In this episode, I talk to Becky Willan, managing director and co-founder of Given London, the brand agency with a focus on purpose and positive impact.

Becky was formerly an environmental manager with the Body Shop, and since then has become a widely experienced consultant with some of the top forward-thinking brands committed to doing well by doing good.

In this interview, we talk about how she got to where she is, and what she learned along the way. We talk about trends in sustainable business and how much businesses need to change to be fit for the net zero impact world we’re heading towards. Becky is an energetic and thoughtful leader in the space and I think you’ll get a huge amount from this interview, in spite of the rather noisy environment the conversation took place in, while Old Street was being rebuilt around us.

Show Notes

What did the world look like to the young Becky Willan when she left school and looked ahead to adult life? (1:47)

Links

Books

In this episode, I talk to Sir Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project and executive chairman of Eden Project International. The Eden Project transformed a sterile pit into a fabulous enclosed garden with rainforest and Mediterranean environments.

In this interview, we talk about how he got to where he is, and some of the lessons he learned along the way. Tim is a thoughtful commentator on the current state of our society, and we touch on some real solid gold insights. I think you’ll get a huge amount from this interview, so let’s jump straight in.

Show Notes

What did the world look like to the young Tim Smit when he left school and looked ahead to adult life? (1:44)

Links

The Eden Project https://www.edenproject.com

Books

If this is a man, Primo Levi – https://www.amazon.co.uk/If-This-Man-Primo-Levi/dp/B001126VL8/

In this episode, I welcome back David Grayson, author, speaker and Emeritus Professor of Corporate Responsibility at the Cranfield School of Management. You’ll remember that when he appeared previously, in episode 2 of the podcast, we talked about his thoughts on business and sustainability.

He is also the author of the book ‘Take Care: How to be a great employer for working carers’, and it’s that topic we’ll be focusing on mostly in this episode. If you are someone who has had to juggle work responsibilities with caring for a partner, a child or a parent, you’ll know how tough that can be. And if you’re an employer, you will have people in that situation in your workforce. So how do you support them?

In this interview, we talk David’s own experience of becoming a caregiver, and then mine some of the deep wisdom from his book about how large employers, small businesses and even solo operators, can go about squaring the circle of working effectively while supporting a loved one. Even if you’re not currently a carer, you may know people that are – even if they’re not telling you – and you may be facing the prospect that it will apply to you one day.

Show Notes

What has been happening for David in the six months since he was last on the podcast? (2:11)

Links

Take Care, How to be a great employer for working carers, David Grayson https://www.amazon.co.uk/Take-Care-Employer-Working-Carers/dp/1787142930/

In this episode, I talk to Alison Ward. Alison is the chief executive of Cotton Connect, a social enterprise with a mission to transform the cotton industry for good, and former head of sustainability with Cadbury.

In this interview, we talk how she got to where she is and some of the issues that she dealt with along the way. We talk about how industries face up to the fundamental challenges to their sector that increasingly emerge in the modern age, and how companies practically get into their supply chains to make things better on the ground.

Alison has a huge amount of hands-on experience in tackling difficult issues with some inspiring companies, and I think you’ll get a huge amount from this interview.

Show Notes

What did the world look like to the young Alison when she left school and looked ahead to adult life? (1:35)

Links

Alison on twitter

The Icarus Deception, Seth Godin

This episode is a little different to what we’ve done so far. We’re at episode number 29, and bearing in mind we launched the first three episodes all at once, that brings us just about to the half year point since the podcast was launched.

It seemed like the perfect time to look back on the great insights we’ve heard so far from some of the world-leading change makers I’ve had the privilege to talk to.

And it also is about the right time to talk about where this podcast goes next, and what you can do to help.

In this episode, I talk to Mike Clasper. Mike is the chairman of Coats Group plc. He was formerly chief executive of the airports company BAA, and was chairman of HMRC. He was awarded a CBE in 1995 for services to the environment arising from his time at Procter and Gamble.

In this interview, we talk how he got to where he is and some of the issues that he dealt with along the way. We talk about the current landscape for socially responsible business, including whether or not mainstream investors are now waking up to the issue as a factor for decision making.

Mike is a highly capable and inspirational leader with a wealth of insight and experience, and I think you’ll get a huge amount from this interview.

Show Notes

What did the world look like to the young Mike when he left school and looked ahead to adult life? (1:31)

Links

Mike on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-clasper-56b365164/

In this episode, I talk to Stephanie Davies-Arai.

Stephanie is the founder of Transgender Trend, a parent effectiveness trainer and the author of the book ‘communicating with kids’. She was shortlisted for the John Maddox prize, which recognises individuals who have promoted sound science and evidence on a matter of public interest, with an emphasis on those who have faced difficulty or hostility in doing so.

In this interview, we talk how she got to where she is, and the journey she took from being a sculptor who wanted to change the world through art, to someone who now achieves that goal through words. We talk about the delicate balance of raising kids, and the complete imbalance of the debates around transgender children specifically.

In a world where we’re committed to change, we have to be able to treat everybody with compassion and respect, whilst at the same time looking dispassionately at facts and basing our actions on what those facts tell us.

As you’ll be aware, there are some highly fraught issues here that many would simply prefer to duck for fear of saying the wrong thing, being labelled as a bigot or worse, and having a twitter mob calling for retribution. Stephanie Davies-Arai has faced all of those and worse, and has had the courage to stand up anyway. And that’s sometimes the choice that a committed change maker has to make.

This is an important interview, I think you’ll find it fascinating.

Show Notes

What did the world look like to the young Stephanie when she left school and looked ahead to adult life? (2:12)

Links

Stephanie on Twitter

Beyond Human Nature, Jesse Prinz

In this episode, I talk to Caroline Casey.

Caroline is a social entrepreneur, international speaker and leading authority on diversity and inclusion. She is the founder of the Valuable 500 campaign, and is committed to building a global movement to create an equal society for the 1.3 billion people in the world with a disability.

In this interview, we talk about her extraordinary journey, the highs and the lows and what she learned from them both. We talk about why businesses are scared of the issue of disability, and how there’s a huge opportunity for those that step up to the plate to deal with it.

Caroline says she doesn’t believe herself to be inspirational. I, and a lot of other people I know, respectfully disagree with that assessment. She is a real force of nature and it was a huge privilege to have this frank and illuminating conversation together. I think you’re going to love this one

Show Notes

What did the world look like to the young Caroline as she left school and prepared for adult life? (2:02)

Links

Caroline on Twitter

Books

The Jungle Book

In this episode, I talk to Jonathon Porritt, co-founder of Forum for the Future.

Jonathon has been one of the most respected faces of the environmental movement for nearly forty years. He was formerly chairman of the government’s Sustainable Development Commission, director of Friends of the Earth and co-chair of the Green Party.

In this interview, we talk about what he learned through his decades in the environmental movement about what works and what doesn’t. We talk about the hopeful signs we have in front of us to balance against the immense size of the task ahead.

For me, it was a huge privilege to have this conversation with Jonathon, whose sage words I would often watch on BBC Question Time as a youngster, passionately concerned for the future of the world, nodding my head as he found the perfect words time and time again. He still has a huge amount to say, and I think you’ll get a lot from this conversation

What did the world look like to the young Jonathon when he left school and looked ahead to adult life? (1:38)

Links

Jonathon on twitter https://twitter.com/jonathonporritt

Wangari Maathai – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wangari_Maathai

Blueprint for Survival, Edward Goldsmith https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blueprint-Survival-Penguin-Specials/dp/0140522956/

Small is Beautiful, EF Schumacher https://www.amazon.co.uk/Small-Beautiful-Economics-People-Mattered/dp/0099225611/

Prosperity without Growth, Tim Jackson https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prosperity-without-Growth-Foundations-Tomorrow/dp/1138935417/

In this episode, I talk to Katie Buchanan, the head of sustainability for Virgin Media.

Katie is responsible for Virgin Media's growing reputation for creative and innovative approaches to sustainability. She has also created a powerful partnership with the charity Scope focused on getting people with disabilities into the workplace.

In this interview, we talk about how she got here, and what she learned along the way. Why she has become immersed in inclusive employment issues, and why reducing its areas of focus has been so powerful for Virgin Media's overall approach to sustainability.

Katie is a dynamic change maker who was shortlisted this year for the edie Sustainability Leader of the Year. We cover a lot of ground in this interview, and I think you'll get a huge amount from it.

Show Notes

Why Katie's sustainability journey actively began right when she was back at high school (1:35)

Links

Katie on twitter

Caroline Casey's TED talk

The Big Five for Live, John P. Strelecky