People do amazing things.
People care about creating an impact.
A is for Abundance
Our core mission is to support individuals and organizations to create social, environmental, and economic abundance.
That’s what OLA stands for: Organizations Leading with Abundance.
We believe that everything is interconnected, so we designed our approach to be impact-oriented, strengths-based, and holistic.
Vision
We envision a world where all share in the incredible abundance that this planet has to offer.
We envision a world where mismatches like food surplus going to waste while people starve is eliminated.
We envision a world where the UN Sustainable Development Goals are not required.
Mission
Empower change-makers with the tools they need to unleash their full potential, to change the world.
Connor Paone
Co-Founder
MBA, PM, CPCC & ACC (2024)
I am a professional strategy coach and consultant with a specialization in social and environmental impact.
My core passion in life and work is to have rich experiences and to create abundance. I work and play at the intersection of health and wellness, cultural revitalization, and social and environmental impact.
I have over a decade of professional experience mostly working with Indigenous governments and economic development corporations, social impact oriented businesses, not-for-profits, and government.
I have been professionally trained in:
Master of Business Administration (x2, one in English and one in Spanish)
Professional Coaching, Mentorship, Facilitation, Community Engagement
Strategic Planning, Project Management, Negotiations
Innovation, Digital Transformation, Data Analytics
Political Economics, Governance, Political Ecology, Decolonization
Fun Facts: I am certified Yoga Instructor, I am fluent in Spanish, and I find deep connection with nature and spirituality through cold-water surfing. I love to travel through latin America and learn from cultures through food.
Top Experiences: deepening my spirituality and passions for cooking while working with Indigenous communities in the Peruvian High Amazon on food security and cultural revitalization projects, helping develop the Kliith-pitapp-taa-kumpths Men’s Group - a culturally based healing program in the ƛaʔuukʷiath (Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations) health program, and getting to see the world in more deep and meaningful ways through the eyes of change-makers and cultural mentors.
I am an interdisciplinary specialist with international experience, bringing a strong background in working directly with Indigenous communities and social purpose organizations as a staff member, consultant, coach, and volunteer.
I have supported and led the development and implementation of strategic plans, management operations, intergovernmental relations, and agreements within First Nations governments, administrations, and economic development corporations.
My unique experience provides critical perspectives from my work in creating programs “on the ground”, which has involved everything from engaging with communities, governments, industry, and local businesses, to working with elected councils, boards of directors, c-suite executives, and hereditary leaders.
Michael Ford
Co-Founder
M.Sc, B.Sc
I am a data scientist and strategic consultant who specializes in building practical, data-driven tools for high-impact organizations.
My core passion is getting to the root of complex problems and finding solutions that truly make a difference. I work where data, technology, and social innovation meet, helping organizations use AI and data to find new pathways for impact and create abundance.
I have over a decade of experience leading complex technical projects, including developing world-first algorithms in demanding research environments like cancer research. I now bring this deep problem-solving expertise to empower change-makers, helping them build effective AI systems and clear, data-driven strategies.
I have been professionally trained in:
Master of Science in Computing Science (Simon Fraser University)
Holistic Systems Thinking, Data Science, and Machine Learning
AI Strategy and Automation, Cloud Deployment, and Software Development
First-Principles Problem-Solving and Team Leadership
Fun Facts: I captained a sailboat across the Atlantic, I'm an avid backcountry skier and rock climber, and I find deep connection with nature through surfing the cold waters of BC - a passion inherited from growing up in Nanaimo as the son of a whale biologist, spending my youth chasing whales along the coast.
Top Experiences: Leading groundbreaking research that created novel tools now used globally to advance human health, sailing across the Atlantic and Caribbean while navigating by the stars (a true test of leadership and risk management), and discovering how my childhood exploring BC's coastal ecosystems shaped my curiosity-driven approach to understanding our interconnected world.
I am a specialist who bridges the gap between the “big picture” strategy and the “how-to” technical details, ensuring solutions are not only powerful but practical and purpose-driven.
I have a proven track record of turning messy, large-scale challenges into effective, real-world tools. This expertise was developed in demanding research environments, including at the National Cancer Institute in Washington DC, where I developed algorithms and tools for analyzing the immune system genetics in cancer.
My work is focused on breaking down complex challenges into clear, actionable steps that lead to real impact. I excel at finding the key opportunities hidden in complex data and building automated systems that help teams work smarter and create sustainable change.
