Get Fruitful Conversations

In this episode I reflect on the 9 podcast episodes I’ve published so far and draw out 4 key ways in which your business can be a greater force for good.

I summarise the various practical examples shared by all my guests to date including:

Listen in to hear me talk about how your business can be a greater force for good for:

Find out more about the THINK BIGGER online workshop I’m hosting on 6th October 2021 at www.thinkbigger2021.eventbrite.co.uk 

Find out more about the upcoming SEEDS TO SUCCESS business growth support programme and group that will open for enrolment this October at www.getfruitfulmarketing.com 

Jemma Fairclough-Haynes, CEO of Orchard Employment Law talks with me about her entrepreneurial journey and how she is using her business as a force for good. 

As well as being a company Director, Employer Lawyer & HR Specialist, Jemma is also a Keynote Speaker, Radio Co-Host, Kent & Medway FSB Area Lead and School Governor.

 Listen in to hear us talk about: 

You can find out more about Jemma’s work at Orchard Employment Law

With Sian Holt, MD of Fudge Kitchen

Sian Holt, Managing Director of Fudge Kitchen talks with me about her entrepreneurial journey and how business can be a force for greater good.

Hear more about how her business has:

Used the Covid lockdown period has been a great opportunity for reflection and stepping up business for good commitments

You can find out more about Sian’s work at  https://www.fudgekitchen.co.uk

Giles Miskin, Founder of The Colour Works and The Colour Works Foundation talks about his entrepreneurial journey and how he is using his business as a force for good plus:

You can find out more about Giles’ work at The Colour Works and TCW Foundation 

Nici Jupp, recruitment partner to entrepreneurs and CEOs of scale-ups growing teams post-investment, talks about her entrepreneurial journey and how she is using her business as a force for good, plus we discuss:

• how she was inspired to start her business after poor experiences with recruiters during her corporate career as a hiring manager and seeing the wealth of experience presented by parents she was meeting at the school gates
• how she has shifted her view from seeing ‘business for good’ as something that really only applies to charities and social enterprises, and how it can actually be part of all profit-making organisations
• how ‘business for good’ can be about both how you conduct your day-to-day business, and what you do with the profits at the end of the day
• the importance of patience and self-awareness
• technology and positive impact
• the importance of knowing who you are and what you stand for
• what she has learned about how to measure and improve your business' social impact through her membership of Social Value UK and completing their Level 1 Certification

You can find out more about Nici’s work at https://talentgateway.net and join the Get Fruitful Business for Good Facebook Group to continue the conversation https://www.facebook.com/groups/getfruitfulb4g

In this episode I talk with Deborah Turner, Chartered Surveyor, Founder of You Image Consultancy, Co-Founder of Breakthrough Women, South East Policy Lead and National Policy Lead for Women in Business for the Federation of Small Businesses.

We talk about:

• The importance of sharing knowledge and passion to help others
• Why we need to do more to highlight the opportunity of enterprise to young people
• How she has forged a multi-passionate career having started out in a male-dominated industry
• The dangers of ‘blending in’ at work
• How the pandemic has had a disproportionally negative effect on women
• The importance of building a network and the value of relationships
• How you can become more authentic, visible and an inspiring role model for young people

Find out more about Deborah’s work at https://www.linkedin.com/in/youimageconsult/and join the conversation at https://www.facebook.com/groups/getfruitfulb4g

Martin White, Founder of SupplyMyBusiness.co.uk and Green Business Hub and host of KentBizConnect.co.uk Radio Show talks with me about:

• How business can be a great environment for learning how the wider world works
• How he is helping people make green purchasing decisions and navigate a fragmented marketplace
• How we have become out of balance with nature – consuming 1.6 x the Earth’s resources
• The broader meaning of ‘sustainability’
• The importance of building a strong network to support your business growth
• The UN Global Goals and Ellen McArthur’s Foundation promoting ‘Circular Economy’
• Shareholder greed v Stakeholder value
• Greta Thunberg, the Dasgupta Review (The Economics of Biodiversity) and the UKCop26.org conference
  
  Find out more about Martin’s new venture at Greenbusinesshub.eco and continue the conversation at https://www.facebook.com/groups/getfruitfulb4g 

In this episode I speak with Jane Ollis, an experienced Chair & Non Executive Director committed to serving businesses with purpose and also Founder of MindSpire.

We talk about:

• The link between environmental science and personal wellbeing
• How being a mother has inspired her business mission
• Defining the balance between ‘good’ stimulating stress and ‘bad’ stress that depletes us
• Decoding stress using biomarkers and data
• Neuroplasticity and medical innovation
• Wearable Healthtech devices
• The importance of joy and love
• The challenge of raising funds outside the Silicon Valley bubble
  
  You can find out more about Jane’s work at Mindspire.co.uk

In this episode I talk with award-winning businesswoman, author, broadcaster and speaker Sue Nelson about how she started the multiple award-winning Breakthrough Group, which grew from a two-person operation in her conservatory in 2015 to a highly profitable multi-million pound business. It was sold to EY (Ernst and Young) in 2020. She was awarded the London and South East Director of the Year for innovation in 2019 by the Institute of Directors.

We discussed:

• Her ‘big experiment’ to make a successful business and ‘be nice’
• How her perspective on the meaning of success has shifted through her career
• The satisfaction of seeing people develop in their roles at work
• The importance of having a clear exit strategy on starting your business
• How critical it is to hire the right people to build your team (and how qualifications don’t always matter)
• Her views on bootstrapping a company
• The power of role models to show us what is possible

You can connect find out more and connect with Sue at suenelson.uk

If you'd like to continue the conversation, come and join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/getfruitfulb4g

In this episode I talk with travel business coach, social entrepreneur and mastermind leader Catherine Gallagher about:

• The Japanese concept of Ikigai and how this ‘reason for being’ can bring clarity to your business and entrepreneurial goals
• How entrepreneurship can be a vehicle for self-expression and personal development
• The UN Global Goals and how big world problems can align with your personal passion to create a more purposeful business
• Embracing feminine leadership qualities and the need for better gender balance within the travel industry
• Ethical experiential travel – what does it mean?
• How rock climbing can be a great metaphor for your entrepreneurial journey

You can find out more about Catherine’s work at WTLeaders.com and CatherineGallagher.com

If you'd like to continue the conversation, come and join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/getfruitfulb4g