Insights for you

I don't know about you, but I have met a few people who ask how much of the price went to the dairy's accountants, its IT system or its quality checks when they buy a carton of milk. One tends to assume that those things are what get safe milk onto the supermarket or deli shelf. When deciding whether to support an organisation, our focus naturally shifts to the impact it will deliver. Behind the scenes, sound finances, skilled paid staff, well-supported volunteers, knowledgea

Delighted to see an article I co-authored with Christian Tohmé, “Different paths, shared purpose”, published today by UN Today. Our key messages: - No institution can solve today’s global challenges alone. Governments, markets, philanthropy and multilateral institutions each bring different strengths. - Different structures, shared purpose: expanding what is possible through collective action. A big thank you to Prisca Chaoui and the UN Today for sharing our reflections in th

What if philanthropists and organisations stopped seeing each other as being on opposite sides of the table? Every week, the scripts arrive. Proposals, impact reports, lunch invitations. Each describes a real need, and you cannot say yes to everything. If you are a philanthropist, you are the film producer, looking for a story you believe in, a story which resonates with you and what you stand for. If you lead an implementing organisation, you are the director. You know who

Everyone expects answers, and the ground keeps moving beneath your plans. Perhaps your strategy no longer fits. Maybe your board and staff see the next chapter differently, and you're caught in the middle. You might be struggling to show how your efforts advance your mission Or the relationships that matter most, with grantees or funding partners, need aligning or rebuilding before you can progress. And too often, you carry it alone. Working even harder won't fix this. What h

In my work with philanthropists, I learned that giving often begins with what's closest: a place they love, their university, a community they care about, an illness that has touched their family, or a wildfire that has burned homes in their neighbourhood. Proximity matters because when we are close to a problem, we better understand the need and feel a greater responsibility to act. But proximity can create blind spots: the causes we are close to are not always the causes wi

The Dorothy A. Johnson Center's 11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2026 highlights a landscape shaped by declining trust, technological disruption, changing donor expectations, and increasing pressure to demonstrate meaningful impact. Each of these trends is pulling philanthropies toward the same question. Why strategy still matters In my experience of working with philanthropies, a clear sense of direction helps in three ways: Firstly, it enables greater impact by helping organi

A couple of weeks ago, I went to Brussels to see a client's work up close, not just to talk about their work but to get to know the practitioners behind it. That trip confirmed what I always advocate for: being in the room whenever I can. The most meaningful moments were not always the scheduled conversations. They were the exchanges between meetings, the unexpected questions, the shared experiences and the moments where practitioners had the space to connect beyond their rol

My daughter's school graduation was two weeks ago, marking a major milestone and a moment of pride for her, other parents, and classmates. But beneath the celebration, I felt a deeper, bittersweet sense of one chapter closing and another beginning. What stayed with me was everything beneath it. The expectations around what education for the next generation leaders should look like and what counts as "the right path“. As a mother who broke from my family's tradition, I carry a

Anyone who has a teenager will recognise this moment, especially after the weekend. You are speaking clearly and calmly, doing everything you know works, and still nothing seems to land. The same thing can happen in professional partnerships. Most relationships flow naturally. We build trust, navigate complexity, influence outcomes, and create shared understanding. Then suddenly, in one particular relationship, none of the usual approaches seems to work. I find that uncomfort

I remember 2008 less by the dates than by how it felt. And lately, there has been a growing sense of déjà vu. I was pregnant, working at The Economist Group, and my husband was at Lehman Brothers when it collapsed. I remember hearing the announcement and the alarm that followed. What stayed with me was not only the financial instability but the collective paralysis. People and organisations froze. Decisions stalled. Everyone waited for some certainty to return. Lately, I am r

Three things I'm still turning over from a session on reimagining NGO models at Skoll World Forum last April: 1- Letting go of ego, logo, and control 2- Seeking PERFECT clarity hinders survival 3- Collaboration, sharing infrastructure, knowledge, and expertise is the new norm The conversations at Skoll shouldn't stay in Oxford. The real work is carrying them forward into our strategies, our partnerships, our funding relationships. How does this resonate with you? #SocialImpac

This question surfaces something deceptively simple but essential to cultivating and stewarding partners. Connection is shaped in the small, human choices we make every day. Checking in as people first, not roles. Being clear about what we can offer, and what we can’t. Taking time to understand context, culture and background, while still allowing more of ourselves into relationships over time. What stands out most is that vulnerability, curiosity, and authenticity aren’t ext

While the world is enduring the ripple effects of the war, counting the costs, mapping the damage, I am asking a different question: what about the ripple effects of philanthropy? I see that the true impact of philanthropy is rarely linear. It doesn't move neatly from philanthropist to project to outcome to impact. It ripples, overlaps, and gathers momentum in ways we often don't immediately see, especially when efforts intersect, when projects connect with other initiatives,

As Spring is finally here and has also been associated with renewal, it feels like a timely reminder to pause and take stock. In recent days, I have been reading about further reductions in UK overseas aid, adding to a wider shift in global funding systems that is already underway. These changes have immediate consequences for communities that need this support, and they reshape the environment in which philanthropy operates. It raises a question I keep coming back to: what d

Some moments call for stillness. Others demand action and honest conversation. This one calls for all of the above and even more. I’m heading to Skoll World Forum 2026 from 21 to 24 April to make sense of what this moment asks of philanthropy and our wider sector. The need to come together has always been there….now it feels more urgent. The world is moving so fast and unpredictably. I’m looking to engage in honest, grounded conversations about what this means in practice and

Is the act of “Giving” itself under threat? Is philanthropy standing in quicksand? Is philanthropy caught between a rock and a hard place? Is philanthropy living a new reality? These are questions racing through my mind. If you work in or alongside philanthropy, you may recognise them. Which one resonates most? #Philanthropy #Change #NavigatingChallenge #ANewWorld #WhatComesNext

The values we are taught at home quietly shape how we approach work, philanthropy, and relationships. I was raised to value integrity and connection, and I carry that with me to this day. Many have not had the right guidance early on, but they chose good values, creating a better legacy and taking a different path for their children, family and their work. I spent time with my family last weekend, and it reminded me of how grounding those bonds are, especially in these diff

A conversation starts with a promise. You share ideas. Momentum feels possible. And then… the energy stalls… Follow-ups fall flat, or don’t happen at all. The connection doesn’t seem to grow. Sometimes, conversations stall for all sorts of reasons: timing, work pressure, personal challenges, or sometimes just because it’s not the right fit. One way that works for me is to re-ignite conversations by giving people space to think, nurture an idea, or just be ready. Respecting

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on three components which contribute to building authentic relationships, which lead to partnerships: Passion. Language , which reaches the heart and mind, and how we communicate. And today, something that sits underneath both of those: having knowledge worth sharing. The kind of knowledge that allows us to contribute with confidence, to be useful rather than performative, and to build trust and respect through what we bring to

Last week, I reflected on the power of passion and how it inspires those around us. But passion on its own isn’t enough. For it to truly land, we have to speak in a way the other person can hear and connect with. It’s a simple but powerful reminder: the language we use has the power to create powerful ripples, far beyond what we realise. Whether you are cultivating a relationship to advance your philanthropy or just in your personal life, the right approach makes all the diff