In this episode of Let’s Talk Poverty, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Vinod Rajasekaran, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Future of Good, to explore systems change and what it takes to unlock lasting impact. An award-winning innovator, Vinod leads Canada’s leading digital publication dedicated to making sense of the social-impact world through stories, news, analysis, and commentary. Together, they explore how we move beyond band-aid solutions toward systems breakthroughs—how shifting systems, not just symptoms, can reduce poverty. They look at where the biggest opportunities lie for systems change in the future, and the role of possibility and reimagination.
Podcast
Episode 37: Band-aids to Breakthroughs
24 September 2025
Published 24 September 2025
Last Updated 24 September 2025
What does perpetual affordability look like?
How can we unlock the potential of changemakers?
In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Vinod Rajasekaran, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Future of Good, to explore systems change and what is takes to unlock lasting impact. An award-winning innovator, Vinod leads Canada’s leading digital publication dedicated to making sense of the social-impact world through stories, news, analysis, and commentary. Together, they explore how we move beyond band-aid solutions toward systems breakthroughs—how shifting systems, not just symptoms, can reduce poverty. They look at where the biggest opportunities lie for systems change in the future, and the role of possibility and reimagination.
In this episode
- Learn about social purpose teams and how they exist across all sectors, including corporate, government, charitable, and academia. Any team working with a mandate to improve lives and create a better future is part of this ecosystem.
- Understand how recent shifts in areas like artificial intelligence are transforming the social purpose sector.
- Explore how to escape the trap of self-limiting conversations and discover new possibilities. If we zoom out beyond existing paradigms and critically question what value means, we can break through self-limiting conversations and build new narratives of possibility.
Three key takeaways
- Band-aid solutions may provide short-term relief, but we need to focus on shifting the root causes of poverty. Unlocking lasting impact requires shifting entire systems—funding models, policies, practices, and narratives—so that changemakers can truly move the needle.
- How do we take in new perspectives? Consider how traditional economic frameworks often overlook the economic value of the social service sector.
- Being future-oriented is essential for sustained impact. Reports like the Trends and Tensions Shaping the Social Purpose World report and research such as the Changemaker Wellbeing Index help organizations anticipate what’s coming.
About Vinod Rajesekaran
Vinod Rajasekaran is the founding CEO of Future of Good, a digital media and learning organization with a mission to enable a smarter social purpose world. He is an award-winning leader shaping an inspiring future at the intersection of innovation, impact and finance. He designs, builds and leads bold organizations, funds, platforms, and research that expand what’s possible for the world of impact. Vinod’s writing, analysis, and talks prompt teams to think and act differently about how innovation, capital, equity, narratives, and collaboration shape systems change. His insights and analysis are frequently cited by decision-makers in a range of sectors to inform strategy, public policy, and investment.
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