Interviews

One of the most challenging aspects of searching for a career with purpose it that there is no roadmap. Instead there’s options, trade-offs, decisions and a whole host of different paths to explore. Gone are the days where professionals settled in with a company out of college and then defined their career success …

If there is one thing typical of the many professionals we interview in the impact sector, it’s that no two careers paths are alike. Take Lindsay Oughtred, who taught high school for a decade before launching the Toronto chapter of Kids Up Front. Now she’s involved in every aspect of …

Like many of the Purple Sheep we interview, Ben Connor, a co-owner of Coco Loco Resort in Nicaragua, shrugged at the suggestion he had to choose between meaningful work and earning a paycheque. The well travelled Connor joined a group of social entrepreneurs in developing the resort that is deeply embedded …

The science and social imperative of meaningful work: Have we reached a tipping point? That’s the question Paul Fairlie is answering with his research. As a work psychologist Paul has delved into the inner workings of employee engagement and he’s found that meaningful work and having positive social impact are having …

Have you ever considered working in the nonprofit sector but hesitate to make the transition because you’re unsure of what to expect in a sector driven by purpose? Take some of the uncertainty out of the process by volunteering and getting a firsthand look at what it’s like to work in a nonprofit. Consider joining Endeavour Consulting, …

Quitting your stable corporate job to start your own social enterprise takes a lot of courage and conviction. The thought of which can scare even the bravest of individuals. Gelaine’s career story shows us how you can gradually make the transition and why there’s no better time to be a social entrepreneur than …

Dream job alert! Leading a company’s corporate social responsibility efforts is one of the most coveted roles among social impact professionals. And when that company also happens to be one of Canada’s strongest brands- it’s even more desirable- as you have the opportunity to impact change on a wide scale. While …

Corey’s job reminds us that companies don’t have to separate their business objectives from their community efforts. Authentic campaigns that ‘plan for the effect, not the results’ are supremely powerful- case in point WestJet’s Christmas Miracle. Corey’s focus on content marketing provides a unique perspective, but it’s his insight on leadership and hard work that …

Jaime Stein (pictured left) represents a different kind of Purple Sheep- one who uses his skills for good without breaking away from the corporate herd. For those of us who want to make a difference but can’t find the right impact job just yet, or are not ready to leave …

As Blue Jay Fever sweeps across Toronto, it’s only fitting that we can profile the Purple Sheep behind the charitable arm of Canada’s baseball team- Robert Witchel. From a successful career in the the private sector to experiences with the Sick Kids Foundation, Right To Play and now the Jays …

At the end of the day, change is driven by the people behind the organization not the organization itself. For those of us who dream of leading an organization one day, take note and learn from Andrea Cohen Barrack, CEO of the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF)- Canada’s largest grantmaking foundation. Two …

Salary, and the ‘passion discount’, is often one of the biggest factors that discourages professionals from pursuing careers in the nonprofit sector. This is particularly true for professionals considering switching into nonprofit from the corporate sector. Chris Baker, one such career switcher, talks the real truth about salary and the pursuit of making a difference. As …

Don’t wait for permission to create the change or job you want. That is one of the many life lessons we can learn from Zahra Ebrahim, founder and principal of ArchiTEXT- a design think tank and consultancy focusing on design based approaches to social innovation for government, charities and philanthropic organizations. Zahra’s …

It’s no secret that we love meeting fellow Purple Sheep. Although we’d argue that you’re always a Purple Sheep at heart, some show their colour early in their careers and others after years of experience. Jennifer Starr is a career switcher and recently transitioned from the corporate world to the nonprofit sector …

Diane Solinger has what many would say is one of the coolest job ever (us included). Working at Google in social impact, Diane holds one of the most envious job titles managing the GooglersGive program. Leveraging her experience from the nonprofit sector, Diane and her team help the 60,000 Googlers …

Wearing multiple hats is common in the impact sector. And this couldn’t be more true for Stachen Frederick, a social entrepreneur who also juggles her day job as a Manager at the YMCA of Greater Toronto. Stachen is the Founder and Executive Director of BrAIDS for AIDS a social enterprise launched in 2008 …

He’s not your stereotypical MBA grad working in finance. As a Millennial, Fayaz Manji represents a new type of professional living and working his values. An experience early in his MBA program changed his career course and set him on a path of purpose (and a paycheque). Bucking the trend that …

Young Professional Series: Marijke’s career is an example of the ever evolving landscape of corporate philanthropy. As part of the sponsorship and cause marketing team at one of Canada’s most recognized hospitals- SickKids- she’s working with companies on partnerships that move past philanthropy 1.0 of cheque writing, to meet business objectives …

Joeri supervises and manages MaRS’ Solutions Lab, a team committed to tackling complex societal and economic challenges that require systems change. More than a think tank, the Solutions Lab is action oriented, applying tools and techniques from various fields, taking social innovation to another level. We love the work they’re doing …

Anil Patel is a social innovator, someone who challenges the status quo and is creating change in the sleepy philanthropic industry. After a decade in the philanthropic world, both with funder and fundee experience, Anil saw what wasn’t there- a simpler way to do grants. Infusing tech and strategic thinking into his company, Anil co-founded GrantBook, …