People Inspired By Purpose - Purposely Podcast

Welcoming Dhivya O'Connor's, CEO of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and host and founder of The Charity CEO Podcast Dhivya grew up in India but at the age of 18, Dhivya moved to the UK for her studies. Initially planning to return to India after completing her education, she found herself drawn to the opportunities that the UK offered. For a decade, Dhivya built a successful career in the private sector, holding various strategy, business development, and leadership roles at companies such as GE Capital, Lloyds Bank, and OctopusTravel (now part of Expedia Group). However, the call to make a more direct impact on society led Dhivya to transition into the charity sector. Over the past 24 years, she has held several senior leadership positions, including CEO roles at United World Schools, the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, and Children with Cancer UK. Her diverse experience, coupled with her innate drive to create equitable opportunities for women and girls, made her the perfect fit for her current role as CEO of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. Founded by Cherie Blair in 2008, the Foundation aims to empower women entrepreneurs in low-income countries through training, research, and ecosystem collaboration. Under Dhivya's leadership, the organisation continues to address the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, particularly in accessing finance and education. The Foundation's work emphasises the importance of amplifying the voices of women entrepreneurs and creating opportunities for them to thrive. Dhivya's commitment to the charity sector extends beyond her day job. She serves as a Board Member of Book Aid International and is on the Steering Committee of Groundbreakers, a network promoting women leaders in the voluntary sector. She has also volunteered with NGOs in India, South Africa, and Cambodia, bringing her expertise and passion to various causes around the world. In August 2020, while on maternity leave with her second child, Dhivya launched "The Charity CEO Podcast." This chart-topping show, which now boasts over 20,000 listeners across 55 countries, aims to inspire, inform, and deliver practical insights on the challenges facing charity leaders today. Through candid and meaningful conversations, Dhivya delves deep into issues relevant to leaders across the sector and those who care about the important work of charities and non-profit organisations. Dhivya shares her diverse experiences in both the private and charity sectors, combined with her personal understanding of the challenges faced by women in developing countries. Dhivya’s is uniquely positions her to lead the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women now and in the future.

Welcome to Purposely SHORT, a weekly episode, featuring one of our friends or past guests and their expertise on a certain topic. This weeks episode features Rahul Watson Govindan CEO of Philanthropy New Zealand.

Welcoming Richard Bennett, founder and CEO of Bhubesi Pride Foundation to Purposely where he shares his organisation's mission and his personal journey as a social entrepreneur.   Bhubesi Pride Foundation is a UK-registered charity and Malawi-based NGO that uses sport, particularly rugby, as a tool for development in rural African communities. Their goal is to equip young people with skills, knowledge, and experiences to overcome social, economic, and health challenges.   Richard recounts the foundation's remarkable journey since its inception in 2010. What began as an adventurous idea has blossomed into a focused charity, making a tangible impact on young people's lives in Malawi. Working closely with local partners, the foundation delivers sporting and personal development opportunities to disadvantaged young people. Central to their approach is a strong emphasis on respectful collaboration and sustainable development practices, ensuring their mission is carried out effectively and ethically.   Richard's connection to Africa runs deep - he was born and raised in Johannesburg until age 13. This background, along with some profound personal experiences, shaped his passion for the continent and his drive to make a positive difference there. Throughout the conversation, Richard delves into several key aspects of his work. He discusses the challenges of establishing and expanding an international charity and splitting his time between the UK and Malawi. The importance of the skilled and motivated team he has developed in both countries. The constant challenge of raising the funds required to deliver their programmes to the importance of working with the local community in the right way to deliver positive impact.   For those interested in sport for development, social entrepreneurship, or African-focused charities, this episode of Purposely offers valuable insights from a dedicated changemaker. Richard Bennett's story is one of resilience, purpose, and the profound impact that can come from following one's passion.

Welcoming Catherine Ind Head of the St. James's Place Charitable Foundation to Purposely where she shares their charitable mission as well as her personal journey. Catherine's career path took an unconventional route, starting as a ski resort representative in France before transitioning to charity fundraising, ultimately leading to her current role at the helm of one of the UK's largest corporate foundations.   A proud Northerner Catherine, originally from Burnley now resides in the Cotswolds living minutes from the St. James's Place Headquarters. After earning an honours degree in business from De Montfort University in London, Catherine started in PR and marketing before transitioning to charity fundraising. Her experience includes roles at Meningitis Trust and a three-year stint at children's grief charity Winston's Wish, where she also served as acting CEO for a year.   Since its establishment in 1992 by SJP founders Mike Wilson and Sir Mark Weinberg, the St. James's Place (SJP) Charitable Foundation has become one of the leading corporate foundations in the UK. Over three decades, it has donated more than £130 million to hundreds of worthy causes, supporting transformational change in lives across the UK and overseas.   Appointed as Head of the Foundation in 2018, Catherine brings both expertise and passion to her role. In her Purposely Podcast conversation, she offers valuable insights into the Foundation's unique model and its far-reaching impact.   The SJP Charitable Foundation concentrates its efforts on four core areas: supporting disadvantaged children and young people, hospices, cancer support charities, and mental health. What distinguishes it from other corporate foundations is its deep integration with the company culture. As Catherine explains, "Unlike other corporate foundations, it's not an endowment fund. It's very much an integrated part of the business." This integration is evident in the remarkable participation of SJP's community of over 10,000 partners and employees. An impressive 80% contribute through regular payroll giving, accounting for a third of the Foundation's annual income. This collective approach has enabled the Foundation to directly support 3.5 million people, with 66% reporting substantial or transformative change in their lives.   The Foundation's success stems from its ability to harness the collective power of the SJP community. From company-wide fundraising events to skills-based volunteering, it fosters a shared sense of purpose that extends beyond financial contributions. Catherine emphasises the importance of this approach: "By pooling those monies, we can really invest in some smaller charities who are phenomenal, those grassroots charities that we all know in wherever we live."   Under Catherine's leadership, the Foundation continues to evolve, adapting to changing needs while remaining true to its core mission. The team focuses on maximising impact through multi-year funding, supporting core costs, and maintaining open dialogues with grantees. Recent evaluations show that 79% of beneficiaries report substantive or transformative change, a testament to the effectiveness of their approach.   Case Study: The Foundation's Support of Onside Youth Zones   One shining example of the Foundation's impactful work is its support of Onside Youth Zones. Catherine shares her enthusiasm for this partnership:   "Onside are really transforming youth provision in communities and disadvantaged communities. Us partnering with them to really help them deliver their goal, which is to have a youth zone in all communities across the UK, we are seeing absolutely that transformation, changing lives for the better for the youngsters who use these facilities."   Jamie Masraff, CEO of Onside Youth Zones and a previous guest on Purposely (Episode #151: 'Stepping up to the role of CEO')

Welcome to Purposely SHORT, a weekly episode, featuring one of our friends or past guests and their expertise on a certain topic. This weeks episode features Denise Cosgrove CEO of Selwyn Foundation.

Welcome to Purposely SHORT, a weekly episode, featuring one of our friends or past guests and their expertise on a certain topic. This weeks episode features Yann Roux CEO of Disability Sport Auckland, discussing leadership his passion for disability sport.

Welcoming Stephanie Wheen CEO & founder of Gympanzees to Purposely Podcast where she shares her founder story as well as life journey. ‘How her relationship with her brother and the challenges faced by her physio clients led her to start a charity. Gympanzees provide play and exercise for disabled children. ‘Founder journey, overcoming the challenges to provide play, exercise and fun for disabled children’, Listen here: www.purposelypodcast.com and Apple Podcast, Spotify as well as all other platforms

Welcome to Purposely SHORT, a weekly episode, featuring one of our friends or past guests and their expertise on a certain topic. This weeks episode features Thomas Smith CEO of Halberg Foundation discussing his approach to leadership and his passion for sport and helping people disabilities to reach their full potential through sport.

Welcoming Ben Horwitz to Purposely where he shares his 'for purpose' founder story as well as his life journey. Ben and his co-founder Reed Rosenbluth started Causeway in 2022, an online platform aimed at revolutionising charitable giving. Causeway allowed users to create personalised giving portfolios, like exchange-traded funds in the investment world. This approach made it easier for individuals to support multiple causes with minimal effort, even with small monthly contributions. The platform enabled impactful micro-donations, facilitated the flow of funds from donor-advised funds, and simplified the decision-making process for donors.   Ben and Reed bootstrapped Causeway, intentionally avoiding venture capital to maintain their focus on social impact rather than rapid growth. Their commitment to solving real problems for a dedicated user base paid off when Charity Navigator, America's largest nonprofit rating platform, acquired Causeway in 2023. The acquisition transferred Causeway's intellectual property and other assets, including its brand, to Charity Navigator. This merger was made possible through generous support from the O'Shea Family Foundation and an anonymous donor.   Now serving as VP of Business Development & New Ventures at Charity Navigator, Horwitz continues to pursue his mission of making impactful giving easier for all. Charity Navigator evaluates over 220,000 nonprofits across four key areas: impact and results, leadership and adaptability, culture and community, and accountability and finance. The platform provides free access to this information, helping donors make informed decisions about their charitable contributions.   In his role, Horwitz is focused on exploring new revenue opportunities, fundraising, and product development. His immediate priorities include growing Charity Navigator's API, exploring corporate giving initiatives, and expanding list-based giving options. Horwitz's philosophy that "You don't need a million dollars to make a difference; $5 can also make a difference" drives both his work and the mission of Charity Navigator. Ben has had a mesmeric journey from startup founder to a key player in America's largest charity evaluator. Ben and his co founder Reed have gone a long way to show the potential for tech-driven solutions to address social challenges and improve philanthropy. ABOUT CHARITY NAVIGATOR Founded in 2002, Charity Navigator is a 501(c)(3) organization that guides intelligent giving with the nation's largest, most comprehensive charity evaluation tool. The organization helps donors easily identify U.S.-registered charities making a difference on the issues they care about most while helping charities better understand their donors, deliver on impact, and increase awareness and funding. Learn more at charitynavigator.org.

Welcome to Purposely SHORT, a weekly episode, featuring one of our friends or past guests and their expertise on a certain topic. This weeks episode features Jon Tanner founder of Coach for Life Foundation discussing his love for sport, and the import role coaches play in helping people reach their potential in sport and in life.