Lead with Purpose

On this episode of the Lead With Purpose podcast host, Tze Ching Yeung talks to tech & eCommerce expert, Riikka Olli, about circular business models.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• My circularity/sustainability interest is linked to my background. Coming from Finland I literally lived in a forest in my childhood years. It comes from a connection to & respect for nature. It’s important that we change the way the world is turning towards environmentalism & doing business that protects the environment.   
• A couple of years ago I got curious about exploring circular business economies. When I started working on Menddie I had a previous startup that made re-sale discovery easier, that led me to look at it more from a business perspective. Menddie’s key value proposition was around care & repair services to brands for their customers. It’s a tech platform that enables the service side for customers booking either through brands for warranty repair or for the customer booking out-of-warranty repairs. It’s also a network of menders & repair professionals.
• There’s a good number of companies already doing sustainability reporting & being very serious about it. But it’s not actually impacting or changing the way they do business or operate day-to-day. One of the things I feel, as a consultant, that I can help companies & decision makers see is what to measure today, what the sustainability report tells you, & pointing out the things they could be doing better & how to shift the system/business model. It’s about re-assessing your purpose & why you exist as a company; now you know where you are as a company, now you can drive your actions towards committing to those goals rather than simply reporting numbers.
• It’s our role to instil confidence in the process and to inspire. It needs to happen now. Companies need to see the risks of not acting.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Having kids made me think more about my environment & the way I live my life & what actions I wanted to show my kids.’

‘If you don’t build-in circularity into your value chain it’s going to be very difficult for you to measure the impact of your circular model without that traceability & visibility.’

‘Fashion, specifically, has these massive supply chains that are so complex, we don’t even know sometimes who the end supplier is, which is kind of scary.’

‘This really requires long-term vision, commitment.’

ABOUT THE GUEST

Riikka Olli provides business and strategy coaching for entrepreneurs & small businesses. Her experience is in Fintech (10 years at PayPal), Ecommerce (Pixmania.com and InPost UK). She is currently launching her own start-up within FashionTech, www.styleuncodedofficial.com, but she is looking to help other founders and small businesses in growing & expanding their business.

LinkedIn

ABOUT THE HOST

Tze Ching started her entrepreneurial journey back in 2007 with the launch of a sustainable clothing & home furnishing ecommerce business. Next, she created a sustainable fashion brand.

In 2019, she launched a social enterprise to help raise awareness about the negative impact of fashion at schools & colleges. 

Through the 15-year journey, she learned so much, but easily the most meaningful lesson learned was about the importance of marketing. She now focuses on channelling those insights to help others succeed through We Disrupt Agency, a business coaching, mentoring & digital marketing company. 

Tze Ching’s mission is to create a community of global change makers and to contribute to positive change in both people & planet.

CONTACT DETAILS

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LinkedIn

On this episode of the Lead With Purpose podcast host, Tze Ching Yeung talks about empathy in action is how visionary leaders are changing the game, why it should be at the heart of leadership, & how it’s reshaping the business landscape.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The essence of empathy in action is a world where leaders don’t only understand their team members, but actively seek to connect with their experiences. That’s something that’s quite unusual to see in the current business environment. It’s not just about being kind, it’s about fostering a workplace culture that values the unique perspectives of each individual.
• Lead by example & cultivate a workplace culture that’s not just a buzzword, but a daily practice. Foster open conversations & open communications across the board, across the different departments. 
• Understand the diversity in your team and value the unique perspectives of each & every individual & what they’re bringing into your organisation. Accept that, recognise it, & make them feel heard.
• Provide support & resources. Empathy extends beyond understanding & involves action. Provide the necessary resources to help your team members navigate challenges. This could include mentorship programmes, mental health resources, or flexible work arrangements – which has become much more common in recent years. But, do not be so fixed in your approach, look at if it’s really going to work for your company before accepting or denying proposals.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Empathy is not just a feeling, it’s a powerful force that can transform the way we lead & do business.’

‘93% of employees are more likely to stay with an empathetic employer.’

‘Active listening is important & a genuine concern for the wellbeing of your team.’

‘Empathetic leaders seek to understand the experiences of other & leverage diversity points for innovation & growth.’

ABOUT THE HOST

Tze Ching started her entrepreneurial journey back in 2007 with the launch of a sustainable clothing & home furnishing ecommerce business. Next, she created a sustainable fashion brand.

In 2019, she launched a social enterprise to help raise awareness about the negative impact of fashion at schools & colleges. 

Through the 15-year journey, she learned so much, but easily the most meaningful lesson learned was about the importance of marketing. She now focuses on channelling those insights to help others succeed through We Disrupt Agency, a business coaching, mentoring & digital marketing company. 

Tze Ching’s mission is to create a community of global change makers and to contribute to positive change in both people & planet.

CONTACT DETAILS

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn

On this episode of the Lead With Purpose podcast host, Tze Ching Yeung talks about plastic packaging & why it’s important.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Circular packaging minimises waste & could reduce your waste processing costs. If you reduce the packaging you may also reduce the cost of initially creating the packaging. It also reduces your environmental impact & aligns your brand with sustainability which resonates more strongly with today’s conscious consumers.
• Nearly 80% of plastic packaging ends up in landfills or the environment, wherever you go you can almost guarantee seeing some form of plastic packaging somewhere. Circular packaging aims to break this cycle by creating a closed loop system where materials are being reused, recycled &/or composted more thoroughly. 
• Audit the packaging the you use in your business. Whether you’re a brand producing products or a service-based business, you are more than likely still using some kind of plastic packaging. Can your packaging materials be recycled? Are they contributing to the plastic problem?
• Explore sustainable materials & consider alternatives like compostable plastics or move away from plastics to recycled paper or even more innovative materials like mycelium-based packaging.

BEST MOMENTS

‘The equivalent of a garbage truck of plastic enters our oceans every single minute of the day.’

‘Circular packaging is not a trend, it’s an essential step towards a c leaner and greener future.’

‘Design for the circular economy by working with your design team to create packaging that is easily recyclable or repurposed.’

‘Make sure that you’re looking at your packaging lifecycles as well as the product’s when you’re first designing your product & talk to your suppliers to let them know you want to use sustainable alternatives to plastic.’

ABOUT THE HOST

Tze Ching started her entrepreneurial journey back in 2007 with the launch of a sustainable clothing & home furnishing ecommerce business. Next, she created a sustainable fashion brand.

In 2019, she launched a social enterprise to help raise awareness about the negative impact of fashion at schools & colleges. 

Through the 15-year journey, she learned so much, but easily the most meaningful lesson learned was about the importance of marketing. She now focuses on channelling those insights to help others succeed through We Disrupt Agency, a business coaching, mentoring & digital marketing company. 

Tze Ching’s mission is to create a community of global change makers & to contribute to positive change in both people & planet.

CONTACT DETAILS

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn

On this episode of the Lead With Purpose podcast host, Tze Ching Yeung talks to Rachel Kan, the founder of Circular Earth & Real Circularity as well as an author of a book with the same name about circularity – which is the topic of 2024 & is core to achieving true sustainability.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• We see circularity as a thing that constantly creates new value or keeps the value perception of the things that you’re creating, whether you’re turning it into something else or pushing it into a different industry, it’s still creating value for all of those nested systems.
• We have regeneratively grown cotton that’s been completely rain-fed & is hand woven, so there’s no CO2 involved in the process of creating it, that’s then cut & sewn & designed to have longevity. The knee panels are designed to be modular, they can come out when you put a hole in them & new ones can be put in. At the end of it’s life the mono-fibre can be chopped up and composted because it’s ‘naked’, there are no dyes on it, not even natural dyes.
• We’re creating a customer community where they become a part of this brand & show us what they do with their jeans; do they pass it on, swap it, keep it forever, visit our natural dye workshops & learn which natural dyes to use (not all natural dyes are sustainable). We then need to create the economic functions to do that which could involve creating a festival or a membership around it, or a product for service. Some will be adopted & others won’t, but failure is learning.
• Success comes in many ways and levels for different people & brand sizes, it can be measured by what we want as people. The people that have come together on Sandra’s Stories have been able to showcase their respective businesses, through that brand, & position themselves & say they’ve worked on that project to get more business. It’s not necessarily what the product creates, it’s what that product can create for other businesses as well.

BEST MOMENTS

‘You can have unsustainable circularity, so it’s really important to make distinctions in the first place. There are so many nuances of creating circularity.’

‘The best thing to do with a plastic bottle is to turn it into another plastic bottle because you’re keeping the same value-add with it. Better still, create a long-life plastic bottle that can be turned into another plastic bottle at the end of that lifecycle.’

‘We’re building the bridges for everyone else to walk over.’

‘I don’t care what business size you are, there’s something you can do in this.’

ABOUT THE GUEST

Rachel Kan is a Fashion sustainability specialist at Circular Earth & Ecosystem Architect at The Ecosystem Incubator

CONTACT

www.RealCircularity.com
www.Circular-Earth.co.uk
www.RSKan.com
www.TheEcosystemIncubator.com

Real Circularity 

Ken Alston - https://thekenalston.com
Simon Hedley  (The quote assume nothing confirm everything) His brain work.
https://thestrategicalchemist.com 

Collaborations 

https://sanjastories.com
https://lovebigcoats.com 

Rachel Sheila Kan,
Managing Director,
Circular Earth LTD
www.circular-earth.co.uk
07967 323760

ABOUT THE HOST

Tze Ching started her entrepreneurial journey back in 2007 with the launch of a sustainable clothing & home furnishing ecommerce business. Next, she created a sustainable fashion brand.

In 2019, she launched a social enterprise to help raise awareness about the negative impact of fashion at schools & colleges. 

Through the 15-year journey, she learned so much, but easily the most meaningful lesson learned was about the importance of marketing. She now focuses on channelling those insights to help others succeed through We Disrupt Agency, a business coaching, mentoring & digital marketing company. 

Tze Ching’s mission is to create a community of global change makers & to contribute to positive change in both people & planet.

CONTACT DETAILS

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn

On this episode of the Lead With Purpose podcast host, Tze Ching Yeung talks about how to use passion to build a mission-driven team that thrives by creating a workplace where individuals aren’t just employees, they are contributors to a shared mission

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• You need to create a workplace culture where individuals find meaning, fulfilment & a shared purpose in their work. That in itself creates a happier people & a happier team. According to a Gallup study, teams with high employee engagement – where they are happier – experience 21% higher profitability.
• Hire & develop passionate individuals. Building a mission-driven team starts with hiring individuals who are not just skilled, but passionate about the mission. Encourage continuous learning & personal development, & nurture & amplify that sense of passion or purpose that drives them towards the mission.
• Foster a collaborative & inclusive culture where every team member feels valued and connected to the mission. This involves open communication, shared decision making * recognising individual contributors. This enhances innovation & creativity within your organisation.
• Do an audit of your team. Which people in your team are or are not aligned with your mission? Do you have to drive them, or do they drive themselves?

BEST MOMENTS

‘Passion is the fuel that ignites purpose and a mission-driven team is the vehicle that drives it forward & creates the impact that we want to create in our business.’

‘Define a clear & compelling mission for your team which resonates with the values & aspirations of each of the team members, providing a shared sense of purpose.’

‘Ensure that individual & team goals align with the overarching mission, this alignment creates a roadmaps for success where every achievement contributes towards the greater good.’

‘Your team is not just a collection of individuals, it is a team united by a shared mission.’

ABOUT THE HOST

Tze Ching started her entrepreneurial journey back in 2007 with the launch of a sustainable clothing and home furnishing ecommerce business. Next, she created a sustainable fashion brand.

In 2019, she launched a social enterprise to help raise awareness about the negative impact of fashion at schools and colleges. 

Through the 15-year journey, she learned so much, but easily the most meaningful lesson learned was about the importance of marketing. She now focuses on channelling those insights to help others succeed through We Disrupt Agency, a business coaching, mentoring and digital marketing company. 

Tze Ching’s mission is to create a community of global change makers and to contribute to positive change in both people and planet.

CONTACT DETAILS

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn

On this episode of the Lead With Purpose podcast host, Tze Ching Yeung talks about successful marketing guru, Grant Cardone’s (who she has recently parnetered with) strategies to help purpose driven businesses.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Best known always beats best. This is especially true in the sustainability space where there are products that can literally change the world, but we don’t put ourselves out there or feel comfortable marketing it. McDonalds don’t have the best burgers but they’re the best at marketing and people go there.
• Assume nobody sees it. I don’t market enough & I see very few people who market enough to drive business. We’re always worried that if we market too much people will get annoyed with us or we’ll be in too many places & people will get bored of seeing us. That’s not true, especially on social media where not everybody gets to see your content.
• Attention is the most valuable currency, especilly if it’s a really good product that’s going to change the world. Attention is the most valuable currency. Without it there can be no sale.
• Frequency comes before greatness. Make sure you keep putting yourself out there & if you’re not great at doing videos, wrting emails, whatever, keep going, you will get better & greater at it the more you do it. 

BEST MOMENTS

‘Money follows attention: No attention no money, no money no sales.’

‘Repeat successful actions. Always track your KPIs, marketing & whatever you do in your business to see what does & doesn’t work.’

‘Speed is senior to qulity in marketing (not product quality!). Sometimes we procrastinate on sending that text or email, making that reel or post. We’re holding ourselves back. It’s better that we get it out there than not..’

‘Marketing is senior to sales. No marketing, no sales.’

ABOUT THE HOST

Tze Ching started her entrepreneurial journey back in 2007 with the launch of a sustainable clothing & home furnishing ecommerce business. Next, she created a sustainable fashion brand.

In 2019, she launched a social enterprise to help raise awareness about the negative impact of fashion at schools & colleges. 

Through the 15-year journey, she learned so much, but easily the most meaningful lesson learned was about the importance of marketing. She now focuses on channelling those insights to help others succeed through We Disrupt Agency, a business coaching, mentoring & digital marketing company. 

Tze Ching’s mission is to create a community of global change makers and to contribute to positive change in both people & planet.

CONTACT DETAILS

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn

On this episode of the Lead With Purpose podcast host, Tze Ching Yeung talks about ‘closing the loop’ & how it can transform your business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Instead of the traditional take, make & dispose models, circular models emphasises a closed loop system where they are designed to be reused, re-manufactured & recycled. Aside from being a positive force for the planet, circular business models can actually boost your bottom line. Companies that adopt a circular practice can unlock up to $4.5 trillion in economic value by 2030.
• Audit your supply chain. Take a close look at identify ways in which waste can be minimised & explore sustainable sourcing options. A circular business starts with responsible inputs as well as outputs.
• Design for circularity. Challenge your product designers to create products with a longer lifecycle & opt for materials that are easily recyclable &/or can be repurposed. Think longevity not disposability. No planned obsolescence.
• Implement a ‘take back programme’. Encourage your customers to return used products to you. This not only fosters customer loyalty but also allows you to refurbish or recycle the items, closing the loop on your product’s lifecycle & taking responsibility for your company’s outputs. Before you launch this, do make sure that you’ve looked at the processes from an operational point of view that you are able to recycle and repurpose the items that come back to you.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Sustainable business practices are not a cost, they are an investment in the future of our planet & our economy.’

‘It’s not about numbers, it’s about building a resilient & sustainable business that stands the test of time.’

‘Leverage digital technology to track & optimise your circle of processes so you can prove what you’re doing and can’t be accused of greenwashing.’

‘Closing the loop isn’t just a trend, it’s a business imperative. It’s about creating a legacy that goes beyond profits; creating a lasting positive impact on the planet.’

ABOUT THE HOST

Tze Ching started her entrepreneurial journey back in 2007 with the launch of a sustainable clothing & home furnishing ecommerce business. Next, she created a sustainable fashion brand.

In 2019, she launched a social enterprise to help raise awareness about the negative impact of fashion at schools & colleges. 

Through the 15-year journey, she learned so much, but easily the most meaningful lesson learned was about the importance of marketing. She now focuses on channelling those insights to help others succeed through We Disrupt Agency, a business coaching, mentoring & digital marketing company. 

Tze Ching’s mission is to create a community of global change makers and to contribute to positive change in both people & planet.

CONTACT DETAILS

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn

To celebrate the start of 2024, Tze Ching reflects on the direction her show is set to take for the next twelves months. This year will see a shift in focus towards the topic of circularity and sustainability in business. Further topics such as design thinking, impact measurement, marketing, and sales will also be at the top of Tze Ching's list to be discussed. 

Additionally, Tze Ching shares with her listener a new challenge: Slow Fashion 365. This challenge is aimed at helping individuals create a more sustainable and stylish wardrobe. Listeners can expect a wealth of tips, ideas, and insights on launching, growing, and scaling purpose-driven businesses in this episode and throughout the year.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The podcast will focus on the topic of circularity in 2024, exploring how businesses can become more sustainable by adopting a circular approach.

• Tze Ching plans to invite guest speakers who are experts in circularity, design thinking, impact measurement, and sales to provide valuable insights and strategies.

• Sustainability will be a key focus for this year, as the current "take, make, dispose" system is unsustainable and detrimental to the planet.

BEST MOMENTS

"There is no way that a business, or that we, can become fully sustainable if we continue - both as business owners and as consumers - to deplete the resources from the planet." 

"I've invited some guest speakers to come and talk to us about their expertise."

"Unless we are more circular in our approach there is no way we can become sustainable."

"Sales is really important. We're going to be talking more about that this year." 

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.slowfashion365.com

ABOUT THE HOST

Tze Ching started her entrepreneurial journey back in 2007 with the launch of a sustainable clothing and home furnishing ecommerce business. Next, she created a sustainable fashion brand.

In 2019, she launched a social enterprise to help raise awareness about the negative impact of fashion at schools and colleges. 

Through the 15-year journey, she learned so much, but easily the most meaningful lesson learned was about the importance of marketing. She now focuses on channelling those insights to help others succeed through We Disrupt Agency, a business coaching, mentoring and digital marketing company. 

Tze Ching’s mission is to create a community of global change makers and to contribute to positive change in both people and planet.

CONTACT DETAILS

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn

On this episode of the Lead With Purpose podcast host, Tze Ching Yeung talks about consumerism, the insatiable desire to keep buying more and more, and the relentless pursuit of material wealth which has become one of the major characteristics of our society. Is it just harmless shopping or is it a reflection of a social illness? In this episode she looks at some of the negative impacts of consumerism has on individuals, communities and the environment.

www.makingsenseoffashion.com 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Consumerism is very much fuelled by the ‘cult of materialism’, where people find their identity through acquiring new possessions. This mindset promotes a never-ending cycle of desire and dissatisfaction which in turn leads individuals to constantly want more, not feeling good enough and seeking out new goods to buy so they can feel better about themselves.
• Consumerism accentuates social inequality by promoting a culture where status and prestige are defined by the ability to accumulate wealth. Actually, it’s true and it does for many, but the growing gap between the rich and the poor is becoming more and more pronounced as consumerism pressures people to keep up with the unrealistic standards set by the affluent and so-called influencers. This in turn leads to feelings of alienation and inadequacy amongst those who cannot afford to live this lifestyle, which is the majority of us.
• The emphasis on external validation and materials success has a detrimental affect on our mental health. The relentless pursuit of possessions can lead to anxieties, stress, constantly feeling inadequate and being enough. The consumerism mindset is really not helping us to feel connected with ourselves or making us feel good about ourselves. The way consumerism is sold to us is to make us feel unhappy because it’s very difficult to sell to a person who is already happy with themselves or feel they already have all they need.
• We need to be more aware of what’s happening. Don’t just go out there and consume for the sake of consuming because there is a cycle that entangles us in this toxic environment where we need to buy new things to feel better about ourselves, or we shop because we’re bored or are feeling disconnected to make ourselves feel better.

BEST MOMENTS

‘We rely on our possessions to build our own self-worth and identity, and that’s a real problem.’
‘What we forget is that influencers may well be living this lifestyle, but for some of them, that portrayal is only a small part of it and is a bit of a lie.’
‘They need us to feel inadequate in order for us to want to buy more so that they can make more profit.’
‘Consumerism isn’t just about shopping, it could be food, alcohol or drugs.’

ABOUT THE HOST

Tze Ching started her entrepreneurial journey back in 2007 with the launch of a sustainable clothing and home furnishing ecommerce business. Next, she created a sustainable fashion brand.

In 2019, she launched a social enterprise to help raise awareness about the negative impact of fashion at schools and colleges.

Through the 15-year journey, she learned so much, but easily the most meaningful lesson learned was about the importance of marketing. She now focuses on channelling those insights to help others succeed, through We Disrupt Agency, a business coaching, mentoring and digital marketing company.

Tze Ching’s mission is to create a community of global change makers and to contribute to positive change in both people and planet.

CONTACT DETAILS

Tze Ching’s website: https://wedisruptagency.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wedisruptagency

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wedisruptagency/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/wedisruptagency

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tzechingyeung/

On this episode of the Lead With Purpose podcast host, Tze Ching Yeung talks about the words not to use to avoid claims of greenwashing (making misleading or false claims about a product or a company’s environmental friendliness to attract eco-conscious consumers).

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Greenwashing has become a huge problem in industries like fast fashion where huge claims are made to attract eco-conscious consumers to buy their products. To avoid greenwashing claims it’s essential to be transparent and honest in your marketing otherwise you could very quickly lose all your trust and credibility from your customers.
• The word eco-friendly suggests that the product or service has minimal environmental impact. However, if not supported by evidence or specific certifications it can be considered vague and misleading. Similar is the word ‘green’ which can be seen as a generic and unsubstantiated claim, you need to specify what makes the product/service green.
• The term ‘organic’ often relates to agriculture and implies that the product is free from synthetic chemicals and pesticides. Be cautious of using it for food products because it needs proper certifications.
• ‘Eco-conscious’ indicates awareness of environmental issues but it should be accompanied by concrete actions and proof. Explain the sustainable practices you’ve adopted, what do you mean by “we’re an eco-conscious company”? Are you just thinking about being eco-conscious or are you actually doing something about it? Explain what you’re doing and back this up with proof as well.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Everything nowadays seems to be sustainable. This word implies the product/service meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations. Be cautious if the claim lacks supporting data. Provide evidence.’
‘Not all natural resources are sustainable or harmless, make sure that you clearly state what natural materials/ingredients you’re using.’
‘The word “clean” can mean a lot of things, be specific.’
‘If a product claims to be biodegradable it should decompose safely and within a reasonable timeframe in a natural environment.’

ABOUT THE HOST

Tze Ching started her entrepreneurial journey back in 2007 with the launch of a sustainable clothing and home furnishing ecommerce business. Next, she created a sustainable fashion brand.

In 2019, she launched a social enterprise to help raise awareness about the negative impact of fashion at schools and colleges.

Through the 15-year journey, she learned so much, but easily the most meaningful lesson learned was about the importance of marketing. She now focuses on channelling those insights to help others succeed, through We Disrupt Agency, a business coaching, mentoring and digital marketing company.

Tze Ching’s mission is to create a community of global change makers and to contribute to positive change in both people and planet.

CONTACT DETAILS

Tze Ching’s website: https://wedisruptagency.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wedisruptagency

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wedisruptagency/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/wedisruptagency

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tzechingyeung/