Interviews

Jessica is the perfect example of a CSR intrapraneur- a sustainability leader creating change from within her company. When Jess started at General Mills as a sales rep almost a decade ago, there were no sustainability teams or green initiatives. Fast forward to today, Jess is the leader of a thriving employee-led …

Experts in CSR Series: Willa Black shows us that social innovation and intrapraneurship is possible inside every organization. In 2007, Willa got bit by the ‘social impact’ bug and ever since she’s been on a mission to drive transformational change. As a visionary leader, Willa saw opportunity where others didn’t. She not only thought about …

Martin Barnard works in the world of sport philanthropy – a place where you can blend your passion for sport, business and giving back. As the leader of a national foundation, Martin reminds us the power of having a vision and the importance of being flexible. As most of us who’ve worked in (or with) …

There’s a relatively new way of thinking about how to create long term social change. One that builds upon the traditional models of philanthropy and charity to a new paradigm where the private sector is directly involved in addressing social issues. It’s a place where the public, social and private sectors work together to co-create shared …

We often talk about the benefits of skills based volunteering. Whether it’s a way to add experience to your resume, transition to your next job or just your way of giving back. But sometimes the toughest part is figuring out where and how to use your skills for good. Well, now …

CSR Expert Series: From working the midnight shift as a Sanitation Supervisor to the Vice President, Environment & Corporate Sustainability at Weston Foods (the company is responsible for many brands including artisan ACE Bakery), Walter Kraus has had quite the career. A CSR leader and a 26 year ‘sustainability warrior’, Walter’s story reminds us that patience, …

Sarah’s story is a tale of bridging the gap between the non-profit and the corporate sectors. As a pioneer in the field of Community Investing, Sarah has been a part of the growth of the social impact sector. Now the Managing Director, Social Innovation at Green Shield Canada (GSC), Sarah …

5 questions with a young sustainability professional. Lulu Li’s transformation from an oil and gas worker to a sustainability champion is inspiring. Lulu started off her young career working on site in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Witnessing oil spills and waste first hand inspired her to leave her job and pursue a …

Have you ever had that conversation where you’re telling someone how you want to do good in the world and leave a lasting impression with your career and they reply “don’t quit your day job”. Well, sometimes they might be right. That’s the beautiful thing about being an intrapraneur; you get to be a …

Public Service often gets a bad rap for stifling innovation and being by definition too bureaucratic. As a self identified intrapraneur and proud Public Servant, Colleen shatters these stereotypes and is on a mission to inspire others at work to do the same. Colleen shares secrets on how to turn frustration into possibility and reminds us that the …

Looking to have more impact with your life doesn’t always mean you have to quit your current job. As Marjorie Brans says “You don’t need to quit your job to keep your soul”. Social intrapreneurship is a fast growing way to live your values at work. And as a bonus, by actively making your existing job …

With boundless energy, Krista Pawley is leading an interesting career in the impact space. She has held leadership roles in government, non-profit and the private sector. Her breadth of experience gives her a unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges in the space and has led her to create Imperative Impact- a …

Ever wonder how to get one of those rock star CSR jobs? It starts with a dedicated pursuit of your passion and followed by a commitment to achieving results. At least that’s how Philip Manzano, Microsoft’s Community Affairs Manager, was able to translate numerous volunteer and community engagement gigs into …

Getting involved in your company’s CSR efforts can take different forms and it doesn’t always mean you’ll have ‘CSR’ in your job title. A positive trend we’re seeing in business is the integration of CSR efforts across all aspects of the company, with all employees having a hand (or at …

How do you get to become a Manager of Corporate Responsibility with a leading sustainability company? Persistence. That’s the career path and advice of Jeremiah Brenner, Manager of Corporate Responsibility with LoyaltyOne. Building his skills through different work experiences and a Master’s degree in the environment and sustainability, Jeremiah eventually found his …

Those who are passionate about CSR tend to be very involved in the space. Take Klaudia Watts, Corporate Responsibility Manager at PwC, who’s built an impressive career in sustainability. Klaudia started her career in CSR as an “intrapreneur”, pioneering a CSR program where one never existed. She then leveraged the experience to take …

Building brands that stand out from the crowd is tricky business. It requires creating a unique voice that sets the brand apart. According to Hope Paterson, Co-Founder and Chief Culture Officer at Kidevolve and Super Nanny for Entrepreneurs, the recipe for brand success is adding a dash of personality into …

If you are in the midst of deciding if you want a career change, volunteering is a great way to help you make this decision. You can dip your toes in to see what roles suit you and, as Sabrina Viva shows, it could also land you the next career …

The way business is done is changing, in large part because of the growing recognition that business as usual is not sustainable. As part of this recognition many organization’s are rethinking the way in which they consume energy. Supporting this transition are people like Michael Kurz, Energy Projects Manager with …

What does it mean to work in CSR for a world leading technology company? It can mean drafting a press release for the launch of a new product, launching a marketing campaign or planning promotional activities for CSR programs. In many large corporations CSR responsibilities aren’t the exclusive focus of …