In this heartfelt episode of Philanthropod, Anubha Rawat sits down with Leonie Bell, a passionate philanthropist whose life and giving are grounded in a deep belief in the transformative power of education and gender equality.

From a free-range Australian childhood to volunteering in 1990s America, Leonie shares the pivotal moments that shaped her philanthropic path - from witnessing systemic inequality in food banks in America to a life-changing encounter in a Ugandan informal settlement where a family of nine slept in shifts on the floor because of poverty.

Now at the helm of the Bell Family Foundation, Leonie champions trust-based philanthropy and unrestricted giving, working alongside her daughter to back women-led organisations across the globe. She opens up about the personal motivations behind her commitment to women and girls, and how her approach to philanthropy changed after joining an AIDN Insight Tour.

Anubha and Leonie discuss influences, shared humanity and legacy. They agree on the importance of building trust with partners and why meeting grantees face-to-face continues to be one of her most powerful due diligence tools.

As Leonie celebrates a milestone birthday this year, she reflects on the fun way she is incorporating this into her giving, and how philanthropy is bringing her more joy than she ever imagined.

With thanks to Leonie Bell, our host Anubha Rawat and Ian at Compact Sound.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.