#268 'Resilience, Leadership and Empowering Talented Young People', Jake Bailey, GM at Inspire Foundation

Welcoming Mark Weatherall, CEO of Life Education Trust, to Purposely.Mark Weatherall’s reflections on how New Zealand prepares young people for life are refreshingly down to earth. He talks openly about a familiar gap — that many young people, and even adults, haven’t built the knowledge, confidence or habits needed to navigate an increasingly complex world. “We got pocket money, we spent it, that was it,” he says, recalling his own upbringing. Today, with more pressures and distractions than ever, the challenge is helping the next generation make thoughtful choices that shape their futures for the better.Mark leads Life Education Trust, one of Aotearoa’s most recognisable and long-standing charities. After 37 years and reaching over 86% of schools, the Trust continues to evolve its mission of helping tamariki develop the life skills they need to make positive choices. Mark is realistic about what’s required to keep that work strong — supporting volunteers, maintaining local connections and securing sustainable funding are all priorities. “We need that local input,” he says. He believes centralising some functions, like fundraising or HR, could ease the pressure on volunteers, freeing them to focus on what matters most: supporting children and communities directly.Before joining Life Education Trust, Mark spent years leading some of New Zealand’s top sporting organisations, including canoeing and rowing. These are sports where success is measured in milliseconds, medals and the pride of representing Aotearoa on the world stage. He speaks candidly about the intensity of leading at that level, where every decision can influence an Olympic or Commonwealth campaign, and where legacy matters as much as performance.Mark also brought his leadership closer to home, heading Surf Life Saving New Zealand, a movement that combines competition, community service and coastal safety. It’s a cause close to his heart and reflects his lifelong love of the ocean, as well as his belief in sport’s power to build resilience, teamwork and purpose.Outside of work, Mark’s story is one of reflection and renewal. After a double hip replacement kept him from his usual pursuits — diving, fishing and time outdoors — he’s been rethinking what matters most. “How many useful summers have you got left?” a friend recently asked him. For Mark, it’s not about counting down, but about making the most of what’s ahead: staying active, enjoying family and finding balance between purpose and personal wellbeing.Mark’s approach isn’t about slogans or grand gestures. It’s about practical support, honest conversations and small decisions made well — both in leadership and in life. In a space often clouded by buzzwords, his clarity stands out: help young people build real skills, support those doing the work and keep the mission grounded in reality.

A really warm welcome to Purposely SHORT — short, as in not long. This is a weekly episode featuring one of our past guests and their expertise on a certain topic. The aim is to give you a useful insight that you can action, helping you to deliver on your charitable mission. Enjoy.In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we revisit insights from Rod Baxter, CEO of King’s Trust. Rod shares why collaboration between charities is essential for creating greater social impact, and how putting ego aside can unlock new forms of partnership. He also reflects on the power of identity, purpose, and mana in helping young people make positive choices about their lives.This bite-sized episode is designed to give you a practical takeaway you can apply to your own charitable mission.This episode of Purposely is brought to you by Benevity, the all-in-one software solution that benefits employees, customers, nonprofits and society — and by Trust Investments, trusted stewards of capital helping charities grow their impact.

In this episode of Purposely, I’m joined by Joy Morozov, founder and director of Philanthropower, a consultancy that helps philanthropists and NGOs build trust-based partnerships that turn good intentions into real impact.Joy’s story is anything but ordinary. Born in Lebanon and raised across the Middle East, she grew up switching effortlessly between languages — now speaking more than five — and moving between cultures that didn’t always make space for women to lead. From a young age, she knew she wanted more than the life expected of her — so she pushed back, questioned limits, and carved her own path. That determination and curiosity have become her trademarks ever since.Her early career with the Financial Times and Thomson Reuters taught her the value of trust, brand integrity, and genuine connection. But after years in the corporate world, Joy felt an undeniable pull toward purpose. That calling led her to Light for the World, where she launched its UK chapter and learned first-hand that good intentions aren’t enough — real change comes from understanding what communities truly need and how to support them sustainably.Through Philanthropower, Joy now helps philanthropists and charities do exactly that. Her “MUST” framework — Mindset, Understanding, Strategy/Soft Skills, and Trust — captures her philosophy that effective giving starts with clarity, empathy, and relationships built to last.She speaks openly about what it takes to break into new markets, build credibility, and lead with conviction. Her success in the UK wasn’t luck; it was persistence, strategy, and an unshakeable belief that people give to people.Outside of work, Joy recharges through live music, travel, and the occasional off-grid retreat. Her journey — crossing cultures, sectors, and expectations — is a reminder that meaningful change takes both heart and rigour.

A warm welcome to Purposely SHORT.SHORT, as in not long — a weekly episode featuring one of our past guests and their expertise on a specific topic. The goal? To give you a useful insight you can action, helping you deliver on your charitable mission.In this episode, Tina McCafferty, CEO of Tōtara Hospice, shares her perspective on coaching, leadership, and building strong teams. Tina discusses why coaching and mentoring should be accessible to everyone, not just senior executives, and how a blended approach of coaching and mentoring can spark genuine insight and growth.She also reflects on her own leadership style, shaped by her Glaswegian roots — straight-talking, fair, firm, and supportive. Tina believes the best teams are made up of people who challenge each other, offer honest feedback, and contribute diverse strengths, not “mini-me” versions of the leader.This episode highlights how purposeful coaching and inclusive leadership can unlock potential, foster resilience, and create environments where people truly thrive.This episode of Purposely is brought to you by Trust Investments NZ and Benevity an all-in-one software solution that benefits employees, customers, nonprofits, and society.

In this episode of Purposely, I’m joined by Jake Bailey, speaker, author, and now General Manager of Inspire Foundation, a charity backing the next generation of exceptional young New Zealanders.Jake first captured national attention as a teenager, delivering a heartfelt speech at his school prize-giving just days after being diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. That moment, and his remarkable resilience, inspired people around the world. But Jake is determined to be known for more than that chapter.Today, through his leadership at Inspire Foundation, Jake is focused on helping 15–23 year old's with outstanding talent across sport, arts, culture, and academia. The charity has supported more than 600 young people over the past 14 years, providing financial support, mentoring, wellbeing resources, and a community to help them thrive.We talk about:The lessons Jake learned from his own journey and why he’s focused on moving forward.The importance of authenticity and clarity in leadership and communication.How Inspire Foundation is making a difference for young New Zealanders and the vision for its future growth.This is a conversation about resilience, leadership, and purpose, an inspiring listen for anyone interested in how charities can unlock potential and create lasting impact.

A warm welcome to Purposely SHORT.SHORT, as in not long — a weekly episode featuring one of our past guests and their expertise on a specific topic. The goal? To give you a useful insight you can action, helping you deliver on your charitable mission.In this episode, successful entrepreneur Annette Presley shares a bit about her life journey, business success and her determination to help young women to overcome barriers and thrive.

In this episode we speak with Pablo Berrutti, Analyst at Stewart Investors and Co-founder of Altiorem, a nonprofit library created to strengthen the finance sector’s response to sustainability.Pablo shares how Altiorem grew from a simple idea into a living, evolving knowledge hub that pairs students with finance professionals to produce fresh insights. We talk about the challenges of building a sustainable funding model, the importance of keeping resources free and accessible, and why independence and integrity matter in financial education.We also touch on his interest in bringing Indigenous perspectives into financial thinking, recognising the value of wisdom from cultures that have cared for their environments for generations.For anyone working in finance, philanthropy, or the nonprofit world, this episode is both practical and inspiring. It’s about how knowledge, when shared openly and built with community, can drive real change.

A warm welcome to Purposely SHORT.SHORT, as in not long — a weekly episode featuring one of our past guests and their expertise on a specific topic. The goal? To give you a useful insight you can action, helping you deliver on your charitable mission.In this episode, James Stewart shares a compelling vision for the future of housing, investment, and community in New Zealand. He tackles the hard questions:What happens when home ownership rates continue to fall?How do we shift capital from unproductive property gains into businesses, jobs, and innovation?Why mixed-tenure housing developments can transform communities and create long-term social benefits.How progressive home ownership models can provide hope to young New Zealanders priced out of the housing market.James also explains how rethinking KiwiSaver, investment flows, and housing models could create a more productive, fair, and sustainable economy for the next generation.This episode is brought to you by Trust Investments and Benevity — the all-in-one software solution that benefits employees, customers, nonprofits, and society.

Welcoming Annette Presley to Purposely Podcast, we hear how a career defined by entrepreneurship has evolved into a focus on philanthropy, with a commitment to creating opportunities for young women and communities.In this conversation, Annette shares:Her early experiences in business, when female role models were rare and breaking through as a woman was a significant challenge.The influence of her grandmother, whose belief in her became a driving force, and why support and encouragement are essential for young women to thrive.Her views on education reform, including the need to equip young people with practical skills such as financial literacy, resilience, and public speaking.Why she launched the Dream Foundation and how she applies her entrepreneurial mindset to set measurable goals, build strong partnerships, and ensure accountability.Annette’s story is one of hustle, determination, disruption, and a belief that lasting change requires more than good intentions. Through her foundation, she is working to open doors for others and create practical, measurable impact in communities across New Zealand.

Welcoming Nicola Coom to Purposely.Nicola Coom has just stepped into the role of CEO at the Cancer Society New Zealand. For her, cancer is not just a cause but a lived reality, her own BRCA1 gene diagnosis, her family’s history with the disease, and the choices she’s made to protect her health all shape the urgency she brings to leadership.Every day in New Zealand, 77 people are diagnosed with cancer and around 10,000 die each year. Access to medicines lags behind most OECD countries, and Nicola is determined to change that. She wants donor dollars to deliver real impact, patient voices to drive health policy, and investment in research and clinical trials to accelerate progress.In this episode, Nicola shares how personal experience has shaped her vision for the Cancer Society, why innovation and technology must be part of the solution, and how she plans to keep cancer at the top of the national agenda.Tune in to hear Nicola’s story, her bold plans for the future, and why urgency and lived experience are essential to reshaping cancer care in Aotearoa.