In this first interview of Season 3, Sarah Doyle reflects on her journey into the public sector and the insights she’s gained from working across government, as well as from her time at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose and MaRS Discovery District.

We explore what mission-oriented government looks like beyond the theory: how public institutions build the capacity to work across silos, collaborate with actors outside government, and operate in fast-moving, interconnected environments.

Sarah shares concrete examples of where mission-oriented approaches have taken root, what’s helped them succeed, and what continues to get in the way.

The conversation also turns to storytelling as a core capability that shapes public understanding, influences what governments see as possible, and expands the range of policy and program options on the table.

New season, new intro! In this episode of the GovMaker podcast, hosts Nick Scott and Jason Pearman are joined by Pond Deshpande, Executive Director, Vanessa Paesani, to discuss the upcoming season and the 2025 GovMaker Conference in partnership with the Canadian Open Data Summit. The episode includes reflections on past seasons and a preview of what's to come in Season 3!

In this podcast episode, John McLaughlin, former president of the University of New Brunswick, shares his insights on the importance of network governance in solving complex societal challenges. McLaughlin emphasizes the need to connect people with different perspectives and expertise to collaborate and generate innovative solutions. He also discusses the challenges faced by government leaders in driving change and the need for a new generation of leaders to bring a different set of values to the table. McLaughlin reflects on the legacy of Andy Scott, and his unique ability to bring together different communities and motivate them to be something greater than they would be apart.