Today, challenges loom large and hope might seem far away. Yet, despite the troubling conditions that have seemingly intensified since 2026 began, the call to purpose is only growing louder and the purpose-driven community stronger.
In November 2024, we launched our quarterly Purpose Connections webinar series, in collaboration with Tessa Vanderkop, Purpose Advisor, Trainer, and Community Builder, and began drawing connections between experts and like-minded folks across sectors, continents, and backgrounds, building up a community of people determined to do good, not just make a profit.
Since then, we’ve been honoured to have 11 speakers join us to inspire fresh viewpoints, offer unique insights, and motivate new steps in our own purpose-driven journey.
In the midst of exciting new developments at Sparx, busy schedules, and ever-shifting world events, 2026 has taken off at a frantic pace. While it wasn’t possible to pull together a Q1 session amidst these conditions, we did have the chance to reach out to our amazing guests.
Experts at the intersection of business and purpose, we asked them to share some of their thoughts about the year ahead, as well as any advice they’d like to share for navigating the current milieu.
Read on for inspiration, insights, and perspectives on how to cut through the chaos and lead with purpose in 2026.
Toby Barazzuol, CEO of Eclipse Awards
Toby Barazzuol, CEO of Eclipse Awards and Sustainable Diversity Network Team Member at the David Suzuki Foundation, brought his sustainability, community building, and economic development experience to our “Purpose Pragmatism” session in May 2025.
Here is what Toby had to say in response to our question about what gives him hope for 2026:
“What gives me hope these days is seeing the resurgence of people caring for their neighbours and one another. Folks are reconnecting with community and rediscovering the importance of our social bonds. There is a growing sense of pride about standing together, and that is something that is good for us all.”
Dr. Victoria Hurth, Pracademic
A pracademic for long-term wellbeing for all (sustainability), Dr. Victoria Hurth collaborated with Sparx on the Wellbeing Economy issue of Make The World Better Magazine, and joined us to speak on two of our Purpose Connections sessions: our inaugural session in November 2024, and our most recent, “Beyond Profit – Cutting Through the Chaos to Build a Sustainable World.”
Check out what she had to say about her hopes for 2026 and the advice she would offer business leaders, investors, and clients to help guide them through the chaos:
“I sense that Trump is helping us wake up to what is at stake if we follow even further down the path of ‘Logic 1’ (BAU short-term financial self-interest) as the driver of decision making. We desperately need this shake-up. It will never be easy or painless, but we are not alive yet, as a global community, to what is at stake, and so fail to search for the real alternatives.
“Please read our book, Beyond Profit: Purpose-Driven Leadership for a Wellbeing Economy. I say this not to sell a book but because I genuinely see no real way forward than what is in that book—each of us becoming skilled in purpose governance and applying it at all levels of the systems we influence. It is written to be a guide to leapfrog over the chaos. I hope it helps with that.”
Mike Rowlands, CEO of Junxion Strategy
Mike Rowlands, Co-Founder of the Canadian Purpose Economy Project and Partner & CEO of Junxion Strategy, brought his entrepreneurial, strategic, purpose-driven expertise to our “Purpose Pragmatism” session.
This is what he had to say about his hopes for 2026 and his advice for facing whatever the year has in store:
“What’s giving me hope is the determined momentum we felt building at the end of 2024. On the business front, our clients are starting to invest in the things that they deem to be important as we continue to navigate the US shenanigans—and included in those investments are diligent thinking about social purpose, impact, and sustainability. So the wise businesses are staying the course—despite what the anti-conservation headlines might have us believe.
“Best advice: Stay steady. The skies aren’t falling (yet), and we need to keep looking past the bluff and bluster to the fundamentals beneath. Now is the time to—wisely and carefully—invest in purposeful growth, building organizational reach, capacity, and resilience. Don’t overspend. And don’t take on too much risk. But keep moving forward.”
Ben Renshaw, Executive Coach
Ben Renshaw, a leading speaker, executive coach, leadership advisor, and author who specializes in purpose-driven leadership, shared his insights at our inaugural Purpose Connections session in November 2024.
When asked about his hopes for the year and the advice he has to offer for organizations navigating today’s challenges, this is what he had to say:
“What gives me hope for the coming year is a growing recognition that the old playbooks are no longer sufficient. More leaders are acknowledging uncertainty rather than pretending it doesn’t exist, and that honesty is opening the door to more human, purposeful, and responsible forms of leadership.
“My advice to business leaders, investors, and clients is to anchor themselves in purpose as a source of direction, not aspiration. In chaotic conditions, purpose provides clarity for intent, guides better choices, and reduces unnecessary interference. Leaders who slow down enough to be deliberate, human, and values-led will be far better placed to navigate complexity and create sustainable performance.”
Joanne Norris, Consultant
Joanne Norris, an independent consultant who assists organizations with social finance, social enterprise, and impact investing, and has worked with WeBC and Social Venture Partners Vancouver, spoke on our “Capital & Purpose” session in February 2025.
Here is what she had to say about her hopes for 2026 and the advice she has for tackling ongoing and upcoming challenges:
“What gives me hope for the coming year? The increasing amount of conversations happening in investment and philanthropic circles about the impact of systems, and the power dynamics operating in these systems—who benefits and when, from the structuring and terms in system transactions.
“The power of effective, strategic collaborations continues to grow; more groups across sectors are interested in participating in nontraditional collaborations and partnerships. The power of engaging broader communities of interest in creative ways is at the heart of fruitful collaborations.
“[We’re seeing an] increasing profile of economic reconciliation ecosystem building across Canada, with new organizations (e.g., Fireweed Institute) and funds (e.g., EntrepreNorth, Raven Indigenous Capital Partners) establishing that fit the interests and needs of Indigenous entrepreneurs and economic projects.
“Best advice? In times such as these—chaotic—it’s important to stay connected to the values and motivations that propel us in life and work and stay true. [We] need to be clear on this.
“Times such as these also can instigate thinking differently; what opportunities have you been putting off that could be dusted off and revisited now? What potential collaborators are you not connected to but should be?
“In conversations that may be uncomfortable with team members or clients, be cognizant of judgement in your voice. Seek to understand, be curious and direct and avoid judgement. This approach enables more of a foundation of trust to be established in communications and collaborations.”
Carlota de Paula Coelho, Senior Policy Manager at B Lab
Carlota de Paula Coelho, Senior Policy Manager at B Lab and Member of the Technical Expert Group on EU Sustainability Reporting Standards at EFRAG, brought her expertise in legislation, corporate sustainability, technology, sustainable finance, ethical business, and ESG frameworks to our “Purpose and AI – Transforming the Economy” session in September 2025.
This is what she shared with us when asked about her hopes for the year ahead and her advice going forward:
“What gives me hope is that in the EU, there’s serious conversations on how to move from a ‘sticks-and-carrots approach’ with regards to purpose-driven businesses, and start thinking about how we can create market incentives for a stakeholder economy.
“My advice is Greenshouting*—not capitulation in the midst of a difficult time where we’re exposed to antagonism by government officials on one side of the Atlantic, and anti-greenwashing regulations on the other side.”
*Greenshouting is a term defined by B Lab as “the antidote to greenwashing: boldly celebrating real progress while backing it up with verified impact.”
Turning Inspiration Into Impact
Our heartfelt thanks to Tessa Vanderkop and all of our guests who have joined us in making purpose connections happen, and a special thank you to everyone who shared their 2026 outlooks with us.
Come whatever may in 2026, Sparx is proud of the impact stories we’re amplifying, the growing community we’re building together, and all the work being done to make the world better.
We look forward to collaborating on new purpose connections sessions throughout the year—so stay tuned! And greenshouting? We can definitely help changemakers in the sustainability space with that.
Ready to share your social impact story? Sparx is here to make sure your voice cuts through the chaos, loud and clear. Contact us today for a free consultation.
