Lynda Kuhn champions social responsibility

As the purpose advisor for , she ensures that sustainability is central to all aspects of the business—a process which culminated in a vision for Maple Leaf to ‘raise the good in food’ and become the most sustainable protein company in the world. Social responsibility is her sweet spot, and it gives Kuhn’s work the purpose she’s been seeking her whole life.

A 2007 volunteer trip to Kenya remains a seminal point of inspiration for the notable alum, when she saw dire health conditions and limited access to basic needs. “What stood out most was the hope I saw in the children I met, particularly to pursue higher education,” Kuhn shares.

“I was inspired by their dreams for a better future.”

Now, the drive to help create a better future is something Kuhn engrains in her role with Maple Leaf each day. “We’re a company that seeks to create shared value, not just shareholder value,” she says. “This includes becoming the first large-scale carbon neutral food company in the world, advancing better nutrition, leading in food and workplace safety and humane animal care, and advancing positive social impact.” Along with playing a key role in establishing and implementing Maple Leaf’s values, Kuhn is also an active chair of —a registered charity whose goal is to reduce food insecurity in Canada by 50 per cent by 2030.

A change-maker in the making

Kuhn greatly credits her time as an anthropology major at Dal��for her ability to think more broadly about societal issues—a skill that continues to serve her well. “Having small classes and lots of one-on-one time with professors, it was an ideal way to learn to think strategically,” she says. “To stretch my understanding of different world views, needs and values, and how to apply these to collaboratively advance business and social impact strategies.”

After later graduating from McGill University with a master’s in anthropology, one of Kuhn’s first roles in the workforce included working with First Nations communities throughout Atlantic Canada, including the Potlot’ek Band Council in Cape Breton. “I had a particular passion for working with Indigenous peoples, to support an Indigenous-led process for advancing economic and social strategies that reflected and strengthened their culture and value,” she says. “I listened to where the community wanted to go and used my anthropological training and writing skills to support that.” ��This included establishing one of the first on-reserve bilingual, bicultural primary education programs in Atlantic Canada.

A notable alum

From 2014 to 2017, Kuhn was recognized by UNICEF Canada as a member of its —a group of 60 Canadian female philanthropists dedicated to saving lives through maternal, newborn and child health initiatives in various countries. She also served on the boards of Give-a-Day and Dignitas International—a medical and research organization dedicated to innovating sustainable solutions to global health challenges—and is a director of the , a private foundation established by the Michael McCain family to advance women’s mental health in Canada.

In 2023, Kuhn joined the ����tv Advisory Council, keen to lend her expertise to help the council fulfil its mandate, particularly on the heels of the launch of Dal’s Bringing Worlds Together campaign. “With my experience in the agrifood sector, along with leading work to define and bring an organization’s vision and purpose to life, I want to bring skills and relationships that will advance ����tv’s goals,” she says.

“Dal is place of meaningful, community connections and I hope through my involvement, I can help bring those connections to life.”

It comes as no surprise that in 2024, Kuhn was added to ����tv’s notable alumni list, celebrating alumni who have achieved significant accomplishments in their respective personal and professional lives. “It’s an honour,” says Kuhn. “Dal is a place that’s had a profound impact on my life and career. It’s shaped how I think, my talents; it’s made me who I am.”

Coming full circle

Early in 2024, Kuhn travelled back to Kenya to meet with people she now considers friends—a trip she looks forward to each year. Included in those she met with were students and alumni of the , which Kuhn co-founded in 2013 to provide determined young Kenyans the financial means and mentorship they need to complete their education and become future leaders in their society. To date, Wezesha has supported over 200 young people to complete post-secondary education and go on to fulfilling careers.

“Education is a transformational experience for these young people, most of whom come from families who subsist on less than two dollars a day and for whom higher education is simply unaffordable,” she adds. “The ripple effect of our investment in these talented, aspiring students extends to their families, their communities and their country.”

Kuhn adds that some of the first students to benefit from the Wezesha Education Foundation are now doctors, teachers, researchers, engineers and entrepreneurs. “Now, they are mentoring and helping the next generation of our students.”