The CEO of the David Lynch Foundation, Bob Roth, shares his insights on the role of Transcendental Meditation (TM) in tackling chronic stress and improving health outcomes. Filmmaker David Lynch and Bob Roth co-founded the foundation in 2005.  Roth highlights the devastating impact of toxic stress, which has evolved into a global crisis. Chronic stress, he explains, is distinct from everyday pressures and challenges; it overwhelms the nervous system, triggering a persistent "fight or flight"...

The CEO of the Rodenberry Foundation, Lior Ipp, on elevating small, locally-led organizations driving systems change. The Roddenberry Foundation aligns its philanthropic vision with the values of equity, diversity, inclusivity, and justice that were hallmarks of Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek legacy.  The foundation operates four core programs designed to catalyze meaningful impact: the Catalyst Fund for early-stage, high-risk social enterprises; the Roddenberry Fellowship, which supports...

Nick Grono, author of How to Lead Nonprofits and CEO of the Freedom Fund, delves into the unique challenges and responsibilities of nonprofit leadership, offering valuable insights drawn from two decades of experience in the sector. Grono reflects on the complexities of guiding purpose-driven organizations, contrasting the quantifiable metrics of success in the private sector with the more elusive task of measuring impact in the nonprofit world. He underscores how nonprofit leaders must...

Sidsel Kristensen, CEO of the LEGO Foundation, offers a deep look into the Foundation’s mission to champion playful learning and create sustainable, impactful initiatives for children globally. The LEGO Foundation has a 25% stake in the LEGO Group.  At the heart of the LEGO Foundation’s work is its belief in learning through play — a philosophy Kristensen describes as a powerful approach to fostering creativity, resilience, and critical thinking in children, from infancy through...

Geoff Wilson shares insights into his journey from financial success to a deep commitment to philanthropy, driven by a blend of personal values and a vision for the social impact potential within the asset management industry. Growing up in a middle-class family in Melbourne, Australia, Wilson absorbed values that emphasized community engagement, a theme that he has woven into his professional life over 44 years in finance. Wilson's story is a testament to how philanthropic endeavors can be...

In this engaging conversation, Dr Simon Lyster, Chair of the Essex Local Nature Partnership, delves into the promising strides being made in nature recovery within Essex, a region in the United Kingdom. Despite the global trend of biodiversity loss and environmental challenges, Essex presents a model of positive change through collaborative efforts and innovative strategies. This episode explores the multi-faceted approach taken by the Essex Local Nature Partnership, emphasising the...

Jared Blumenfeld, President of the Waverley Street Foundation, discusses the foundation’s bold mission to deploy $3.5 billion over ten years to tackle climate change. The foundation was created and funded by Laurene Powell Jobs. Blumenfeld explains that unlike traditional foundations with perpetual funding models, Waverley Street’s "spend-down" approach reflects the time-sensitive nature of the climate crisis, seeking to galvanize action that can yield transformative results within the short...

CEO Roundtable Discussion: The Entrepreneurial Mindset to Drive Social Impact. The CEOs of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation - Australia (Peter Kaye), the Veddis Foundation (Murugan Vasudevan), Maanch (Darshita Gillies), and the MD of the Peter Jones Foundation (Bill Muirhead), join Alberto Lidji in his capacity as Visiting Professor at the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship at Strathclyde Business School and Founder of the Do One Better Knowledge Hub and Podcast to...

Catherine Johnstone, CEO of Royal Voluntary Service (RVS), provides a compelling and thoughtful analysis of the evolving role of volunteering in society, highlighting the ambitious initiatives and rich legacy of the RVS. The organisation, with a history dating back to World War II, has played a pivotal role in mobilising citizens to take active roles in their communities. From backfilling roles on the home front during the war to feeding the nation and building community resilience through...

John Goodwin, Executive Chairman of the Learning Economy Foundation, offers an insightful examination of how emergent technologies — particularly verified credentials and digital credentials — are set to transform global education and employment systems. Through his role, John advocates for leveraging technology as a public good to promote equity, mobility, and individual agency, especially in underserved populations. The Learning Economy Foundation, unlike traditional philanthropic...

In this engaging episode, Patrick Dunne and Rebecca Robins delve into the fascinating and timely subject of multigenerational organizations, drawn from insights in their book Five Generations at Work: How We Win Together, For Good. For the first time in history, we have five distinct generations working concurrently across organizations globally, presenting both challenges and immense opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and social impact. Dunne and Robins argue that the current...

In this enlightening discussion, Sebnem Sener, Head of Private Finance for the SDGs at United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Sustainable Finance Hub, provides a nuanced analysis of the vast financial gap preventing the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The current $4.2 trillion annual financing shortfall is daunting, yet Sener emphasizes that this represents merely 1% of global wealth, urging the private sector to increase investments in SDG-aligned...

Crisis on the Frontline: A Closer Look at the WFP’s Expanding Challenges Geraldine O’Callaghan, Director of the World Food Programme's Global Office, sheds light on the profound challenges faced by the WFP as the gap between global hunger needs and available resources widens significantly. With operations in 120 countries, the WFP is confronted with a staggering increase in hunger, exacerbated by economic turmoil, escalating conflicts, and the relentless impacts of climate change. Geraldine...

In this episode, Jessica Anderen, CEO of the IKEA Foundation, provides an in-depth look at the Foundation's commitment to addressing the most pressing global challenges, particularly poverty and climate change. She reflects on her journey within the IKEA ecosystem, from her extensive background in the corporate world to her current leadership role at the Foundation, highlighting the continuity in values that has driven her work over the years. The IKEA Foundation, established by IKEA's...

Dedo n Ba, Director of Strategy of the Segal Family Foundation, Discusses Strategic Philanthropy, African Social Entrepreneurs, and Building Collaborative Ecosystems. This episode offers a rich exploration of the strategic considerations and practical efforts involved in driving philanthropy in Sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights the importance of collaboration, the evolving nature of board governance, and the critical role of local knowledge in shaping effective interventions. Whether you're a...

Luke Thomas, CEO of World Child Cancer: Bridging the Gap in Pediatric Cancer Care We delve into the critical work of World Child Cancer, an organization dedicated to improving the diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer in low to middle-income countries. World Child Cancer was established in 2007 to address the significant disparity in survival rates between children diagnosed with cancer in high-income countries and those in low-income regions. While survival rates in countries like the...

The CEO of the EdelGive Foundation, Naghma Mulla, joins us on the Do One Better Podcast to discuss the impact of their GROW Fund  (Grassroots, Resilience, Ownership and Wellness) which strengthened 100 high impact grassroots organisations in India over 24 months, through capacity-building and supporting key organisational functions. We explore what it was like to design and launch the GROW Fund; getting people to apply for funds; nurturing those relationships; and creating robust...

The Founder and Director of the Good Law Project, Jo Maugham KC, on leveraging the law to craft the world you’d like to see. The law is a powerful means to effect positive social change but not everyone has access to it and the law isn’t always used for good. In this episode we explore social impact through the lens of public interest litigation, and we cover a wide range of examples and thought-provoking arguments. The Good Law Project is a non-profit organisation but it is not a registered...

Danny Sriskandarajah, CEO of the New Economics Foundation, on his new book "Power to the People", Universal Basic Income and creating a better future. Overview In this intellectually stimulating episode, host Alberto Lidji interviews Danny Sriskandarajah, the Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation (NEF). The discussion delves into various topics surrounding new economic thinking, including universal basic income (UBI), innovative economic models, and the importance of brave...

Sarah Bouchie, CEO of Helen Keller Intl on Combating Global Blindness, Malnutrition, and the Impact of Climate Change. Helen Keller International's Mission: Helen Keller Intl, a 109-year-old organization, focuses on combating blindness, poor health, and malnutrition. The organization scales innovative solutions to ensure everyone can live a healthy life and achieve their full potential.  Global Operations and Focus Areas: The organization operates as an international NGO with headquarters in...

The CEO of the Impact Investing Institute, Kieron Boyle, discusses the nuances of impact investing, its various definitions, and the role it plays in creating a fairer, greener, and more resilient future. Kieron explains the mission of the Impact Investing Institute, a nonprofit established by the UK government to accelerate impact investing both in the UK and globally. The conversation highlights how impact investing operates within financial markets to drive significant social and...

Jon Rosser, Chair of the Single Homeless Project, on the systemic undercounting of women experiencing homelessness. Overview: In this eye-opening episode of the Do One Better Podcast, Alberto Lidji sits down with Jon Rosser, Chair of the Single Homeless Project, to delve into the pressing issue of homelessness in the UK, with a particular focus on the systemic undercounting of women experiencing homelessness. Key Discussion Points: Introduction to SHP: The Single Homeless Project operates in...

In this enlightening episode, we are joined by Tony Hulton, Chief Executive Officer of Walking with the Wounded. Tony shares the critical work his organisation is doing to support ex-service personnel in the UK. The discussion spans across various support services provided by the charity, including mental health, social work, employment support, and tackling digital exclusion. This episode offers valuable insights for those who care about veterans and their reintegration into civilian...

In this episode of the Do One Better Podcast, Alberto Lidji engages in a compelling conversation with Geoff Ibbotson, the Executive Director of the Global Surgery Foundation. Geoff shares his journey and the critical work his organization is doing to improve surgical care systems worldwide, particularly in low-resource settings. This episode sheds light on the importance of comprehensive surgical systems in achieving global health goals and reducing poverty. As Geoff notes: "A strong surgical...