Summary

In this episode of the Cause Leadership Podcast, Dave Hutchinson interviews Aki Temiseva, the President and CEO of the United Nations Association in Canada. Aki shares his diverse background, including his upbringing in Zambia and extensive experience in both the corporate and charitable sectors. The conversation explores Aki’s leadership journey, the importance of youth engagement in the charitable sector, and the challenges faced by leaders today. Aki emphasizes the need for organizations to adapt and rethink their structures to attract and retain talent, particularly younger generations. He also discusses the role of the United Nations Association in Canada and its mission to promote peace, human rights, and sustainable development.

Takeaways

• Aki's diverse upbringing shaped his worldview and leadership style.

• Youth need platforms and opportunities to lead in the charitable sector.

• Transitioning from corporate to nonprofit requires a passion for purpose.

• Cultural differences impact leadership styles and organizational dynamics.

• The United Nations Association in Canada focuses on grassroots programs and global values.

• Engaging youth is crucial for the future of the charitable sector.

• Organizations must adapt to attract and retain younger talent.

• Leadership requires a balance of risk-taking and informed decision-making.

• Building an ecosystem of hope is essential for effective leadership.

• Core values should never be compromised, even in challenging times.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Aki Temiseva and Leadership Journey

05:56 Early Leadership Experiences and Youth Engagement

11:01 Transition from Corporate to Charitable Sector

18:48 Navigating Cultural Differences in Leadership

26:52 The Role of the United Nations Association in Canada

34:57 Challenges in the Charitable Sector and Future Leadership

Guest Bio: Aki Temiseva, President & CEO, United Nations Association in Canada.

Born in Finland and raised in Zambia, Aki Temiseva is a visionary leader with over 30 years of experience building businesses and non-profits across four continents. Aki thrives in organizations that, like him, dare to dream big and disrupt the status quo for a reason: to create tangible solutions that measurably improve people’s lives and build a more peaceful world for everyone.

Aki was named as the President and CEO of United Nations Association in Canada September (2024). Aki has served as Chief Marketing and Development Officer for Children Believe, a cutting-edge leader in children’s education worldwide, where he led their fundraising, marketing, communications and public relations. Before Children Believe, Aki served as Global Vice President, Philanthropy at Right to Play, a Toronto based global INGO using the power of play to transform lives of children and youth across the globe. Before coming to Canada, he ran both local and global corporations and organizations in US, UK and the Nordics, delivering unprecedented growth from start-ups to Fortune 500 corporations (Procter & Gamble, Publicis Group) and global development organizations like World Vision and ChildFund, as well as his own consultancy out of London, UK.

Aki excels at turning the seemingly impossible into “we did it.” He motivates and unites teams behind a growth vision, simplifying the complex and focusing on what really counts. Aki delivers results founded on innovative, winning strategies, bringing down silos in the process and building bridges where none existed. He has said his current role at UNAC allows him to push his life-long agenda of hope, reconciliation and bringing people together -even from seemingly impossible situations.

Aki holds an MSc in international marketing from Finland’s Aalto University. Tri-lingual in Finnish, Swedish and English, he has lived in Africa, Asia, Scandinavia, the U.K. and the U.S.A. prior to making a home with his family in Toronto.

Connecting with Aki:

https://www.unac.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/united-nations-association-in-canada/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/akitemiseva/

Summary

In this episode of the Cause Leadership Podcast, David Hutchinson engages with Julie Fiorini, General Manager, Donor Services & Brand at CanadaHelps, and Allen Davidov, Senior Vice President & Practice Leader of Environics Analytics. They discuss the recently published 2024 Giving Report and explore unexpected trends in charitable giving, the impact of economic factors on donor behavior, and the significant shift towards local giving.

The conversation also highlights the importance of digital fundraising, geographic patterns in philanthropy, and strategies for improving donor retention. The episode concludes with insights on the future of charitable giving and the role of organizations like CanadaHelps in fostering generosity across Canada.

Takeaways

• Giving is up overall, but fewer people are donating.
• The largest year-over-year increase in charitable donations was recorded in 2023.
• Local giving has seen exponential growth, with donations to local causes increasing significantly.
• Digital fundraising is becoming essential for charities.
• Economic uncertainty is affecting donor behavior and spending patterns.
• Monthly giving is on the rise, indicating better donor engagement.
• Charities need to understand their donors to tailor their strategies effectively.
• The Giving Report serves as a vital resource for the charitable sector.
• Generosity is shifting towards local causes and community support.
• There is a growing gap in fundraising expertise within the sector.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Giving Report

01:21 Unexpected Trends in Charitable Giving

04:12 The Impact of Economic Factors on Donor Behavior

08:10 Shifts in Generosity: Local vs. National Giving

12:41 Digital Transformation in Charitable Donations

23:00 Geographic Patterns in Philanthropy

26:16 Donor Retention vs. Acquisition Strategies

31:58 Metrics for Charity Leaders' Success

33:24 The Rise of Giving Tuesday in Canada

35:44 Insights from the Giving Report

38:31 Understanding Donor Behavior

42:50 Navigating Challenges in the Charitable Sector

44:26 The Importance of Talent in Fundraising

Introduction

As President and CBO (Chief Bargain Officer) of the Bargains Group, Jody Steinhauer has mobilized her award-winning discount wholesale and promotional products company to revolutionize the business landscape.

As a Canadian female entrepreneur, Jody uses her network of resources and leveraged buying power to aid every company and not-for-profit agency that she touches to maximize their buying dollar. Since 1988, Jody has grown Bargains Group from her apartment to a multi-million-dollar-a-year business. She is also often sought out for speaking engagements due to her successful entrepreneurial business experience, and has been featured in various media outlets, and is an official Huffington Post blogger.

Pioneering her belief of “giving back makes good business sense”, Jody is a tireless not-for-profit advocate, and the founder of the national charity, Engage and Change, and its two annual initiatives, Project Winter Survival and Project Water. Through these projects, Engage and Change helps thousands of homeless throughout Toronto and the surrounding area survive the extreme weather conditions while engaging and enabling citizens of all ages to donate their time to their local community through sponsored group engagement events.

Jody’s business has expanded to include a social enterprise wing: Kits for a Cause. With a focus on social impact, Jody has built a model for companies to support their local community. Kits for a Cause provides turn-key solutions for businesses to engage their employees while solving local community services’ needs for resources. Her model of “brokering goodness” has worked with some of the top industry leaders in both the corporate and philanthropic spheres.

Summary

In this inspiring episode of the Cause Leadership Podcast, host David Hutchinson sits down with social entrepreneur Jody Steinhauer, founder of The Bargains Group and Engage and Change. Jody shares her remarkable journey of building a for-profit, for-purpose business that supports countless charitable organizations and communities across Canada.

Together, David and Jody explore the real-world challenges of leading in the social impact space—from navigating post-COVID funding gaps to the importance of resilience and authenticity in leadership. Jody also introduces her groundbreaking initiative, Kits For A Cause, which creatively connects corporations with frontline charities to deliver real, tangible help to those in need.

Tune in to learn how purpose-driven leadership, meaningful collaboration, and bold storytelling can drive lasting change—and why encouragement and recognition matter more than ever for those leading the charge.

Whether you're a nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, or changemaker, this episode offers invaluable insights on how to lead with heart—and make a difference.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jody Steinhauer and Her Work

03:02 Navigating Leadership and Resilience

05:51 The Bargains Group: A Purpose-Driven Business

08:54 Engage and Change: A Charity with Impact

11:52 Building a Purposeful Team

14:41 Connecting Corporations and Charities

17:40 Stories of Impact and Learning

20:25 Encouraging Leaders in Challenging Times

Connecting with Jody:

https://www.bargainsgroup.com/

https://kitsforacause.com/

https://engageandchange.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodysteinhauer/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-bargains-group/

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

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 Heather Janes, CEO of Christie Gardens Apartments & Care Community on the topic of Partnership & Influence - Expanding impact through collaboration without losing mission focus.

In this conversation, Heather discusses the mission of empowering elders to live well, the importance of partnerships, particularly Christie Gardens’ partnership with the University of Toronto, and the challenges and innovations in elder care leadership post-COVID. Effective leadership in elder care requires adaptability and boldness. She emphasizes the need for advocacy against ageism and the value of intergenerational connections.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Christie Gardens and Elder Care

02:52 Empowering Elders: The Mission of Christie Gardens

05:46 Innovative Partnerships: Collaborating with U of T

07:45 The Impact of COVID-19 on Elder Care Leadership

Connecting with Heather:

https://www.christiegardens.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-janes22/

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 Kimberley Hanson, CEO of Health Partners on the topic of Partnership & Influence - Expanding impact through collaboration without losing mission focus.

In this conversation, Kimberley shares her diverse career journey from financial services to leading Health Partners, a collaborative of national health charities. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration and partnerships in the charitable sector, especially in light of changing donor demographics and the challenges faced by leaders in the non-profit space. Partnerships are essential for resource stretching in charities. Kimberley discusses the need for innovation and adaptation to engage new generations of donors while maintaining a focus on collective goals and mutual support among member organizations.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Kimberley Hanson and Her Career Journey

05:45 The Role of Health Partners in Charitable Collaboration

10:47 Navigating the Changing Landscape of Philanthropy

14:18 The Future of Mergers and Collaborations in the Nonprofit Sector

15:39 Growth and New Partnerships at Health Partners

Connecting with Kimberley:

https://healthpartners.ca/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthpartners-partenairesante/posts/?feedView=all

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberley-hanson-a7627420/