Learn how to create real social impact as a business leader by opening hiring pipelines to underserved talent and looking beyond short term charity.

Meaningful corporate impact occurs when companies offer direct employment opportunities to marginalized individuals rather than relying solely on donations. Partnering with comprehensive community programs helps break generational poverty cycles by providing people with transferable skills, career stability, and ongoing mentorship. Committing to hire capable individuals from underserved backgrounds strengthens company culture while creating permanent economic mobility.

Denise Whiter, Executive Director of New Beginnings Support Program, joins Sonia Couto on Tenacity with Sonia C. to examine practical community investment. Denise explains how their year long programs, including the Step Into Success initiative and certification with Humber Polytechnic, prepare women for corporate roles at organizations like Ernst & Young and TD. She also highlights the EmpowerMe personal development curriculum and outlines goals for their annual Angels in Action Gala at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto.

What you'll learn

• How to create real social impact as a business leader through direct hiring

• Why short term training fails to resolve poverty compared to year long support

• How transferable skills in digital literacy and business writing open corporate career paths

• What common misconceptions prevent companies from hiring women rebuilding after crisis

• How businesses can participate in the Angels in Action Gala or contribute through Canada Helps and Zeffy

This conversation is for founders, executives, and hiring managers who want to move past performative corporate responsibility and build practical employment pathways for overlooked talent.

Learn more about Denise Whiter and support the New Beginnings Support Program through their website: https://newbeginningsprogram.ca/