The Haskayne School of Business has named Bryan de Lottinville its 2025 Inspiring Business Leader, recognizing his entrepreneurial success and profound impact on corporate social responsibility.
As the founder of Benevity, a Calgary-based tech company that was one of Alberta's first tech unicorns' (companies valued at north of $1B), de Lottinville has demonstrated that businesses can be both profitable and purpose-driven. Benevity's market leading enterprise impact platform helps companies engage their employees and customers around different types of social impact initiatives, such as volunteering, charitable giving, grantmaking and the like.
Bryan de Lottinville is the recipient of the 2025 Inspiring Business Leader Award. Photo credit: Marnie Burkhart
"I've never been much for personal awards, in part because the phrase it takes a village' is so deeply true," de Lottinville says. "It's obviously very flattering to be considered in the esteemed company of the other business leaders that have won this award over the years, and I'm truly both honoured and grateful."
The road from corporate finance to Benevity
De Lottinville's journey to becoming a leader in corporate purpose began in the legal world, where he spent several years as a corporate finance lawyer on Bay Street before transitioning to leadership roles at high-growth companies such as SMED International and iStockphoto. In 2008, he founded Benevity, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that has since facilitated $19 billion in donations and 100 million volunteer hours for nearly 500,000 global non-profits.
At the core of Benevity's success is a simple, but powerful, belief that businesses can drive social good in a manner that helps them deliver financial growth.
"Doing well by doing good isn't just a catchy tagline, it's a strategy and path to sustainable success for both people and companies," says de Lottinville. His vision has shaped Benevity into a global leader in corporate social responsibility, with clients that include Nike, Google, Apple and a majority of the Fortune 1000. In 2021, Benevity was sold to private equity for US$1.1 billion.
A new approach to mixing business with philanthropy
The leadership provided by de Lottinville has not only shaped Benevity and its unique corporate culture; it has also helped redefine how businesses approach corporate purpose. "The connection between purpose, values and business goals isn't a trend; it's a business imperative", says de Lottinville. "It shapes how companies engage and earn the trust of employees, customers and communities at large."
He urges future leaders to embrace what he calls the "Power of And" - the idea that businesses (and individuals) don't have to make a choice between profit and impact. "You can build a profitable business, provide financial security for yourself and also affect positive change," says de Lottinville. "We've become too binary, too polarized in our perspectives. The world's biggest challenges all require collective action to solve."
Now serving as Chief Enthusiast and executive chair of Benevity, de Lottinville continues to champion purpose-driven leadership and grassroots engagement. His contributions have earned him global recognition, including a Top 100 Corporate Social Responsibility Influence Leader designation and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
The Inspiring Business Leader Award celebrates leaders like de Lottinville who push boundaries, challenge norms and create lasting impact.
As he reflects on his legacy, de Lottinville hopes to leave behind more than just a successful company: "I want people to see vividly that business can be a force for good, and that doing the right thing isn't just ethical, it's also a competitive advantage."
Bryan de Lottinville will be celebrated on May 6 when he receives the 2025 Inspiring Business Leader Award at the Percheron Ballroom in BMO Centre at Stampede Park. Go here for tickets and more information.
