From Waitrose to WorkL: Lord Mark Price on Leadership, Values and Happiness

In this episode of Leading the Scale-Up, I sit down with Lord Mark Price — the former Managing Director of Waitrose, Deputy Chair of the John Lewis Partnership, and UK Trade Minister — to explore why happiness might just be the most underrated leadership strategy of our time. With four decades of leadership experience and as the founder of WorkL, Mark has dedicated his career to proving a powerful point: happy employees aren’t just nice to have — they’re essential for performance. Together, we unpack: What really drives engagement (it’s not pay… and it’s not ping pong tables) The six drivers of workplace happiness — and how they directly improve performance How Waitrose doubled store count without losing its values Why leaders must stop chasing the ball and start playing their position What to do when values and commercial decisions collide (hint: they don’t have to) I also add my own lens as a leadership coach working with scale-up organisations, reflecting on the deep connection between feeling valued and leading effectively.  You’ll also hear one of the simplest, most powerful boardroom strategies I’ve ever come across for getting tough decisions right — while keeping the team aligned and engaged.