How Winning by 17 Votes Helped This CEO Transform Nonprofit Advocacy with Peter Braid

How Winning by 17 Votes Helped This CEO Transform Nonprofit Advocacy with Peter Braid

Author: Cherry Chan November 1, 2024 Duration: 33:23

On this episode of the Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast, Cherry Chan dives into a candid conversation with Peter Braid, CEO of the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC). Peter didn't always lead a nonprofit—he actually started in politics, winning his first election by a nail-biting 17 votes! That experience taught him a lot about persistence and connecting with people, lessons he's carried into his work with IBAC, where he's been the CEO for the past seven years.

Peter shared how, over the last 35 years, IBAC has built a strong voice for Canada's insurance brokers by showing up in Ottawa and advocating for things like consumer protection and fair competition. Each year, they host "Hill Day" so that brokers from across the country can meet with MPs, building bridges that help when big issues pop up. With small business owners in every town, insurance brokers bring a relatable, hometown voice to Ottawa, which Peter believes has been key to IBAC's long-term success.

But managing a national nonprofit isn't without challenges. Peter explained how he keeps IBAC's 11 provincial members working together, even when their interests don't always align. A new national survey has helped everyone stay on the same page, and Peter says open communication has been essential for IBAC's advocacy work.

Peter wrapped up by sharing his approach to managing stress, a reality for any leader today. From listening to live music to getting out of town, Peter's all about finding those moments to disconnect and recharge. His journey from Parliament to nonprofit leadership is a reminder that resilience and relationship-building go a long way in making a difference.


Hosted by Cherry Chan, The Unfiltered Non-Profit: Leaders Share It All pulls back the curtain on what it truly takes to run a mission-driven organization. This isn't a series of polished success stories; instead, each conversation goes deep into the operational realities that leaders grapple with daily. You'll hear about budget crises that threatened to shut doors, the complexities of team dynamics under pressure, and the strategic pivots that saved programs. Chan guides these discussions with a focus on practical management and the less-glamorous, behind-the-scenes work that sustains impact. The result is a candid resource for anyone involved in the business of change, from seasoned executives to board members and aspiring founders. Tuning into this podcast feels like gaining access to a private roundtable where honesty is the only policy, offering lessons that are immediately applicable. It captures the full, unfiltered journey of non-profit leadership-the setbacks, the hard-won victories, and the relentless pursuit of making a difference.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 39

The Unfiltered Non-Profit: Leaders Share It All
Podcast Episodes
Why Fundraising Isn’t Enough [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:32
$30 million raised—and Krystal Valencia still says fundraising isn’t the answer. Krystal is the founder and CEO of Rental Rescue, a nonprofit that steps in when affordable rental buildings are at risk of being lost. Inst…
What Sustainable Nonprofit Revenue Really Looks Like [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:16
In this episode of the Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast, Cherry sits down with Melissa Ray, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Concord in the City Community Ability Initiative. Melissa shares how the organization supp…
5 Things Nonprofits Need Before Fundraising Actually Works [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:33
What actually makes fundraising work? Is it hiring one strong fundraiser? Is it a better gala? Is it sending more emails? In this episode of The Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast, Cherry sits down with Sam Laprade, a fundrais…
How an 83% Grant Approval Rate Actually Happens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:00
In this episode of the Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast, we're joined by Deepa Chaudhary, founder of Grant Orb AI, to talk about what really drives grant success — and why so many nonprofit leaders feel stuck in an endless c…
Leading a Nonprofit Without Having All the Answers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:35
In this episode, we sit down with Claude-Paul Boivin to talk honestly about the path into nonprofit leadership — and what it really takes to lead well once you're there. Claude-Paul shares how his career didn't follow a…
The Hidden Risk Nonprofit Boards Keep Missing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:13
In this episode of the Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast, our conversation with Angela Fenton, former board Chair of Pleo, went well beyond board mechanics. What really surfaced was the hidden cost of instability — not just t…
Turning $1 Into $3: How OCHF Builds Real Community Impact [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:03
This episode of The Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast features an honest, open conversation with Traci Spour-Lafrance, Executive Director of the Ottawa Community Housing Foundation — the team supporting 33,000 people across 1…
How To Build Community (and Cash Flow) Without Big Budgets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:36
In this Unfiltered Nonprofit conversation, Cherry sits down with Tara Shannon, Executive Director of the Ottawa Festival Network (OFN), which represents more than 100 festivals across arts, music, and culture. A lifelong…