Founder Academy Attends 'The Bigger Picture' in London, Ontario

November 14, 2024 • 2 min read

Earlier this week, Founder Academy was extremely proud to represent at 'The Bigger Picture' — an event put on by PearTree Canada that was held at Innovation Works in downtown London, Ontario. It was a terrific opportunity to connect with likeminded innovators, problem-solvers, and social-preneurs. The space is also dog-friendly, so Dave was onboard for a great day!

The even featured keynote speakers form Imagine Canada and the Pillar Non-Profit network and the event aimed to bring together change-makers and have them share insights and diverse perspectives on the opportunities and challenges that we face as we try to make our communities stronger and healthier.

This was the day's agenda.

The day's discussions and activities focussed on two sets of key questions...

Building Bridges Between Local and Federal Priorities

1. What challenges and opportunities do you see that are most deeply affecting your organization as it seeks to fulfill its mission and positively impact your community?
2. How can we better align our efforts at the regional and federal levels to address the most critical issues affecting our communities?

At the table where Dave and I had seated ourselves identified key challenges including training, funding, sourcing volunteers, and more. A common thread of conversation was how these change-makers wished that their mandates were better understood by both the government and people in general.

In terms of opportunities, we all saw the rising of countless needs facing our communities as a result of the challenges they face, hoping that these needs will continue to drive attention and awareness.

Pathways to Collective Action

1. What stories do we need to tell so we can build awareness and trust and expand our networks?
2. How do you see yourself contributing to progress on our shared concerns, and how can network organizations like Pillar help?

Bruce McDonald, President and CEO of Imagine Canada urged the need for different organizations to collectively work to reframe the narrative (and related perception) that they must be in competition with each other when there mandates align or intersectional interests overlap.

Everyone agreed that we each must do a better job at storytelling and investing in micro-content in order to communicate their mandates and especially the positive impacts of the good work that they do.

I'm really looking forward to attending more of these kinds of events in Southwestern Ontario, so that I can meet with leaders and other change-makers so that we can find opportunities to collaborate in making our communities the very best that they can be!

On personal note, if you're ever planning to attend a networking event in a dog-friendly space like Innovation Works, do not hesitate to bring your best furry friend along! You'll end up speaking to absolutely everyone!

Adam McNeill

Adam McNeill is is an experienced, senior-level educator, digital strategist, and business consultant. He is also the President and Co-Founder of Founder Academy — a rapid growth, tool and knowledge-based program for startups and those launching them.

Find Adam on LinkedIn