System Catalysts

While we are on a season break, we are sharing an episode from Reimagining the Future: Envisioning What’s Next, produced by Kearney’s Global Business Policy Council. In the show, host Paul Laudicina speaks with leaders around the world about navigating an era of change and disruption. Today, we're sharing a conversation from their 2026 CEO Retreat in Bangkok.

In this excerpted recording, Michael Beckley, David Ignatius, and Ed Luce discuss what the next 3 years of U.S. policy might look like.

You can subscribe and listen to the podcast here:

www...

While we are on a season break, we wanted to share with you an episode from Real Talk for Real Fundraisers, the podcast where fundraisers, nonprofit leaders, and industry experts come together to vent, laugh, and learn.

In this episode Jeff Schreifels is joined by co-host Christopher Beck for a conversation with Daphne Valcin, founder of Valcin Strategic Solutions, a leadership development consulting firm focused on helping organizations build stronger leaders and healthier workplace cultures.

Subscribe to Real Talk For Real Fundraisers: https://veritusgroup.com/real-talk-for-real-fundraisers-podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast...

While we’re on a season break, we're sharing an episode from another podcast we think you’ll love. Impact After Hours, hosted by Camille Laurente, is a show about pursuing a life of impact on and off the clock.

In this episode, Camille sits down with Ami Dar, the founder and executive director of Idealist, recorded live in front of an audience in New York City. They get into what it actually looks like to hire and build a team around kindness, what dignity means in the workplace, and why Ami still calls himself an id...

We're wrapping up this season a little earlier than planned while our host, English Sall, focuses on her recovery. Thank you for your support, and be sure to follow the show so you'll be notified when we're back with new episodes.

If you aspire to be a System Catalyst and need resources to help you on your journey, subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.systemcatalysts.com/newsletter

Learn more about our mission and our partners, visit https://www.systemcatalysts.com

This podcast is produced by Hueman Group Media. Views and...

Firms led by white men control 98.6% of U.S.-managed assets. Today, Kate Nevin, President and Portfolio Manager at TSWII Capital Advisors, talks about the structural barriers that make it harder for women to build institutionalized funds, and why letting  women receive capital isn't the same as letting them  control it. 

Learn more about TSWII Capital Advisors: https://www.tswii.com

If you aspire to be a System Catalyst and need resources to help you on your journey, subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.systemcatalysts.com/newsletter

Learn more about our...

[REBROADCAST]

Original Airdate: November 26, 2024

“Finding common ground” – you probably hear this all the time in this era of polarization. But does it ever happen? And how does it lead to actual change? Rye Barcott will prove to you that the answer is yes. As the CEO and co-founder of With Honor, he’s using military service to establish common ground in congress and encourage bi-partisanship.

If you want to learn more about With Honor, visit withhonor.org

If you aspire to be a System Catalyst and need resources to help...

What shapes the way wealthy families think about social impact? After years of researching family businesses and family offices, anthropologist Bridget Kustin challenges common assumptions about wealth holders and explores the fears and motivations that influence philanthropic giving.

Learn more about Ownership Project

https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/research-and-insight/centres-and-initiatives/ownership-project-20-private-capital-owners-and-impact

Learn more about Ownership Project Action Lab:

https://www.gtc.ox.ac.uk/academic/global-philanthropy-initiative/ownership-project-action-lab-from-academic-research-to-real-world-impact

Bridget’s research:

https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Bridget-Kustin-2123035529

Hosted on...

Daniela Papi-Thornton is an educator whose work focuses on systems-led leadership. Today, she explains why complex social issues can’t simply be “solved,” how philanthropy can better support systems change, and why inner work may be one of the most overlooked parts of systems change.

Learn more about Systems. Change. Educators. Unite: https://www.systemschangeeducatorsunite.com/

Girltrek: When Black Women Walk Together, Things Change: 

https://www.systemcatalysts.com/episodes/girltrek-when-black-women-walk-together-things-change

If you aspire to be a System Catalyst and need resources to help you on your journey, subscribe to our...

From responding to outbreaks like COVID-19, Ebola, and Zika to leading New York City’s contact tracing program, Dr. Neil Vora has spent his career on the front lines of global health crises.

In this episode, he explains how addressing deforestation, biodiversity loss and our relationship with nature can help prevent  future pandemics.

Learn more about Preventing Pandemics at the Source:

https://www.preventingfuturepandemics.org/

If you aspire to be a System Catalyst and need resources to help you on your journey, subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.sys...

[REBROADCAST]

Original Airdate: June 18, 2024

New Episode of System Catalysts out next week!

We talk a lot about ecosystems on this show. So today, our guest is an ecosystem expert, aka a farmer! Jack Algiere is the Chief Agroecology Officer at the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. In this conversation, you’ll learn how to harness the holistic power and complex beauty of regenerative agriculture into systems change.

If you want to learn more about the Stone Barns Center, visit stonebarnscenter.org

If you aspire to...

Dr. Zuri Tau is a sociologist and licensed mental health professional, as well as the founder and CEO of Social Insights Research and Liberatory Research.

Zuri is challenging the idea that research is neutral by amplifying BIPOC perspectives and shifting power in research and evaluation. Today, we discuss why traditional methods often fall short, and what it looks like to practice “liberatory research” in real life. 

Learn more about Liberatory Research: https://www.liberatoryresearch.com

Learn more about Social Insights Research: https://www.socinsights.com

Check out Zuri’s...

Today, we kick off season 5 with Garreth Wood, an entrepreneur-turned-philanthropist, now serving as chairman & co-founder of Kids Operating Room (KidsOR).

After a personal experience with his daughter’s life-threatening birth, Garreth decided to tackle a massive but overlooked issue: millions of children lack access to safe surgery.

We talk about how one operating room in Uganda grew into a global movement, why most aid models fail, and what it really means to build sustainable systems led by local communities.

Learn more about Kids OR: https://www.kidsor.org

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While we’re on a season break, we’re sharing an episode from another show we think you’ll love. 

It’s called Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, and in it, Dr. Rob Harter interviews leaders making a difference today about what strategies and practices have made them successful. 

In this particular episode, he talks to Dan Pallotta—renowned author, TED Talk speaker, and social impact provocateur—to discuss what it really takes to solve the world’s biggest problems.

If you like what you hear, listen to Nonprofit Leadership Podcast here: https://nonprofi...

Today, Afua Bruce, founding CEO of ANB Advisory Group and co-author of The Tech That Comes Next, explains how technology, data and even AI, can be used ethically. 

She unpacks what it actually means to live in the “age of AI,” why generative AI is powerful and flawed, and how funders, nonprofits, and social impact leaders can make smarter, more ethical technology decisions.

Learn more about ANB Advisory Group: www.anbadvisory.com

Read Afua’s Book The Tech That Comes Next: thetechthatcomesnext.com

Watch System Catalysts on YouTube: www.youtube...

Today’s guest is Vimbai Masiyiwa, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur and the CEO of Batoka Africa, one of the first Black, female‑owned luxury safari lodge groups on the continent.

In our conversation, Vimbai talks about growing up in one of Africa’s most influential philanthropic families, how she’s redefining African luxury, and what it means to build a business that puts community first.

Learn more about Batoka Africa: https://batokaafrica.com

Watch System Catalysts on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SystemCatalysts

If you aspire to be a System Catalyst...

Shamina Singh, Founder and President of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, joins us to explain  how business, government, and philanthropy can work together. 

We dive into what systems change looks like in real life, how to manage  incentives across sectors, and how to be strategically open-minded. 

Watch System Catalysts on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SystemCatalysts

If you aspire to be a System Catalyst and need resources to help you on your journey, subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.systemcatalysts.com/newsletter

Learn more about our mission and our...

Today we hear from two national leaders transforming how we understand, talk about, and prevent suicide: Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman, Senior Vice President of Research at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), and Vic Armstrong, AFSP’s Vice President for Health Equity and Engagement.

We explore how suicide prevention has evolved, what AFSP is doing to shift culture and policy, and why community-driven approaches are essential to saving lives.

Watch System Catalysts on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SystemCatalysts

If you aspire to be a System Catalyst and need resources to he...

Today we talk to two people at the forefront of the growing movement to integrate psychedelic-assisted therapies into mainstream mental health.

Jojo Maislin, Field Catalyst at the Office of Systems Catalyst, and Jeff Walker, former System Catalysts co-host and philanthropist, break down what it really takes to bring these treatments into the health system safely, collaboratively, and at scale.

Watch System Catalysts on YouTube:

www.youtube.com/@SystemCatalysts

If you aspire to be a System Catalyst and need resources to help you on your journey, subscribe to our...

Ronda Carnegie is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Project Dandelion, a global women-led climate movement uplifting frontline leaders.

Today, Ronda explains why solving the climate crisis and changing systems requires more than science and technology alone: it requires human infrastructure, relational healing, and reimagining who gets to lead.

Learn more about Project Dandelion: https://www.projectdandelion.com

Watch System Catalysts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SystemCatalysts

If you aspire to be a System Catalyst and need resources to help you on your journey, subscribe to our...

Can systems change start from within? Today, entrepreneur and thought leader Abby Falik explores this question. As founder of Global Citizen Year and now co-founder and CEO of The Flight School, Abby has dedicated her career to helping young leaders redefine success. In this episode, she reflects on the lessons learned from building and ultimately leaving Global Citizen Year, and on the inner work that meaningful systems change demands.

Learn more about The Flight School: https://theflightschool.org

If you aspire to be a System Catalyst and need resources to help you on...

For many years, it was understood that investing in other countries wasn't just a moral imperative—it was a strategic necessity. But that wisdom seems to have been forgotten, or at least ignored. In this episode, we shed some new light on it with Michelle Nunn, President and CEO of CARE, and Richard Stengel, CARE’s Co-Chair, Together, they reveal how the systems that shape our world are deeply interconnected and why rethinking aid is essential to building a more prosperous future for all.

If you aspire to be a System Catalyst and need resources to help...

Systems don’t change by accident. They change when we rethink where power lives, who holds it, and how we build toward something new together.

Steve Phillips is the founder of Democracy in Color and author of Brown Is the New White and How We Win the Civil War. Today, he traces how America’s demographic and political shifts connect to the long arc of the civil rights movement and what it really takes to build a multiracial democracy.

He also tells us how to fund people, build trust, and move money in ways...

Collaboration is slow, messy, and often happens in quiet rooms away from the spotlight. But when done well, it has the power to transform entire systems.

In this episode, Madeline Ballard, Executive Director of Community Health Impact Coalition (CHIC), shares how she helped turn a group of once-competing organizations into a coalition that now shapes global health policy.

Learn more about Community Health Impact Coalition (CHIC): https://joinchic.org/

Raj Panjabi’s System Catalysts episode: https://www.systemcatalysts.com/episodes/ep-49-if-its-worth-doing-do-it-with-others-with-raj-panjabi

If you aspire to...

Today Holly Fogle, shares her journey from “farm girl to New Yorker” and co-founder of the Monarch Foundation and the Bridge Project. She tells us how motherhood reshaped her sense of purpose, the importance of proximity in philanthropy and what it takes to move from individual stories to systemic change.

Resources mentioned:

CJ Grimes from WorkMoney on System Catalysts: https://lnk.to/system-catalysts-work-money

Learn more about The Monarch Foundation: https://themonarchfoundation.org

Learn more about The Bridge Project: https://www.bridgeproject.org

If you aspire to be a Sy...

In our first episode of Season 4, English Sall sits down with Rachel Markham and Cedric Dageville, husband and wife, scuba divers, and principals at the Patchwork Collective, a family foundation founded in 2020. 

Rachel and Cedric share their trust-based approach at the Patchwork Collective, and why they reject the idea of “risk” in philanthropy. 

Learn more about The Patchwork Collective: https://www.thepatchworkcollective.org

If you aspire to be a System Catalyst and need resources to help you on your journey, subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.systemcatalysts.com/newsletter

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While we're on our season break, we're sharing some of our favorite podcasts. Today, we’re playing an episode from Passion Struck. Hosted by John R. Miles, Passion Struck features some of the world's most insightful voices, offering practical advice on how to bring intentionality and purpose into your career, well-being, life, and relationships.

In this episode, John talks to Esther Dyson, a respected angel investor, author, and pioneer in the digital space. She shares thoughtful perspectives on how technology is shaping human connection in both positive and challenging ways.

If you like th...

Today we're bringing you an episode from a podcast hosted by my friend Jim McCann, the founder of 1-800 Flowers. In Power & Impact Jim talks to top CEOs, executives, and thought leaders about their journeys to success and how they’re using their influence to drive meaningful change. In this episode, Jim interviews the founder of Jonathan's Landing, a community for adults with autism.

If you like what you hear today follow this link to subscribe and listen to more episodes:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/23uHeh3cgguQKixXwKuxik

Apple Podcasts: https://po...

Today, we're bringing you a compelling conversation between our host, English Sall, and Amber Pierce on Be a Good Wheel, a podcast that explores what it takes to be a strong, reliable part of a team. English dives into the nuances of building a thriving team culture, sharing hard-earned insights from her journey as a co-founder and CEO

If you like what you here subscribe and listen to more episodes here:

https://open.spotify.com/show/294kBJfYonPrD6u6asxOUn

Views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals...

Funding + expertise used to be enough to solve issues in communities close to home and around the world. For grantees and donors. But everything is shifting.

Podcast hosts English Sall and Jeff Walker—they've seen the change. So has each guest from Season 3. As we wrap up this season, English and Jeff bring thoughts for Next Gen philanthropists and everyone else working in these spaces.

If you have funds to give, what's the best way to show up? What posture will serve you best?

How can you best leverage your de...

If you’ve gained a diverse range of experience, from boots-on-the-ground to advocacy, you know how helpful that can be when working to usher in systems change. 

How do you maintain a "system change mindset" when your personal circumstances and the context around you are constantly shifting?

Dr. Raj Panjabi has worked at the bedside of babies in Liberia, advised pandemic officials at the White House, taught students at Harvard, and worked as a systems entrepreneur. In this episode, he shares his approach to working in community to make sure everyone has the hea...

What could the tech world look like if it served the needs and interests of people instead of bots? If it tackled the world's most pressing problems instead of creating memes? If it created communities of founders who change the system that funds innovation?

Aniyia Williams has some ideas about that.

In this week's episode, Aniyia Williams—inventor, “systempreneur,” and Director of the Responsible Technology team at the Omidyar Network—shares her mission to rid the tech world of dependence on VCs and help build a more healthy & responsible tech future for everyone.

Today, we're sharing an episode of Nonprofit Nation, a podcast by Julia Campbell, a digital marketing and fundraising expert, nonprofit consultant, and author. On Nonprofit Nation, Julia sits down with nonprofit industry experts and practitioners to get advice on the best ways to build a thriving movement and a vibrant, passionate community around a cause.

In this episode, Julia chats with Tamsen Webster, a message strategist, author, and keynote speaker. Together, they dive into practical tips for driving meaningful, lasting change and discuss Tamsen’s latest book, Say What They Can’t Unhear: The 9 Principles of Last...

If you dream of making a big impact, you know the value of building a movement with a strong sense of trust and high engagement. 

Carrie Joy Grimes, founder of WorkMoney, is convinced that everyone who works hard should be able to get ahead. By offering reliable financial information–the kind that helps people reform their relationship with money and create a life of financial stability–WorkMoney has gained 8+ million highly engaged members in just a few years.

Carrie Joy joins us to talk about building a movement, earning trust, and about listening to in...

Dr. Angela Gichaga has seen health systems from every angle—working as a frontline clinician in hospital wards, then working in government in Kenya, and now supporting governments across the African continent. 

At every stage, the unique knowledge that only “locals” have made all the difference in being in the right places at the right time. 

If you've ever wondered how to leverage the way government works–whether meeting moms and their babies with their pastoral families’ herds for immunizations or knowing which Ministry halls to haunt–Dr. Angela Gichaga explains.

To learn mor...

For 25 years, the Skoll Foundation has partnered with people on the front lines to tackle some of the world’s most difficult issues. From health and pandemics to climate action, inclusive economies, and issues of justice—no issue has been too difficult to approach.

So when Skoll Foundation CEO, Don Gips, shares the impact he’s seen made by System Catalysts, we pay attention.

To learn more about the Skoll Foundation, visit skoll.org

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If you aspire to be a System Catalyst and need resources to help y...

For young people first entering the workforce, there’s a massive gap to cross. Too many entry-level jobs require a university degree.

A lot is invested in building bridges across issues of injustice. Instead, we could be closing the gaps.

On today’s show, Gerald Chertavian, founder of Year Up United and Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School, shares how he sparked change from inside the system and began to close the opportunity divide. 

To learn more about Year Up United, visit yearup.org

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If yo...

Today, we are sharing an episode from Passion Struck, a podcast where Jeff has previously been a guest. Hosted by John R. Miles, Passion Struck features some of the world’s most insightful voices, offering practical advice on how to bring intentionality and purpose into your career, well-being, life, and relationships. In this conversation from 2022, John and Jeff dive into my journey of tackling global challenges through a systems change lens.

Visit passionstruck.com/passion-struck-podcast to listen to more episodes!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you wish accessing health care was simpler? You’re not alone. But in underdeveloped communities, a fragmented health care system isn’t just a headache. It can be fatal. Community healthcare and social enterprises are two ways to address this problem. On today’s show, Marcie Cook, the Vice President of Social Enterprise at PSI, explains how. 

If you want to learn more about PSI, visit psi.org

To learn more about VIYA, visit viyahealth.co.ke

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If you aspire to be a System Catalyst and nee...

We often fill up our free time by listening to a favorite song, watching a movie or going to a museum. But have you ever considered that art can also work as a medicine? Susan Magsamen is the founder of the Arts + Mind Lab at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the co-author of “Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us.” In this episode, she discusses her groundbreaking research on the health benefits of art. 

If you want to learn more about the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative, visit neuroartsblueprint.org

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“Finding common ground” – you probably hear this all the time in this era of polarization. But does it ever happen? And how does it lead to actual change? Rye Barcott will prove to you that the answer is yes. As the CEO and co-founder of With Honor, he’s using military service to establish common ground in congress and encourage bi-partisanship.

If you want to learn more about With Honor, visit withhonor.org

If you aspire to be a System Catalyst and need resources to help you on your journey, subscribe to our newslett...