Innovating in the Public Interest: Partnering for Public Good with Anita McGahan

A free workshop series in partnership with InnovateUS

Join Anita McGahan for Innovating in the Public Interest: Partnering for Public Good, a free six-part workshop series hosted in partnership with InnovateUS about what it takes for public sector innovators to collaborate with private-sector partners effectively.   Public professionals will gain essential tools and strategies for identifying collaborators, qualifying them, establishing joint goals, and learning to work together in ways that can ultimately support impact at scale.  These interactive sessions will provide actionable insights on how to engage with companies, NGOs, and other organizations to drive mission-aligned outcomes.

Anita has a long history as a professor advocating for impact through the private sector. This includes serving as the George E. Connell Chair of Organizations and Society at the University of Toronto. She was President of the Academy of Management, which is the largest association of business-school professors in the world.  She currently is a Distinguished Senior Fellow and Senior Scientist at the Burnes Center for Social Change, focusing on private innovation in the public interest.

An initiative of the Burnes Center for Social Change led by Anita McGahan,  the workshop series is one piece of the Private Innovation in the Public Interest initiative, or Pi-Squared for short. Pi-Squared empowers leaders to create impactful, scalable solutions to society’s toughest challenges. Unlike traditional Corporate Social Responsibility or ESG models, Pi-Squared focuses on bridging public and private sectors to drive meaningful change.

Session 1: Getting Started

March 26

Just about everyone who has worked on collaboration across sectors describes the critical importance of working with the right team on a well-defined project that aligns with public-sector priorities and has the potential to scale. We will talk about what it takes to launch a project that upholds public values, can be sustained over time, and delivers meaningful outcomes.

Session 2: Winning Early

April 9

Great projects begin with early wins. We will talk about the importance of structuring early successes to reinforce trust, demonstrate impact, and build a shared understanding of how collaborators are evaluated. These early successes can become the foundation for longer-term initiatives that serve the public good.

Session 3: Innovating Organizationally

April 24

Most of us tend to think about innovation in service delivery as the biggest opportunity for cross-sector collaboration, but many successful projects focus instead on rethinking how work is done. Technologies such as AI, data analytics, and digital platforms can support innovation to create new value. In this session, we will talk about how to integrate innovation in ways that improve collaboration, strengthen public-sector capabilities, and maintain transparency.

Session 4: Learning & Pivoting

May 1

Just about every cross-sector collaboration project hits a brick wall at some point. What does it take to get past that challenge while staying true to public priorities? We will talk about how strong public-private partnerships adapt, learn, and pivot while keeping long-term goals and public accountability in focus.

Session 5: Growing

May 15

It’s counterintuitive, but many projects fail during the growth stage. Problems can arise when new stakeholders aren’t integrated effectively, when expectations outpace capacity, or when expansion moves beyond the initiative’s original mission. In this session, we will talk about what it takes to grow responsibly while protecting the integrity of initiatives.

Session 6: Scaling

May 27

Achieving scaled impact can occur in many ways, including by transferring control of a successful project to a government agency, a public-sector partner, or by providing outsiders with access to tools and insights so they can replicate the approach. We will also talk about what it takes to measure impact effectively and ensure that public interest remains at the center of expansion decisions.

all sessions are held at 2 p.m. ET

Who Should Attend?

This series is designed for public-sector professionals who either are collaborating or intend to collaborate with private organizations.  It’s designed for you if you are interested in learning how to build effective partnerships in policy, service delivery, or technology adoption. The series is particularly valuable for government employees looking to strengthen their ability to bring private-sector collaborators into public work.

Participants can attend the full series or select individual workshops based on their needs. If you are transitioning between roles in public service, you will find that this series offers an invaluable opportunity to gain new skills and insights on how the private-sector operates.

All participants will receive a certificate of attendance for individual workshops, and those who complete the full series will earn a certificate of completion.

Listen now to “Private Innovation in the Public Interest” on Spotify or Apple Podcasts