232. Funding Hope, Not Hype: Scaling Local Solutions with Mohini Bhavsar

Mohini Bhavsar of Grand Challenges Canada went from being a young innovator herself to becoming a champion for them, including several whose solutions are projected to impact 750 million people by 2035. We explore how courage grows with support, why proximity matters in problem-solving, and how small, locally-led ideas can scale to transform lives.Chapters0:00 – Intro & Welcome3:57 – Introducing Grand Challenges Canada7:09 – Mr. Oxygen Man: A Life-Saving Innovation17:41 – Courage, Risk, and the Heart of Innovation26:06 – Mohini’s Personal Journey of Courage and Opportunity33:11 – Understanding the UN Sustainable Development Goals41:24 – Break44:05 – Unexpected Innovators Changing the World57:01 – Lessons From Failure and the Power of Pivoting1:02:01 – Books, Podcasts, and Tools for Positive Thinking1:26:30 – Final Reflections on Small Acts and Global Change