Five Good Ideas Podcast

Collaboration with other organizations can build your organizational capacity, amplify your impact, and help you serve more people – but only if you get it right. Successful collaboration starts at home – with your board and senior leaders building the right internal culture, competencies, and systems before you approach potential partners. Liz Weaver, former Co-CEO of the Tamarack Institute, and Linda Mollenhauer, Chair of Ignite NPS, joined Elizabeth McIsaac, president of Maytree, as they shared practical stories and ideas to help you choose the right collaborations, show up as a strong partner, and avoid common pitfalls. They drew from free resources in The Collaborative Organization – tools you can use right away. Liz and Linda's five good ideas: 1. Look inward. Culture matters. The values your board and leadership hold shape how others see you as a partner. 2. Understand the why. Get clear on what strategic benefits collaboration will bring to your mission. 3. Be intentional by managing opportunities and mitigating risks. Treat collaborations like investments – assess fit and protect your organization. 4. Get your own shop in order. Make sure you have the internal capacity and systems to deliver on commitments. 5. Put it in writing. Create a board policy that guides how and when you collaborate. For the resources and a video of the session, visit: https://maytree.com/five-good-ideas/five-good-ideas-on-how-to-become-a-collaborative-organization/ .

Jake Hirsch-Allen, head of Partnerships at The Dais, a public policy and leadership think tank at Toronto Metropolitan University, joined Elizabeth McIsaac, president of Maytree, for the latest Five Good Ideas session to share his five ideas on how to adopt generative AI responsibly and effectively. Drawing from the Responsible AI Adoption for Social Impact (RAISE) program – a national initiative through which Jake has trained over 500 non-profit professionals across Canada – Jake explored when and how to use AI, the risks you need to understand, and why your organization’s data matters more than you think. Jake’s five good ideas: 1. Experiment using AI 2. Beware of the risks 3. Identify AI use cases 4. Create an AI use policy 5. Value your data For the resources and a video of the session, visit: https://maytree.com/five-good-ideas/five-good-ideas-on-how-to-think-responsibly-about-generative-ai/

Dr. Megan Conway, President and CEO of Volunteer Canada, joined Elizabeth McIsaac, President of Maytree, for the latest Five Good Ideas session to share her five ideas on how to re-engage your volunteer community and attract new supporters. Megan talked about how to meet the changing needs and motivations of today’s volunteers, remove barriers that keep people from participating, and reconnect with those who have volunteered with you in the past. Megan’s five good ideas: 1. Design volunteering for belonging, not just help 2. Treat access to volunteering as a design and equity issue 3. Reframe volunteering as contribution, skill building, and participation 4. Invest in volunteer infrastructure as a public good 5. Make volunteering visible in civic leadership and policy For the resources and a video of the session, visit https://maytree.com/five-good-ideas/five-good-ideas-to-attract-and-keep-volunteers/ .

In the face of changing government policies, deepening inequality, and community crises, charities must act forcefully to respond to their clients’ needs. They need to be fearless and use all of their tools to advocate and manage risk. The Neighbourhood Group Community Services and Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre experienced a trial by fire in 2025 that tested their resolve – they faced both the threat of closure and the actual closure of their supervised consumption services, resulting in a legal charter challenge to protect health care in their community. Two leaders came through more determined to act boldly to improve conditions for the people in their community. In conversation with Elizabeth McIsaac, Angela Robertson and Bill Sinclair presented their five ideas on how to be fearless, change how organizations work, and listen to our most vulnerable communities. - Angela Robertson is Executive Director or Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre - Bill Sinclair is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Neighbourhood Group Community Services - Elizabeth McIsaac is President of Maytree Five Good Ideas 1. Build a fearless board 2. Defend your rights and values 3. Understand the importance of data and evidence 4. Embrace unusual allies and media 5. Take a new approach to risk management For the resources and a video of the session, visit https://maytree.com/five-good-ideas/five-good-ideas-for-building-fearless-organizations/ .

In this Five Good Ideas session, Annie Kidder, co-founder and recently retired executive director of People for Education, shares her personal experience of what it's like to hand off your organization to the next generation. What really happens during succession – what works, what hurts, what do you need to let go of, and how does a founder-led organization steer into a future where it can continue to thrive? Her five good ideas: 1. Get a therapist 2. Identify foundational organizational values and beliefs and then build a new path forward 3. Determine where the founder adds value and where they have to get out of the way 4. Let go 5. Celebrate For Annie's full bio and resources, visit the session page .

In this Five Good Ideas session, Aleem Punja, Executive Director, Future Ready Initiative, Aga Khan Council for Canada, shared lessons from leading and advising boards across sectors. How can leading with head, heart, and homework transform governance from functional to exceptional? His five good ideas: 1. Start with purpose, not paper 2. Govern, do not manage 3. Centre equity and pluralism in every decision 4. Build a strong, trust-based relationship with the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer 5. Commit to learning, preparation, and self-reflection For Aleem's full bio and resources, vist the session page .

In this Five Good Ideas session, Sherri Torjman shares lessons from her 25 years at the Caledon Institute of Social Policy. In a field as complex and challenging as social policy, how do we stay the course and make an impact? Her five good ideas: 1. Find your North Star 2. Do your homework 3. Dream big - and small 4. Create the pathways 5. Tell your story For Sherri's full bio and resources, visit the session page .

In this session, Zabeen Hirji, former Chief HR Officer at RBC and now in her Purposeful Third Act, explored how AI is reshaping the nature of work. As AI changes the relationship between employers and workers, why should people choose to work for your organization? How can organizations help their people thrive in this new era? Her five good ideas: 1. Help every employee understand their purpose 2. Start small, learn together, and stay curious 3. Build AI fluency, not technical mastery 4. Focus on change management 5. Invest in human skills For Zabeen's full bio and resources, vist the session page .

In this session, non-profit consultant Claire Forster discussed how to make meaningful and sustainable change in your organization. How do you integrate a new function or program into your current structure? How do you communicate with your teams to ensure that the change is not disruptive or disengaging? What implications are there for the existing teams and culture and how do you manage that? What issues do you need to anticipate and account for? Her five good ideas: Start with the end in mind Communicate what it isn’t Understand that employees and stakeholders have the answers Be opportunistic and leverage change to reinforce culture It’s not over when you think it is For Claire's full bio and resources, visit the session page .

Liv Mendelsohn and Christa Haanstra joined Five Good Ideas to discuss how to build a culture that recognizes and values caregiving. Their conversation with Elizabeth McIsaac highlighted that creating a caregiver-friendly workplace is compassionate and strategic . Organizations that recognize this gain a competitive edge through improved retention, productivity, and workplace culture. Liv and Christa's Five Good Ideas: Understand your workforce Provide equitable support Prioritize flexible work arrangements Recognize the value of caregiving skills in the workplace Build a caregiver-supportive culture For Liv and Christa's full bios and resources, visit the session page .

Mohammed Hashim, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, joined Five Good Ideas to share practical strategies to bridge divides and foster positive change in challenging times. His conversation with Elizabeth McIsaac highlights the power of genuine dialogue, community resilience, and grassroots action in creating a more connected future. Mohammed's Five Good Ideas: Embrace difficult conversations Get offline and re-ignite in-person connection Online life is a reality: Trust humans, fact-check content Replenish your dopamine (and your feed) with people who build for better If you don’t like it, join the work to fix it For Mohammed's full bio and resources, visit the session page .

Sharif Mahdy and Kwaku Agyemang, from the Students Commission of Canada, joined Five Good Ideas to share how organizations can engage youth to participate in systems change. “The deficit that we’re trying to address is this,” explained Sharif. “First, young people don’t get engaged and involved on these issues. Second, the process for engaging in our democracy is eroding. And the process for being able to engage in healthy discourse is being challenged for all sorts of reasons. What we’re offering here through these five good ideas is an approach that we’ve tried over time that could be scaled and could help address some of the deficits we’re currently experiencing.” Sharif and Kwaku’s five good ideas: Youth engagement is both a process and an outcome Respect, listen, understand, and communicate Mutuality is a key to navigating increasing complexity of intergenerational partnerships Work with youth to bridge the democratic deficit Youth are catalysts for systems change For Sharif and Kwaku's full bios and resources, visit the session page .

Sarada Peri, founder of Peri Communications and former Senior Speechwriter to President Barack Obama, joined Five Good Ideas to share how to create messages that are sharp, compelling, and persuasive. “What are some questions that I can ask myself to get to the one thing, the one thing I want to say? ‘What is my purpose?’” asked Sarada. “In everything you do, you should start with ‘What is my purpose?’” Sarada’s five good ideas: 1. Say one thing 2. Know your audience 3. Speak from their values, not yours 4. Tell a story 5. Write and speak like a human Subscribe to the Five Good Ideas newsletter.

Ingrid Palmer the Principal IDEAL Advocate at Realize, joined Five Good Ideas to discuss the benefits of applying IDEAL (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Leading to belonging) principles in the workplace. "Belonging is a necessary component of our humanity and no one should be denied that fact," said Ingrid. Ingrid's five good ideas: 1. Level up from IDEA to IDEAL. 2. Expand your understanding of disability to include episodic disability. 3. Be aware of the nuances of intersectional barriers to employment. 4. Accommodations benefit both the employer and the employee. 5. There is no end to IDEAL work. You can download the session handout, view Ingrid's bio, and read the transcript here . Subscribe to our newsletter .

Bob Goulais, founder of Nbissing Consulting Inc., joined Five Good Ideas to discuss some wise practices to be more inclusive of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. “Most of all,” said Bob, “consider integrating Indigenous values and ways of being.” Bob’s five good ideas: Be values-based in everything you do Involve First Nations, Métis, and Inuit in co-development, collaboration, and partnerships Consider developing a Reconciliation Action Plan Take cultural competency or cultural safety training Consider personal, sustained action as an ally to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit You can download the session handout, view Bob's bio, and read the transcript here .

Farzana Doctor is an activist, community organizer, social worker, and author. In this session, Elizabeth McIsaac talks to Farzana about about how you can practice self-care and community-care around your work. You can find Farzana's good ideas, resources, and full bio here .

Diana Chan McNally is a frontline worker and advocate for homeless people. In this session, Elizabeth McIsaac talks to Diana about what she's learned in combining both roles. You can find Diana's good ideas, resources, and full bio here .

Ombudsman Toronto is an independent and internal office that holds the City accountable to its residents. It makes recommendations to the City to improve its service and ensure they're fair. In this session, Elizabeth McIsaac talks to Toronto Ombudsman Kwame Addo about how individuals and residents can get the most out of working with his office for positive change. You can read the transcript and Kwame's full bio here: Five Good Ideas on working with Ombudsman Toronto for positive change - Maytree

In this session, Sree Nallamothu and Fran Odette joined Elizabeth McIsaac to discuss how to create an accessible workplace. They explain how to be proactive, to move beyond niceties, the power of language, embracing intersectionality, and putting accessibility in the budget. You can find the transcript, and Sree and Fran's full bios here: Five Good Ideas for disrupting ableism in the workplace - Maytree

In this session, Joan Garry, founder of the Nonprofit Leadership Lab, emphasizes the need for proactive and ongoing succession planning, reframing it as part of organizational readiness, and the critical role of the board in driving this process forward. She highlights the risks of inadequate succession planning, such as difficulties in recruiting a competent replacement, staff dissatisfaction, and donor anxiety. For Joan's full bio, resources, and the session transcript, visit the Five Good Ideas website.