Synergos Cultivate the Soul: Stories of Purpose-Driven Philanthropy

Suzanne Bowles is a philanthropy strategist, collaboration designer, and post-capitalist systems architect devoted to helping funders and movements meet this moment of profound transition with integrity, courage, and relational depth. She is the founder and Chief Strategist of Cattail Strategy, a consultancy that supports philanthropic organizations, funding collaboratives, and cultural stewards to scale equitable systems change rooted in relationship, reciprocity, and regeneration. Suzanne is also the co-founder of Indigenous Commons. Over more than two decades, Suzanne has played a central role in the transition of over $100 million to grassroots, Indigenous-led, and systems change initiatives across the globe. Her work spans economic democracy, climate justice, regenerative economies, and just transitions, supporting a wide range of partners—from values-aligned foundations and philanthropists to frontline movements and multi-sector collaborations. She is a founding contributor to influential initiatives including Indigenous Commons, FEST (Financing Ecosystems for Transformation), Catalyst Now, Common Good Finance, CoFundEco, and the Alliance for Economic Democracy. Suzanne’s practice is grounded in the belief that lasting systems change begins within—through shifts in relationship, identity, and worldview. She co-creates new frameworks with her clients that integrate strategic rigor with inner and ancestral development.  A trusted ally to many Global South, Indigenous, and BIPOC movements, Suzanne is known for her long-term commitment, ethical clarity, and ability to bridge worlds—linking philanthropic capital with the wisdom, leadership, and lived experience of those most impacted by extractive systems. Through her KinMaker Return journeys and programs, she invites philanthropists to engage giving as a spiritual, relational, and ancestral one—repairing Western cultures of separation while aligning resources with planetary and future-generation needs. Suzanne walks this path as both practitioner and learner, guided by conscious generosity and a deep practice of inter-being. In times of collapse and possibility, her work creates space to grieve what is ending, listen deeply to one another, and co-create the conditions for life-affirming systems to emerge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Xavi Ginesta founded Voxel in 1998, a Barcelona-based company that became a global leader in electronic invoicing and payments for the travel industry. Voxel was recognized as the third best workplace in Spain by the Best Workplaces ranking in 2019 and 2020. Xavi’s professional journey has always been closely intertwined with a personal commitment to fostering a more conscious worldview. This dedication led him to become CEO of the Spanish chapter of Conscious Capitalism in 2019 and to co-author the book Humanitas with Sergi Torres in 2022. That same year, he co-founded The Festival of Consciousness, a landmark event that ultimately inspired his decision to sell Voxel in 2024 and fully align his personal and professional paths through the creation of the Humanitas Foundation. The Humanitas Foundation supports initiatives rooted in transformational philanthropy. Unlike traditional impact philanthropy, which seeks to solve systemic problems without altering the system itself, transformational philanthropy addresses the underlying mindset that gives rise to those problems—aiming for deep inner impact as a catalyst for systemic outer change. Xavi holds a degree in Telecommunications Engineering by La Salle School of Engineering (Ramon Llull University) and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from New York University (NYU).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hilary Giovale is a mother, writer, facilitator, and community organizer who holds a Master’s Degree in Good and Sustainable Communities. She has taught improvisational dance and has served on the boards of philanthropic, human rights, and environmental organizations. Descended from the Celtic, Germanic, Nordic, and Indigenous peoples of Ancient Europe, she is a ninth-generation American settler. For most of her life these origins were obscured by whiteness. After learning more about her ancestors’ history, Hilary began emerging from a fog of amnesia, denial, and fragmentation. For the first time, she could see a painful reality: her family’s occupation of this land has harmed Indigenous and African peoples, cultures, lands, and lifeways. With this realization, her life changed.  How can I become a good relative? This inquiry guides Hilary’s work, including her writing, teaching, and reparative philanthropy. Divesting from settler colonialism and whiteness, she seeks to follow Indigenous and Black leadership in support of healing, mutual liberation, and equitable futures. She is the author of the award-winning book Becoming a Good Relative: Calling White Settlers toward Truth, Healing, and Repair. Go deeper with Hilary’s Guide to Making a Personal Reparations Plan, and find a copy of her book here. 100% of book proceeds go to the Decolonizing Wealth Project and Jubilee Justice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She is among the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over fifty years ago, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of fourteen books, including the New York Times bestseller Real Happiness, now in its second edition, and her seminal work, Lovingkindness. Sharon’s first children’s book, Kind Karl: A Little Crocodile with Big Feelings, co-authored with Jason Gruhl, is set for release in late 2025 from Shambhala Publications. Sharon’s podcast, The Metta Hour, has amassed eight million downloads and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond. www.sharonsalzberg.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 17 years working for PricewaterhouseCoopers as a Leader in their China business practice, Chun Dong created a Comprehensive Advisory Business Model for Ultra High Net Worth families and their private businesses in 2023, which includes multifamily office, business transformation, legal, financial and tax advisory services. She and her team not only provide these families and businesses with professional services, but also help them to design their families’ Comprehensive Philanthropic Strategies which lead to finding the true meaning of their lives.  On the philanthropy side, Chun is the founder of two foundations, Intelli Alliance Foundation and Atrium Legacy Foundation. Intelli Alliance Foundation focuses on cultivating people’s inner joy and peacefulness through events and retreats, education curriculums, and personal transformation programs. Atrium Legacy Foundation focuses on empowering communities by installing social values, supporting holistic wellness, and creating sustainable futures through four initiatives: Holistic Aging, Empathy Education, Resilient Housing and Global Harvest.   On the personal side, Chun happily lives in Vancouver, Canada with her ever-expanding family. She is extremely extroverted and loves to make new friends and enjoys helping others. She is also very adventurous and loves to explore the world. Chun is trying to inspire people of all ages to get involved in philanthropy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.