Sector swap: applying commercial experience to the charity landscape with David Woodley
Have you ever wondered about moving from the commercial sector to the charity sector? Philippa recently caught up with David Woodley, who made this change in 2023 when he became CEO of Clear Voice. Read on to find out his key to success.
When recruiting for senior leadership positions, attracting people with diverse backgrounds and experiences is key. This often means looking outside the charity sector to engage candidates from commercial backgrounds.
The switch to impact over profit may seem incongruent, but these candidates often bring invaluable skills and perspectives.
Clear Voice is an award-winning social enterprise, operating at the intersection of technology, enterprise and social value. Clear Voice is the trading subsidiary of the national charity Migrant Help, with 100% of its profits supporting work with the victims of displacement and exploitation.
In 2023, Clear Voice sought a leader with a strong commercial track record of scale and growth, who was also aligned to their social mission.
Philippa Fabry recently met with David Woodley, Chief Executive at Clear Voice, to gain some more insights about this switch.
David bought extensive experience in organisational growth for the digital, data and technology sectors, while volunteering at two local charities, teaching English to Iranian refugees. This commercial know-how and work with people directly affected by displacement and exploitation offered a strong marriage of skills and purpose alignment.
Category:Candidate advice
Written by
Philippa Fabry
Partner
Philippa Fabry is a partner and shareholder at Peridot Partners, leading the Not for Profit Practice with expertise, creativity and empathy. With over 20 years of executive search experience across private, public, and not for profit sectors, she excels in recruiting leadership roles for charities. Her leadership expertise extends beyond Peridot as a mentor for a youth charity and leadership coach.
Philippa began her career as a curator in visual arts after graduating from Manchester University. She worked for a prestigious London art gallery before becoming Principal Curator of Contemporary Art at Harewood House Trust. She transitioned to recruitment in 2001 at an international headhunting firm, then served as Assistant Director at Veredus before joining Peridot Partners in 2011, becoming Director in 2015.
Her experience includes supporting organisations through Founder/CEO transitions, establishing new or renewed boards, and helping commercial candidates transition to the not for profit sector. She has partnered with UK charities to appoint skilled executives and diverse trustees.
Outside work, Philippa is an avid runner who has completed several half marathons and is training for her first Sprint Triathlon. She balances career with family and social life, passionate about the arts and helping young people reach their potential.
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