Celebrating Talent: Sandra Hawken

As Canada’s leading consultancy to the non-profit sector, at KCI we measure our success through the success of our clients. It’s energizing to look back at 20 years of KCI Search + Talent candidate ‘placements’ to see what the leaders we’ve placed have accomplished for organizations all across our country.

It’s also gratifying to see that many people ‘placed’ by KCI have stayed and thrived in their roles long past the average tenure that we see in the sector. These are people whose loyalty, expertise, and passion for the mission drives long-term impact for their organizations, and the people and communities they serve.

We are celebrating these individuals through this ‘Celebrating Talent’ series of short profiles and interviews. We hope you enjoy reading about these inspiring sector leaders and celebrating their success along with us!

Celebrating Sandra Hawken, President & CEO, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation

Why did you originally consider joining Holland Bloorview Foundation?

I hadn’t initially envisioned myself in healthcare philanthropy after a long career in organizations focused on gender equity and ending violence against women. But it’s nearly impossible not to fall in love with Holland Bloorview’s mission and unparalleled impact.

The opportunity to advance disability inclusion and build new sources of revenue for Holland Bloorview’s future was an incredibly compelling challenge. Each year on my workaversary, I think of how Tara from KCI convinced me to stay open to an opportunity that became the best professional decision of my life. Thanks, Tara!

What’s kept you with Holland Bloorview Foundation for 10 years?

Over the past decade, I’ve witnessed countless moments of courage, generosity, and joy that have forever changed how I see the world. I’ve had the privilege of learning from and working alongside the most passionate colleagues, hospital partners, board members, and donors – people who give not just their time, talent, and resources, but their hearts.

We laugh often, support one another through challenges, and have co-created a truly special and innovative organization that doesn’t just follow best practices but sets them.

Most of all, I’m deeply grateful for the friendships I’ve built with the kids, youth, and families we serve. They remind us every single day what a better world looks like when disability is fully included.
And I get to wear a cape to work!

What are you most proud of accomplishing during your time there?

Over the past 10 years, our Foundation has grown exponentially – in annual revenue, number of supporters, and brand awareness – all of which has fueled Holland Bloorview’s ability to help more kids and families than ever before.
I’m most proud that we’ve achieved this growth while authentically keeping the voices of kids and youth with disabilities at the very centre of everything we do. From award-winning anti-stigma movements, to youth Campaign Chairs, to our own HR practices, to youth leadership in the philanthropy-fueled National Disability Initiative.

What’s next for Holland Bloorview Foundation? What do you want people to know about the work that Holland Bloorview does?

Holland Bloorview is no longer “the very best children’s hospital that no one has heard of” – we are proudly Canada’s Hospital for Kids with Disabilities. Thanks to our last philanthropic campaign, we now have the highest concentration of pediatric disability research anywhere in the world.

We’ve just launched a historic new fundraising campaign called Together We Dare – with a bold vision to create a Centre for Excellence in Childhood Disability. This centre will ensure that all kids have access to the care they need, when and where they need it – locally, regionally, nationally, and globally.

Through this campaign, we’ll close the gap in access to care by scaling and sharing evidence-based programs, training more clinicians, investing in technology-enabled precision care, breaking down barriers between research and treatment, and launching new inclusion initiatives.

We dare you to join us.  🙂

One piece of career advice you’d give to others?

I often say that I’ve won the career lottery by working at Holland Bloorview – and that’s because of values alignment.

My advice is: if you have clarity about your core values and find an organization whose vision and culture align with them, you’ll look forward to every Monday morning. I know I still do.