For Impact: The Charity Podcast

Also known as the Mary Poppins of the Charity Sector, is a seasoned interim CEO and consultant in the Charity Sector, working primarily on strategy, governance, crisis and effectiveness. Her leadership roles include the Fawcett Society and the Shannon Trust. A lawyer by training, Felicia’s career has spanned government, UN and the UK charity sector (the ‘For Impact’ sector) and she finds herself increasingly focussed on discussing and challenging the systemic issues that are holding the sector back.

Chris Pitt is responsible for positive social and environmental impact at Benefact Group, a family of specialist financial services businesses owned by a charitable Trust. The Group is the 3rd largest corporate giver to charity¹ and Chris oversees over £2m of giving, namely through the Movement for Good awards which give small donations to a huge diversity of causes and large grants to charities close to the customers and communities of the Group.

¹ DSC – The guide to UK Company Giving 2023-24

Dr. Susanna Kislenko is a social psychologist whose research is focused on founder leadership beyond the founding (start-up) stage in all contexts. Using qualitative research methods, Susanna’s work pulls back the curtain on the challenges and potentially darker organisational consequences of long-term founder leadership, including Founder’s Syndrome. Susanna created and directs The Founder Leadership Research Lab at Kellogg College at the University of Oxford. She is also an Adjunct Research Professor at Carleton University in Canada and leads women’s leadership embodiment retreats internationally. Having a long-term interest in how leadership impacts organisations and systems, Susanna holds an IBBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University, an MA in Political Science from McGill University and a PhD in Organizational Behaviour from IESE Business School. Prior to entering academia, Susanna worked in the non-profit sector in Canada, holding a number of leadership roles in social service organizations. Susanna’s research is driven and motivated by her practical experience and she is always looking for ways to translate research into practice.

Carla has spent their career supporting charities to grow, adapt and deliver meaningful impact. Working across the sector, partnering with senior leaders, founders and emerging professionals to strengthen strategy, scale fundraising and navigate change. Having founded and handed over a successful international development charity, she brings lived experience to supporting founders through key transitions.

Mona is an interim CEO/COO and culture and strategy consultant, supporting charities and social purpose organisations to navigate change, strengthen governance, and build aligned, sustainable organisations. She has over 12 years’ experience leading organisations through growth, transition and turnaround, including moving a youth charity from the brink of closure to financial sustainability.

Alongside her interim leadership roles, Mona works as a consultant and critical friend to CEOs, senior leadership teams and Boards, facilitating complex organisational conversations and supporting leadership, culture and systems change. She is a trustee at ReachOut and a passionate advocate for values-led, relational and anti-oppressive leadership.

Nick is a highly experienced Consultant, Interim Leader and Co-pilot helping charities & social enterprises to thrive, co-create strategic and business plans, maximise impact, manage crises, and develop effective financial sustainability and governance. He combines 15 years in the commercial world with over 18 in the social sector and brings to his work insights from over 10 years of trustee and director roles.