Charity Champions Podcast

Charity Champions Podcast S02E08: Michelle Baharier, CEO, Cooltan Arts

Lived experience can be the most powerful foundation for leadership in the charity sector. In our season 2 finale, Michelle Baharier, artist, disability rights advocate and charity founder, shares her journey from the squats of 1980s Brixton to building and running a mental health charity for 25 years, growing it to 24 staff supporting around 3,000 people a year. Her insights highlight the realities of grassroots founding, the structural pressures pushing small charities toward burnout, and why good governance, succession planning and work-life balance matter as much as funding.

Charity Champions Podcast S02E07: Dr June O'Sullivan, Chief Executive, London Early Years Foundation

Leadership in the charity sector demands resilience, vision, and a commitment to social justice. Dr June O’Sullivan OBE, Chief Executive of the London Early Years Foundation, shares her journey from psychiatric nursing and social work to building one of the UK’s leading childcare social enterprises. Her insights highlight the power of purpose-driven leadership, the importance of community, and why social enterprise models can transform access and fairness in early years education.

Charity Champions Podcast S02E06: Kate Darby, CEO ,Dementia Disco

In this Charity Champions Podcast, Emily Formby talks with Kate Darby, founder and CEO of Dementia Disco. Kate shares how a deeply personal journey inspired her to create a joyful grassroots movement that brings music, connection, and community to people living with dementia. They explore how grief was transformed into purpose, the challenges of scaling a volunteer‑led idea into a registered charity, and the role of bold branding and technology in building sustainable growth. Kate reflects on the importance of partnerships, the power of lived experience, and her vision for every town in the UK to have its own dementia disco. This is an inspiring conversation about resilience, innovation, and the leadership lessons that help grassroots ideas grow into national impact.

Charity Champions Podcast S02E05: Verity Glasgow, CEO, OnePlusOne

In this Charity Champions Podcast, Emily Formby talks with Verity Glasgow, CEO of OnePlusOne. Verity shares her journey from frontline service delivery to leading the organisation, reflecting on how lived experience and commitment to mission shaped her path. They discuss the shift from research roots to a digital model, the challenges of sustaining innovative projects in a tough funding climate, and the importance of empowering teams to thrive. This is a thoughtful conversation about leadership, resilience, and the strategies that help charities make a lasting impact.

Charity Champions Podcast S02E04: Monwara Ali, Director, Stow Inspire CIC

In this episode of the Charity Champions Podcast, Emily Formby speaks with Monwara Ali, a leader whose journey from childhood carer to nationally recognised changemaker embodies resilience, courage, and purposeful leadership.   Monwara shares her remarkable path from growing up in Camden amid racial tensions and family challenges, to studying law and undertaking a harrowing internship with prisoners on death row in South Carolina.   Emily and Monwara explore the realities of stepping into leadership roles at a young age, the importance of mentoring and creating collaborative spaces, and how lived experience can shape advocacy and empowerment work.   This is an inspiring conversation about resilience, justice, and the leadership approaches that drive meaningful change in the UK charity world.   Further Links & Resources: * Westminster University Lifetime Achievement Award: https://www.westminster.ac.uk/about-u... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHQxSHY5cEVXZkNVd0otU3dqV2w2R2VRblhXZ3xBQ3Jtc0tubUcyZ0RUOGhVNGYwbWNkYUczdlhnYjdsWi0zanpTRUg4MDJPZ2daU3BnOTZmelQtTHV0cU1xQkdGbWU5TG1YNlN2TmpIekFNMnlYT3I2ZnljX3RqVnBzS2pOWnBmWjNSVHZtcHdsSU82VWw1d2JLZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.westminster.ac.uk%2Fabout-us%2Falumni-and-supporters%2Fwestminster-alumni-awards%2F2025-winners%2Flifetime-achievement-award-2025&v=MJOR9Z8_k2o] * Monwara Ali’s YouTube Channel:    / @monwaraali   [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC86TmgbGfhaN-DjfbILgeoA] * Stow Inspire CIC (founded in 2021): www.stowinspire.com * Trailblazer Platform (startup company): www.trailblazerplatform.com * Free Newsletter: https://us14.campaign-archive.com/?u=... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTNvQTlJQ0FXQVJkMElzaDJCOWpCNGtWQTAzUXxBQ3Jtc0trelJLektzSUVaS3o1dHkwcWpzQzZIZU9tdVFnWXR6My00ZHYtTFVORkg1RnRwUmszbWVTRnl4VVN5TVRwa0dVcnp1Z3pIckdPY2ZqSU5lMjlQN3NRRmhoRlBmQ2psZTk3RDFrd2hXZEFoTWxzdDVSRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fus14.campaign-archive.com%2F%3Fu%3D557cd6d390f0d662494fa27b8%26id%3De6757b146d&v=MJOR9Z8_k2o] * FREE Trailblazer Leadership assessment (designed to help you reflect on how you currently lead): https://trailblazerplatform.com/qsm_q... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEZnTTduV21rM2xEMVRiQXA4MU1sVE5LNFpRQXxBQ3Jtc0tseFUzZS1CbDJ4YnlOSjZEMGRyNm5vNHhERTVJNVAzblZsMVl4dU5aR3NjUUlqWF9sakJJOFRaX1UzMldMaTBqRXg3RERvOGdxUERBbWRLQ05UMmd1M2ZVSnVhOEc3cVk3UXpkNDdKWjN5ODhMUXR6QQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Ftrailblazerplatform.com%2Fqsm_quiz%2Fleadership-assessment%2F&v=MJOR9Z8_k2o]