What happens when you realise climbing the ladder is not the same as living in line with your values?In this episode of Making it Matter, I speak with Sabine Hutchison – CEO and co founder of Seuss+, founder of The Ripple Network, and author of Beyond the Ladder – about building meaningful, values led careers without becoming someone you do not recognise.We talk about:* Growing a career in corporate while staying kind, fair and grounded* Why traditional ladder shaped careers do not work for everyone* Authentic leadership, empathy and being told you are "too soft"* How women can build confidence, find mentors and own their stories* The role of women’s health in work, from menstrual cycles to menopause* Planning big meetings and key moments around your cycle where possible* Practical tools, workbooks and reflection practices that help you make a changeIf you are questioning your path, feeling pressure to perform in a way that does not feel like you, or wondering how to align work with your values and your body, this conversation is for you.🔗 Connect with Sabine
Website: sabinehutchison.com
Ripple Network: theripplenetwork.com
Podcast: Be a Ripple🎧 Listen to more Making it Matter
Conversations about purpose, work and building a life that actually feels like yours.

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What happens when technology meets purpose?

In this episode, Making it Matter host Megan Hunter speaks with Maxwell Opondo, the Kenyan innovator behind ZeroBionic, a social enterprise using AI-powered humanoid robots to make STEM education accessible for deaf and hard-of-hearing students across Africa.

At just 20-something, Maxwell has already built over 119 robotic arms using recycled plastic waste, reaching more than 7,900 differently-abled students in seven African countries. These robots translate speech into sign language in real time, transforming how teachers communicate complex science and technology concepts.

Together, Megan and Maxwell explore:

• How a simple idea grew into a movement for inclusive education

• The power of AI, robotics, and sustainability to drive social impact

• Overcoming resource barriers and scaling innovation across Africa

• Why representation and accessibility in tech matter now more than ever

Maxwell’s story is a reminder that innovation isn’t about having all the tools, it’s about having the determination to build what’s missing.

💡 About Maxwell Maxwell is the co-founder of ZeroBionic, a Kenyan-based enterprise using AI, robotics, and recycled materials to empower deaf and hard-of-hearing students through inclusive STEM learning tools.

🎙️ About Making it MatterHosted by Megan Hunter, Making it Matter shares stories of changemakers, founders, and leaders reimagining how we live, work, and create impact. From AI and fintech to education, inclusion, and women’s health, each episode dives deep into the stories behind purpose-driven innovation.

#MakingItMatter #AI #Robotics #STEM #AfricaTech #Inclusion #Education #Accessibility #Innovation #SocialImpact

Elaine Galston, founder of Bettii, joins Megan Hunter to talk about the future of women’s health and femtech. From periods and menopause to reusable products and systemic gaps in research, Elaine shares her candid journey from corporate leadership to building a company that challenges myths and creates real solutions.

If you care about women’s health, menstruation, menopause, femtech innovation, and purpose-led leadership, this episode is for you.

Join Bettii's women's health event in Glasgow on 5th October 2025: bettiipresents.co.uk

Ru Pearce believes we need a new definition of success, one rooted in impact, not just profit.

In this episode, we dive deep into Ru’s journey from global tech consultancy to founding Growing Happy and later Rewired Earth , a cross-sector connector working to reshape the financial system and drive system-level change.

We cover:

• How Ru went from a FTSE 350 tech company to working on Olympic ceremonies and impact funds

• What he’s learned about cross-sector collaboration, and why it often fails

• The link between governance, funding, and real-world change

• Rewired Earth’s work in Lambeth & Southwark – and what it means for place-based systems change

• Why the future lies in connection: between people, communities, sectors, and systems

This conversation is honest, energising and full of big ideas — with practical lessons for anyone working in social impact, systems change, or just figuring out how to make it matter.

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Resources mentioned:

• Rewired Earth: https://www.rewired.earth/

• John's Crazy Socks: https://johnscrazysocks.com/

• Chicken Shed Theatre: https://www.chickenshed.org.uk

• The concept of Ikigai: https://www.japan.go.jp/kizuna/2022/03/ikigai_japanese_secret_to_a_joyful_life.html

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👋 Connect with Megan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganahunter/

💬 If you enjoyed this episode, please rate & review the show it really helps others find us and grow the movement.

What drives someone to leave a senior corporate role to build a solar tech platform from scratch?

In this episode of Making It Matter, I talk to Chinwe Udo-Davis, founder and CEO of Instollar, a business on a mission to solve two of Africa’s biggest challenges: energy access and youth unemployment.

We dive into:
– Why Chinwe left her role as HR Director to follow her purpose
– How Instollar connects trained solar technicians to projects across Nigeria
– The challenges (and power) of building a tech company without a tech background
– Creating InstallHER, a solar training programme for women
– Chinwe’s vision to scale across Africa and build the continent’s next unicorn

If you care about clean energy, women’s empowerment, or purpose-driven work, this conversation is for you.

👂 Listen in and let us know what resonates.