Robert Witchel the Executive Director of Jays Care Foundation
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 …
Andrea Cohen Barrack the CEO of Ontario Trillium Foundation
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 …
3 obvious, yet often forgotten, tips for getting a social impact job
Finding the perfect social impact job takes hard work and persistence. Good career advice is sector, even company specific. Advice for getting a job at Google is very different than good advice for getting a job at TD or the United Way. But there’s some common tips that transcend all sectors and are …
3 impact companies great for business grads
When you’re a Purple Sheep and business grad, you’re likely looking for a company where you can use your skills for good, make a difference with your career and earn a decent paychque. After all, you’ve just spent a good chunk of change on tuition and many hours developing your business …
8 tips to get a nonprofit job
A career in nonprofit can be an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience. Many are willing to forego a higher salary in order to work on a mission and a sense of purpose. Whether you are looking to switch into a career in nonprofit from the corporate sector, looking for a new …
5 summer experiences working in Social Impact
Earlier this summer we launched Toronto’s Most Meaningful Summer Internships – an initiative to highlight careers in the impact sector. In its first year we showcased internships at organizations making important contributions to the impact sector and took you inside their organizations for a sneak peek at what it’s like to work there. …
Don’t forget to do these three things before the end of an internship
Dare we say it, is summer coming to a close? With the Toronto Exhibition on, and Labour Day weekend just around the corner, all signs point to yes. Another sure fire sign that summer is on its way out is the end of summer internships. This week many young professionals will …
3 impact companies that support career growth
Considering the fact that 58% of Millennials cite career growth and professional development as their primary career goal they want to accomplish by the time they’re in their 30s or 40s, great companies are working hard on providing these types of opportunities. There’s a great management quote we saw a few weeks ago where …
CSR leaders at FedEx, Google and MLSE share an inside look at a typical day
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs look different at every company. To some, CSR can refer to their sustainability efforts, investment in community events, employee volunteerism or the management of the corporate foundation. The skills, competencies and qualities needed are as varied as the jobs themselves, but there are common attributes that are …
Chris Baker. Director, Fund Development & Social Finance. Immigrant Access Fund Canada
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 …
3 leaders share the biggest opportunities in Social Impact
While no one can be certain what the future will hold, understanding the past and connecting the dots can help predict what may occur. This is important because succeeding in the future is about taking advantage of potential opportunities today. To help you in your career and do your job better, …
Zahra Ebrahim. Founder and Principal. ArchiTEXT
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 …
Jennifer Starr. Director, Partnerships. Free the Children
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 …
Stachen Frederick. Founder, Executive Director, BrAIDS for AIDS and Employment Team Lead at YMCA of Greater Toronto
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 …
Fayaz Manji. Manager, Business and Financial Analysis. Right To Play
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 …
Looking to change jobs? Then you need to be doing this
Whether you are looking for a promotion or trying to make a career switch, personal branding is something you must be doing. You may be thinking that branding is something only marketers do for products and companies, but that’s not true. Personal branding is not a new concept- from the …
3 ways to get a CSR job without quitting your day job
Whether you are looking for your next job or simply not ready to leave your current one, there are ways to make your current job more impactful. The act of creating change from inside your company is also known as intrapraneurship and could be one of the most powerful ways to …
3 leaders share their best advice for finding meaningful work
Finding meaningful work is a very personal experience and journey. Whether it’s working for a nonprofit, corporate foundation or a social good organization, meaningful work is all around. From high level advice on building your career to practical tips on your cover letter, three of our impact insiders and leaders in their …
Marijke Vandergrift. Associate, Sponsorship & Cause Marketing. SickKids Foundation
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 van den Steenhoven, Director MaRS Solutions Lab
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 …