PeerUp Series – Episode 9: Navigating a Social Acquisition with Carla Leon

How can social acquisitions transform businesses for community benefit?

In this session, we’ll explore the opportunities and challenges of navigating a social acquisition with Carla Leon, President & CEO of Just Like Family Home Care.

Social acquisitions can unlock new ways for charities and community organizations to sustain impact, expand their reach, and embed social purpose into business models.

Carla Leon is a social innovator and systems leader with deep experience in transforming business models for community benefit. She led an innovative social acquisition of Just Like Family Home Care by a group of charities and has since guided its evolution into a certified social enterprise. Today, the majority of Just Like Family’s profits are reinvested into charitable and community-based initiatives.

Throughout her career, Carla has supported entrepreneurs and small business owners through coaching, mentorship, and ecosystem-building—work grounded in collaboration and equity. At Just Like Family, she is pioneering a values-based franchise model that blends local ownership with national impact in the home care sector.

Carla holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of British Columbia and continues to champion the use of social finance and acquisition strategies to unlock new possibilities for the community sector. She’s excited to join the Community of Practice to share her learnings, spark conversation, and connect with changemakers across Newfoundland and Labrador.

This event is part of the Social Innovation Community of Practice (CoP), hosted by the Social Innovation Lab (a CSCNL initiative) and the Centre for Social Enterprise.

📅 Date: October 7, 2025
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM (NST)
📍 Location: Online