Helping leaders turn values into action
I work with leaders and organizations to navigate complex challenges, bring different perspectives together and turn ideas into practical action. From moderating important conversations to developing strategies and resources, I help organizations find clarity, build connections and move meaningful work forward.
How I Can Help
MODERATINGCreating conversations that move ideas forward.
I moderate and convene thoughtful, engaging conversations that connect perspectives, surface new ideas and move important discussions forward.
Whether it's a panel discussion, leadership forum or collaborative gathering, I help create the conditions for meaningful dialogue and shared understanding.
SOCIAL PURPOSE Connecting purpose to strategy.
I help leaders understand the positive contribution their organizations can make and use that understanding to strengthen strategy, decision-making, organizational culture and opportunities for growth.
Whether you're uncovering your social purpose for the first time or looking to embed it more deeply into your organization, I help turn values into meaningful, practical action.
BUILDING CAPACITYHelping people learn, collaborate and take action.
I design and facilitate workshops, peer learning experiences and collaborative processes that help people find clarity, learn from one another and take their next steps.
My approach brings together different perspectives, encourages practical problem-solving and helps participants build the confidence and capacity to move forward.
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENTMaking complex ideas accessible and actionable.
I develop reports, case studies, frameworks and practical tools that help organizations share knowledge, inspire action and advance the social purpose movement.
Through research, storytelling and resource development, I help translate complex ideas into insights and resources that people can put to work.
Projects & Collaborations
Langley City Circular Food Economy Solution Lab
I'm providing opening remarks and facilitating the Langley City Circular Food Economy Solution Lab, bringing together local businesses, food producers and community partners to explore ways to reduce food waste and turn surplus food into valuable resources. Through collaboration and practical problem-solving, the initiative aims to build a more sustainable, resilient local food system.
Purpose Peer Circle: You Don’t Have to Figure it Out Alone
Pledge for a Sustainable Community
Vancouver Island Purpose & Business Collaborative
Co-created with Mary Ellen at Purpose Pathways
You don't have to figure it out alone.
The Purpose Peer Circle brings together leaders and purpose practitioners from business, nonprofit, government, education and other sectors who are working to embed social purpose in their organizations.
In facilitated, 90-minute online sessions, participants bring real challenges, share experiences, test ideas and work together to find practical ways forward.
Investment: $75 per session.
Burnaby Board of Trade
I developed the Pledge for a Sustainable Community, an award-winning online resource and business engagement program helping businesses take meaningful steps toward sustainability.
Through practical tools, workshops, focus groups and advocacy, the initiative helped businesses embed sustainability into their operations, making meaningful action more accessible and contributing to stronger, more resilient communities.
Purpose Connections: The Road to 2030 — Where Are We Now?
The world has a plan for 2030. But are we doing enough to get there?
With just a few years left to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, this conversation takes a clear-eyed look at where we stand, what's getting in the way and the role business can play in what comes next.
Purpose Leadership: Lessons From Practice
Through my work with the Canadian Purpose Economy Project, I'm co-leading an economic development initiative helping Vancouver Island businesses discover and integrate social purpose into their operations. Through expert guidance, workshops and peer connections, we're working to build stronger businesses and more resilient communities.
Purpose Express in Collaboration with Purpose Pathways
In collaboration with Purpose Pathways
What does purpose-led leadership look like in practice?
Drawing on the experiences of purpose-led business leaders, this report explores how organizations are responding to growing complexity and rising expectations by putting values at the heart of leadership, decision-making and growth.
Discover how purpose can strengthen teams, build leadership from within and contribute to lasting business success.
In collaboration with Purpose Pathways
Purpose Express helps businesses uncover their social purpose, put it into words and use it to sharpen strategy, spark innovation and create competitive advantage while making a positive difference.
The program includes five facilitated sessions and three one-to-one coaching calls, with two participants per business. Cohorts are limited to 5–8 businesses.
Investment: $1,295 per business.
Your purpose is already there. Let's uncover it—and put it to work.
Ivory Free Canada Campaign
In collaboration with Elephanatics Foundation
I led the Ivory Free Canada campaign for the Elephanatics Foundation, bringing together advocacy, public engagement and collective action to help end the ivory trade in Canada.
The campaign reflects my belief that purpose-driven action can create change beyond individual organizations—and that protecting people, communities and the natural world is essential to building a more resilient, sustainable economy.
Armour Valve
In collaboration with Purpose Pathways.
When Liz McBeth stepped into the role of CEO at Armour Valve, she wanted to find a way to connect with the business that was meaningful to her and to future generations.
She was looking for a strategic reboot that would help Armour Valve make a material contribution to goals beyond profit.
Through a peer-based, structured and supportive process with the Social Purpose Institute, Armour Valve developed and implemented its social purpose, along with an implementation roadmap tailored to the business and its stakeholders.
Read the case study to discover how Armour Valve approached its purpose journey and the effect it had.
Pro-Claim Group
In collaboration with Purpose Pathways.
For Pro-Claim Group, social purpose wasn't something new to invent. It was something already embedded in the way the company worked.
As CEO Tony Scott says:
"We already had a purpose before we even understood what a purpose was—we loved helping people. When I heard someone call it 'social purpose,' I thought, that's who we are. There was finally a name for what we'd been doing."
Case Studies
Community Savings Credit Union
In collaboration with Purpose Pathways
The credit union movement is undergoing seismic change, making clarity and adaptability essential to building long-term strength and resilience.
Community Savings had a clear vision: to be the credit union of choice for the working community, supported by a strong mission focused on providing fair opportunities through member-first banking.
But its leaders recognized that this wasn't enough. The work ahead required something deeper.
Read the case study to discover what that was and how Community Savings approached its social purpose journey.
Pownal Street Press
Working with Pownal Street Press to articulate its social purpose helped the organization create a valuable platform for engaging clients, stakeholders and business associates.
As co-founders Mo Duffy and Genevieve Loughlin explain:
"Working with Tessa on our social purpose gave us a valuable platform to engage with clients, stakeholders and business associates. We discovered that 'Purpose' is not an aside to our business, it is the centre of it.".
Testimonials
-
“Tessa’s extensive network of purpose-driven leaders has been eager to share and collaborate – a testament to her commitment to connecting people and building an ecosystem that drives purpose forward.”
Jodi Fichtner, Chief Impact & Marketing Officer
-
“Thanks to Tessa and the team at the Social Purpose Institute, we found the right fit through a peer-based, structured, guided, interactive and supportive process that led to the development and implementation of our Purpose.”
Liz McBeth, President & CEO, Armour Valve
-
“Working with Tessa on our social purpose gave us a valuable platform to engage with clients, stakeholders and business associates. We discovered that "Purpose" is not an aside to our business, it is the centre of it.”
Mo Duffy & Genevieve Loughlin, Pownal Street Press
Let’s Begin the Conversation
Have a challenge to tackle, a conversation to spark or an idea you'd like to bring to life? Let's explore what we can do together.