In this episode, host Mary Barroll explores a bit of a mystery: Why, with incredibly sophisticated technology within easy reach, are some nonprofits still struggling to adapt and take advantage of digital tools? Is it simply a question of cost? Or is something more fundamental at work here, such as a lack of skills and understanding of how digital technology can help charitable organizations better connect with donors and volunteers? Listen to the full episode to hear our guests discuss these questions and more, and to learn how your organization can work towards digital transformation. 

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Meet Our Guests (in order of appearance)

Marina Glogovac

Former CEO, CanadaHelps

Marina Glogovac is the former CEO of CanadaHelps, a registered charity and social enterprise that provides fundraising technology for charities. She is currently the President of the Toronto Star. 

 

 

Aine McGlynn

Fundraising Technology Expert

A self-described “Accidental Techie”, Aine had more than ten years of experience in development, staff and stakeholder management, strategic thinking, partnerships, board governance, and program development. She is a diversely talented, self-starter committed to finding creative solutions to information and data management challenges for small organizations and businesses.

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Aine was part of Okta’s inaugural Technology Fellows, serves on the advisory board of TechImpact’s Technology Learning Center and runs a consultancy focused on the technology needs of small nonprofit organizations. She holds a doctorate from the University of Toronto with a focus on global activism and gender formations and has published widely.

 

Katie Gibson

Vice President, Strategy and Partnerships, CIO Strategy Council and the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience

Katie is a lawyer by training and an activist at heart. She’s passionate about using entrepreneurial tools for social impact. Currently, Katie leads strategy and partnerships at the CIO Strategy Council, a nonprofit focused on Canada’s digital transformation.

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In this role, she cofounded the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience. She also leads work on sustainable IT and responsible AI. You may also have crossed paths with Katie in her previous roles as general counsel in a national youth charity, as director of Social Enterprise for the Ontario government, or in her work at the MaRS Centre for Impact Investing.

Daniel Oh

Country Manager (Interim), Sage Canada

Daniel Oh is the Country Manager (interim) for Sage Canada. In his leadership role, Daniel brings over 20 years’ experience building and developing strong teams, nurturing partner relationships, improving customer satisfaction, and growing revenue.

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He works with mid-sized companies to digitally transform their finances and operations through a cloud-first strategy that helps them achieve scalable growth and success.

Joy Robson

Co-Founder, Data for Good

Joy Robson is a pioneering innovator thanks to her data loving ways and natural technological aptitude. From an early age, she was attracted to dabbling in tech which lead to a real passion for engineering, science and math even though no one explicitly encouraged her to pursue those disciplines. 

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Ever curious, she came of age during the dawn of the internet and hacked her way to further understanding of operating systems, communication protocols, databases, graphic design, web, mobile and software development.

Joy holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in the Management of Technology from Simon Fraser University (SFU), owns and operates a management consultancy, as well as being mom to Adam, Becca & Amber. Wife to Nick and Co-Founder of Data for Good are what round out her ever-time-consuming current lifestyle (but she wouldn’t change a thing, for now!). 

Matt Ambrose

Partner, BDO Canada

Matt is a Partner in BDO’s Toronto office, with over 23 years of professional experience providing management and technology consulting services to private companies and mid-enterprise. Matt is a leader in transformation, value creation, and emerging technologies with +23 years’ cross industry experience delivering process improvement, business model development, due diligence, function strategy and design, outsourcing, governance and risk management.

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Matt is passionate about giving back to the community and has been on a number of charitable boards, management, and advisory committees. He regularly speaks at events on technology trends and has written/been a contributing author for a number of technology related topics including emerging technology trends, governance, risk, and compliance.

Wen-Chih O-Connell

Executive Director, PayPal Giving Fund

Wen-Chih O’Connell is the Executive Director of PayPal Giving Fund Canada, a Canadian registered charity that enables charitable giving online by partnering with tech companies such as PayPal, Facebook, GoFundMe and others – all without charging donors or charities for its services.

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Wen-Chih has 20 years’ experience in the charitable space that ranges from implementing grassroots, grant-funded community projects as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Republic of Kiribati, to developing and refining fundraising, partnership and community investment strategies for nonprofits, multinational corporations and large grantmaking foundations. 

About your Host

Mary Barroll

President of CharityVillage

Mary Barroll, president of CharityVillage, is an online business executive and lawyer with a background in media, technology and IP law. A former CBC journalist and TV producer, in 2013 she was appointed General Counsel & VP Media Affairs at CharityVillage.com, Canada’s largest job portal for charities and not for profits in Canada, and then President in 2021. Mary is also President of sister company, TalentEgg.ca, Canada’s No.1, award-winning job board and online career resource that connects top employers with top students and grads.

Additional Resources from this Episode

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