Long-Term Solutions

30:12 The Importance of Skilled Trades

35:24 Success Stories in the Construct Program

38:51 Supporting Blue Door: How to Get Involved

41:50 Innovative Fundraising and Community Engagement

Connecting with Michael:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-braithwaite-cihcm-76280b34?trk=feed_main-feed-card_feed-actor-image

www.bluedoor.ca

Summary:

Hosted on March 27, 2025, the purpose of The Charity Leader Summit was to provide charity leaders with examples of the best mindsets for overcoming leadership challenges.

At Cause leadership, we have helped 100s of charities find their next senior leader, and we have learned firsthand how the right leadership mindsets help shape the strongest team cultures and dynamic.

In this episode, Dave Hutchinson speaks with David Kay, Managing Partner of ProVenture Advisors on the topic of Mission-Driven Thinking – Leading with a relentless focus on impact.

In this conversation, David Kay, discusses the complexities of impact in the charitable sector, emphasizing the dual focus on delivering social needs and satisfying funders. He highlights the importance of strategic direction centered on impact, the challenges of measuring and communicating that impact, and the necessity of crisis management in maintaining public perception. David advocates for a relentless focus on impact and radical transparency for charity CEOs to navigate the evolving landscape of nonprofit work.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to ProVenture Advisors

03:11 Understanding Impact in Charities

06:24 The Complexity of Strategy and Impact

09:34 Challenges in Measuring Impact

12:11 Managing Crisis and Public Perception

17:11 Insights for Charity CEOs

Summary:

Hosted on March 27, 2025, the purpose of The Charity Leader Summit was to provide charity leaders with examples of the best mindsets for overcoming leadership challenges.

At Cause leadership, we have helped 100s of charities find their next senior leader, and we have learned firsthand how the right leadership mindsets help shape the strongest team cultures and dynamic.

In this episode, Dave Hutchinson speaks with Dave Prowten, Former CEO of Junior Diabetes Research Foundation Canada on the topic of Legacy & Succession – Building a leadership pipeline for the future.

In this conversation, Dave Prowten shares his experiences as the former CEO of JDRF, discussing the importance of leadership development, succession planning, and building trust within an organization. Having a strong team is critical to the success today and tomorrow. He reflects on his decade-long journey at JDRF, emphasizing the significance of nurturing emerging leaders and the processes involved in transitioning leadership roles. Dave also highlights the feedback received post-transition and offers insights on fostering trust between board members and organizational leaders.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to JDRF and Leadership Journey

03:09 Developing Emerging Leaders

06:13 Succession Planning Insights

09:00 Transitioning Leadership

12:17 Building Trust in Leadership