Five Good Ideas Podcast

Hosted by Maytree Foundation

Business Management

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Episodes

Latest episode

May 2026

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EN-CA

About the show

The Five Good Ideas podcast airs some of the best sessions of Maytree’s popular lunch-and-learn program. For each session of Five Good Ideas, an expert from the non-profit or corporate sector shares five practical ideas on a key management issue facing non-profit organizations today. You find sessions from the past season at https://maytree.com/five-good-ideas/.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 14, 202651 min

Five Good Ideas on how to think responsibly about generative AI

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/

April 15, 202651 min

Five Good Ideas to attract and keep volunteers

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/.

March 9, 202647 min

Five Good Ideas for building fearless organizations

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/.

February 6, 202650 min

Five Good Ideas on surviving succession: How to guide a founder-led non-profit into its next chapter

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.

December 11, 202548 min

Five Good Ideas on what great non-profit boards get right

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.

November 12, 202551 min

Five Good Ideas on surviving and thriving in social policy

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.

June 3, 2025Episode 745 min

Five Good Ideas for building a human-centred workplace in the AI era

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.

May 6, 202549 min

Five Good Ideas for making organizational change work

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.

April 23, 202547 min

Five Good Ideas on supporting caregivers at the workplace

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 inthe workplace Build a caregiver-supportive culture For Liv and Christa's full bios and resources, visit the session page.

March 7, 202551 min

Five Good Ideas on positive change in uncertain times

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.