The Purposeful Strategist

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Patrick Heath-Lay, CEO of People’s Partnership, about how the organisation behind The People’s Pension has grown into one of the UK’s largest workplace pension providers, and what it takes to build a system that works for millions.They explore the organisation’s transformation from its roots in the construction industry, the impact of automatic enrolment, and how a not-for-profit, profit-to-member model shapes decision-making at scale.In their conversation, they discuss: • What a master trust pension is and how it works in practice. • How legislative change forced a strategic reinvention of the organisation. • Balancing commercial discipline with member outcomes in a purpose-driven business. • Why the pensions system must work for those who don’t actively engage with it.People’s Partnership: https://peoplespartnership.co.uk/ MenKus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/ Supported by Norman Broadbent: https://www.normanbroadbent.com/ Belden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a senior strategic advisory practice that provides strategic clarity for businesses with a public remit, where scrutiny is high, governance is complex, and the answers aren't obvious. His McKinsey training combined with more than 30 years working at Board and ExCo level gives him both the analytical rigour and the relational experience that complex, high-stakes leadership situations demand. Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a weekly podcast. It explores how senior leaders bring purpose to life through strategy and reflects the same questions that drive the consulting work.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Will Gardiner, CEO of Drax, about leading through the complexity of the energy transition and what it takes to operate in a system under growing pressure. They explore the strategic choices required as demand for electricity accelerates, the realities of managing a more volatile, renewables-led system, and how the narrative around energy is evolving beyond net zero.In their conversation, they discuss:• Why flexibility is critical in a system increasingly shaped by intermittent wind and solar.• How Drax’s strategy has evolved from multiple growth bets to a clearer focus on generation and volatility.• The challenges of grid constraints, misaligned incentives, and building infrastructure at pace.• How rising demand, particularly from AI and data centres, is reshaping the energy landscape.• Why leaders must do more to communicate the value of energy and rebuild public trust.Drax: https://www.drax.com/Blueprint for Business: https://www.blueprintforbusiness.org/MenKus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/Supported by Norman Broadbent: https://www.normanbroadbent.com/Belden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Ruth Boumphrey, Chief Executive of Lloyd’s Register Foundation, about how the organisation is working to “engineer a safer world” — using data, partnerships, and long-term investment to drive impact at scale.They explore the Foundation’s evolving strategy, its shift towards locally led decision-making, and the role of evidence, including the World Risk Poll, in understanding and reducing risk and harm globally.In their conversation, they discuss: • What safety means in practice across infrastructure, people, and systems. • How a charity can operate with a business mindset to drive change. • Why better data is essential to tackling global risk. • The importance of having difficult conversations in safer outcomes.Lloyd’s Register FoundationMenKus & AssociatesSupported by Norman BroadbentBelden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Alistair Gosling and Ben Brown, co-founders of Wavelength Network, about building a media business for a world where platforms, creators, and algorithms shape how content is produced, distributed, and monetised. Drawing on backgrounds spanning global TV networks, consulting, music, and the creator economy, they reflect on how the traditional broadcast model is giving way to a more fragmented, creator-led ecosystem, and what that means for talent, brands, and audiences.In their conversation, they explore:How media consumption has shifted toward algorithm-driven, “lean back” experiences.The difference between creators and publishers — and why both matter in today’s ecosystem.Why many creators struggle to capture long-term value despite large audiences.How Wavelength combines owned distribution, creators, and brand partnerships to build scale.The emergence of new formats, from micro-content to creator-led IP, and what comes next for the industry.WavelengthMenKus & AssociatesSupported by Norman BroadbentBelden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with James Maxey, Founder and CEO of Express Solicitors, about building one of the UK’s largest specialist personal injury firms in a market shaped by regulatory change, fragmentation, and increasing institutional investment. From starting with just 22 clients in 2000, Express has grown into a 900+ person organisation handling around 45,000 live claims — combining scale with a tightly integrated, client-focused operating model.In their conversation, they explore: • How to build and scale a specialist law firm in a fragmented, competitive market. • Why in-sourcing key parts of the value chain, from barristers to medical reporting, drives both quality and control. • How regulatory change has reshaped the personal injury landscape, and how to respond strategically rather than reactively. • What private equity enables beyond capital, including succession planning and accelerated growth. • Why training, process, and performance standards are central to delivering consistent client outcomes at scale. • How to balance efficiency with quality in a system where better legal work can materially change client outcomes.Express SolicitorsMenKus & AssociatesSupported by Norman BroadbentBelden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Mia Drennan, Founder and CEO of GLAS, about building a global financial services firm by reimagining a function that once sat inside banks. From launching with £6,000 after the financial crisis to administering hundreds of billions in assets today, GLAS has grown into a leading independent platform serving private credit, banks, and capital markets worldwide.In their conversation, they explore: • How the 2008 financial crisis created the opportunity for an independent loan agency model. • Why independence, proactivity, and execution became GLAS’s strategic edge. • How opportunistic expansion — from the UK to the US and Australia — shaped the firm’s growth. • What private equity backing changed (and didn’t) after a decade of founder-led scaling. • How technology, data, and AI are transforming back-office financial services — and why human judgment still matters.GLASMenKus & AssociatesSupported by Norman BroadbentBelden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Max Dubiel, co-founder of Redemption Roasters, a social impact coffee business working to reduce reoffending in the UK through training and employment. This mission-driven startup has grown into a multi-site retail and wholesale business, employing a significant proportion of prison leavers while operating in one of the UK’s most challenging sectors.Max shares how Redemption is navigating a pivotal moment — from rapid expansion to disciplined consolidation in response to a tougher hospitality market. He reflects on raising institutional capital, restructuring the business under pressure, and strengthening operational foundations, from cost control to hiring and management systems. Alongside this, he explains how the business has continued to deepen its impact, increasing the proportion of prison leavers in its workforce and expanding its wholesale and training model.In their conversation, they explore: • What it takes to balance profit and purpose in a volatile market. • The realities of scaling a bricks-and-mortar business under pressure. • Why disciplined hiring and management systems are critical to performance. • How investor alignment shapes long-term decision-making. • Where Redemption Roasters is focusing next and what sustainable growth looks like.Redemption RoastersMenKus & AssociatesSupported by Norman BroadbentManager ToolsBelden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Francesca Lagerberg, CEO of Baker Tilly International, about leading a global professional services network in a rapidly changing economic and technological landscape. Baker Tilly International brings together independent firms across more than 140 territories, providing mid-market clients with advisory, audit, legal and tax services delivered by a global community of over 50,000 professionals.In their conversation, they explore: • How global networks balance independence with shared standards, strategy, and trust. • Why helping clients make well-thought-out decisions with imperfect information sits at the heart of Baker Tilly’s purpose. • The 18-month process of developing a new global strategy and why successful execution is so important. • How technology and AI are reshaping professional services, from automation to simulated learning. • The shifting expectations of clients in an uncertain economic environment and how advisors can deliver real value.Baker TillyMenKus & AssociateSupported by Norman BroadbentBelden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Barny Guthrie, CEO of Clinical Partners, about building and scaling a mental health provider at a time of rising demand and unprecedented pressure on healthcare systems. What began as a small operation run from a spare bedroom has grown into a large mental health provider, employing around 400 staff and supporting patients across NHS, private insurance and self-pay pathways. In their conversation, they explore:• How Barny’s own early experiences with mental health shaped his motivation to help reduce human distress. • The surge in demand for neurodiversity services. • Why strategy ultimately came down to one critical word: focus. • The operational realities of scaling a healthcare service while maintaining quality and trust. • How technology, governance, and continuous improvement are reshaping the delivery of mental health care.Clinical PartnersMenKus & AssociatesSupported by Norman BroadbentBelden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Ken Fowlie, Chair of Stowe Family Law, about scaling the UK’s largest specialist family law firm in an era where private equity discipline and accelerating technological change are major themes. With 400 professionals and nationwide coverage, Stowe has grown into a modern, institutionally backed platform while remaining anchored in a clear purpose: “When families break down, we help them move forward.”In their conversation, they explore:• What private equity really adds to a professional services firm beyond capital. • How to balance clients, colleagues, and shareholders in a people-first business. • Why client expectations in family law are shifting toward greater control and less adversarial resolution. • How AI may reshape legal tasks — but not the role of the trusted human adviser. • Why investing in data foundations is critical to staying agile in the next decade of legal services.Stowe Family LawMenKus & AssociatesSupported by Norman BroadbentBelden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Kevin Bennett, CEO of Premier Christian Media, about leading a mission-driven media organisation in a rapidly changing technological and cultural landscape. What began in 1995 as a single London AM radio station has grown into the UK’s largest Christian broadcaster, reaching around 1.8 million listeners weekly across multiple radio stations, alongside a global podcast, digital, magazine, and events presence.In their conversation, they explore: • How a purpose-led organisation measures impact beyond financial metrics. • The role of discernment in leadership decision-making. • Balancing commercial sustainability with ministry mission. • Why live radio still matters in a digital, on-demand world. • How Premier is approaching AI with responsibility, transparency, and human creativity at the centre.PremierMenKus & AssociatesSupported by Norman BroadbentBelden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Phill Robinson, co-founder of Boardwave about the structural challenge of scaling technology businesses in Europe and the leadership infrastructure required to compete in the age of AI. What began as a small, founder-led community sketched at a kitchen table has grown into a pan-European network of more than 2,500 tech founders, CEOs, and Chairs, spanning the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Nordics, and the Netherlands.In their conversation, they explore: • Why Europe has struggled to scale global software and AI leaders. • The widening growth gap between AI-native and non-AI tech firms. • How community, mentorship, and shared experience accelerate scale. • The leadership shift from experience-led to adaptive decision-making. • Why the next decade represents a critical window for European tech.BoardwaveMenKus & AssociatesSupported by Norman BroadbentBelden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Lindsey MacDonald, CEO of Magic Breakfast — a national charity working to ensure children at risk of hunger start the school day with a nutritious breakfast, ready to learn and thrive. What began more than two decades ago with bagels delivered from the boot of a car now supports over 350,000 children and young people across 1,000+ schools in England and Scotland, combining direct provision with advocacy to tackle child morning hunger at scale.Lindsey explains how Magic Breakfast is navigating a pivotal policy moment, as government moves toward universal school breakfast provision. She reflects on the organisation’s dual role — delivering food while shaping the systems that will ultimately sustain access — and why the “magic” lies not just in nutrition, but in belonging, wellbeing, and school community. From operational innovations like the Magic Menu to the charity’s long-term Nourishing Futures strategy, she shares how the organisation is evolving to meet growing demand without losing focus.In their conversation, they explore: • How breakfast provision impacts attainment, wellbeing, and whole-school outcomes. • The shift from “schools can” to “schools must” — and what it means in practice. • Why stigma-free, universal access is critical to success. • How Magic Breakfast is balancing delivery, research, and advocacy. • What it takes to scale impact while systems — and organisations — evolve.Magic BreakfastMenKus & AssociatesSupported by Norman BroadbentBelden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Marina Stenos, Managing Partner of FINN Partners’ Global Education Practice. Marina has spent her career working at the intersection of education, public affairs, and strategic communications—supporting foundations, school systems, universities, philanthropies, and education organisations as they navigate complexity, reform, and change.Marina shares how education clients can modernise without losing the trust or expertise of the people they exist to serve. Drawing on work ranging from the updating of US science standards to advising education providers and institutions around the world, she reflects on why large-scale change requires disciplined communication, protection of process, and deep respect for educators and communities. She describes why access to learning remains one of the most powerful levers for human potential and how storytelling and representation shape how we see ourselves.In their conversation, they explore:• Why education is a system built on trust and how that trust can be protected during change.• What “protecting the process” means in large-scale, high-stakes education reform.• Why alternative pathways and lifelong learning are reshaping what it means to be educated.• How AI and misinformation are changing the role of communication in education.• Why education remains one of the most important drivers of social and economic mobility.FINN PartnersMenKus & AssociatesSupported by Norman BroadbentBelden Menkus, Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, works with CEOs and senior leaders to align their strategy and purpose. Working with organisations where leadership is shared rather than centralised, Belden's work is defined by intellectual clarity, collaboration, and a commitment to practical results. Drawing on his experience at McKinsey & Company and decades spent advising complex organisations, he supports mid-sized institutions—particularly law firms and membership bodies—as they navigate strategic inflexion points and build enduring value during periods of uncertainty.He is a public speaker and strategic thinker with a wide intellectual range, bringing together business insight, historical perspective, and cultural curiosity—combining the instincts of a consultant with those of a historian and an explorer of ideas. In addition to consulting, he hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a weekly podcast discussing how business leaders themselves bring purpose into real strategic action.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Geraint Evans, Chief Executive Officer of UK Major Ports Group—the organisation representing the UK’s nine largest port-owning groups, responsible for around three-quarters of the nation’s maritime trade. Sitting at the intersection of infrastructure, trade, and national resilience, UK Major Ports plays a critical role in shaping decisions that will influence the UK economy for generations. Since taking on the role in 2023, Geraint has brought a distinctive perspective shaped by senior experience in government and strategic consulting.Geraint shares how the ports sector is navigating a pivotal moment: balancing long-term investment, sustainability, and competitiveness while remaining anchored in the regional communities ports serve. He reflects on why ports are often overlooked despite being foundational to supply chains, energy transition, and national resilience—and how leadership, trust, and clarity are essential when competitors, policymakers, and investors must align around shared challenges.In their conversation, they explore: • Why strategy is a process rather than an event—and what that means for execution. • How to lead effectively in complex, multi-stakeholder systems. • The importance of trust, pace, and clarity when competing interests sit around the same table. • Why government and the private sector often struggle to align, even when using the same language. • The role of ports in enabling the energy transition, including floating offshore wind. • How decisions made today will shape the UK’s economic resilience for the next hundred years.UK Major Ports Group MenKus & AssociatesSupported by Norman BroadbentBelden Menkus, Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, works with CEOs and senior leaders to align their strategy and purpose. Working with organisations where leadership is shared rather than centralised, Belden's work is defined by intellectual clarity, collaboration, and a commitment to practical results. Drawing on his experience at McKinsey & Company and decades spent advising complex organisations, he supports mid-sized institutions—particularly law firms and membership bodies—as they navigate strategic inflexion points and build enduring value during periods of uncertainty.He is a public speaker and strategic thinker with a wide intellectual range, bringing together business insight, historical perspective, and cultural curiosity—combining the instincts of a consultant with those of a historian and an explorer of ideas. In addition to consulting, he hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a weekly podcast discussing how business leaders themselves bring purpose into real strategic action.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Helen Drayton, CEO of Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP, a full-service UK and international law firm with more than 300 years of history. With offices across the UK, Europe, and Asia and FY25 revenue of £120 million, the firm is focused on purposeful growth, guided by its ambition to become ‘the most human law firm.’Helen shares how she is leading the firm through evolving client expectations, all while keeping people, values, and sustainability at the core of the firm’s decision-making. Helen also shines light on how the firm is thoughtfully integrating AI and aligning its three-year strategic plan around what clients truly value.In their conversation, they explore:How ‘the most human law firm’ became the organising ambition for Penningtons’ strategy and culture.The role of Project Alaska in defining the firm’s values and identity.Why strong foundations –brand, collaboration, innovation—drive sustainable commercial performance.How the firm is integrating AI to support quality, sustainability and client value.Why authenticity, accessibility, and trust sit at the heart of Helen’s leadership.How the firm is shaping its long-term strategy following the Thomas Cooper merger.Penningtons Manches CooperMenkus & AssociatesSupported by Norman BroadbentBelden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

Social impact is the driving force behind Shea Yeleen, a skincare products company that supports an African supply chain employing more than 800 women who earn five times the local minimum wage. Her latest venture is the Yeleen Beauty Makerspace, a hybrid teaching lab and manufacturing space in Washington DC designed to support women and founders of color in the beauty industry.Learn how she does it on the latest episode of The Purposeful Strategist.https://yeleenbeauty.com/https://sheayeleen.com/

In this episode, I’m very pleased to welcome Steve Ford, CEO of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.  Steve shares how listening was the key to developing their new strategy.  He also talks about the practical steps they have taken to turn the strategy into action – including some of the difficult choices they had to make.  Towards the end of the episode, we touch on why and how professional bodies need to change to remain relevant in the future.    

­­­­Dena McCallum of Eden McCallum shares how they have pursued a core purpose over more than 20 years, using a disruptive business model in a very traditional industry: management consulting. 

How do you prepare for long term success? Mike Carragher, CEO of VHB, returns to share with us what they have been doing to ensure their “generational” company thrives long into the future.  As someone at the top of his game in an industry that’s pivotal to creating a world we will want to live in, Mike provides a special view of the current CEO challenges and how to address them. 

In this episode, I’m very pleased to welcome Harry Drajpuch, CEO of Amware Fullfilment.   Harry delivers a masterclass on how to identify a company's purpose, create a clear strategy, and build a strong company culture.   He provides memorable examples and simple rules that everyone can understand and use to guide what they do day-to-day.  This episode is a must-listen for any CEO looking to further improve their leadership and management skills.

In this episode, I’m very pleased to welcome Eric Ressler, Founder and Creative Director of Cosmic, a creative agency that is exploring how digital experiences can spark real world change.   They empower social impact organizations by helping them nail their impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action. Eric shares what it takes to embrace and stick with a new purpose and strategy – and why doing so was both the toughest and best thing they’ve ever done. 

In this episode, I’m joined by Dave Edwards,  Chief Executive of the Royal Aeronautical Society. We explore the challenges of keeping a 157 year-old organisation relevant in a changing digital world, while engaging younger generations and addressing environmental challenges.

In this episode, I’m joined by Philip Goodwin, CEO of VSO, an organisation whose purpose is to create a fair world for everyone.  As you will hear, he’s thought deeply about how to develop and use strategy effectively in very uncertain environments, and about the type of leadership needed when you have big ambitions but it’s not clear how you will achieve them. Join me for this episode full of wisdom and practical advice.   https://www.vsointernational.org/linkedin.com/in/philip-goodwin-41022210

In this episode, I’m very pleased to welcome 3 innovative CEOs, Helen Rippon, Mark Walley, and Julian Mund, to explore how collaboration helps their relatively small organisations effectively pursue huge ambitions.  There are valuable lessons here for leaders of organisations of all types and sizes. 

Colin Fyfe, CEO of the Hinkley & Rugby Building Society talks about how they serve customers that can be underrepresented by larger organisations, what external support they had in their work on purpose, and how they demonstrate their purpose – not just talk about it. 

Learn why RYA Chief Executive Sara Sutcliffe is putting inclusion and the environment at the heart of their new strategy. She talks about the journey she and her team went on to develop a fundamentally different strategy that shouldn’t come as a big surprise to their staff and key stakeholders.

In this episode, I’m joined by Stephen Mann, CEO of the IFoA, the Institute and Facility of Actuaries. Steven and I explore why they felt they needed to explicitly define their purpose and the role that newly defined purpose has had in creating connection and change. Please join me for an episode full of provocative points of view and practical advice.  https://actuaries.org.uk/ linkedin.com/in/stephenajmann

In this episode, I’m very pleased to welcome Sarah Turner, CEO of Angel Academe, the UKs most active and longest-established female-focussed network of angel investors. Sarah describes the problem she wanted to fix, why she chose a business as her platform for doing something with a big philanthropic element, how they contributed to changing the conversation around gender in tech startups and startup funding, and what her long term ambition is. Join me for this informative and practical episode.