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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.
GLAS
MenKus & Associates
Supported by Norman Broadbent
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.
By Belden Menkus5
22 ratings
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.
GLAS
MenKus & Associates
Supported by Norman Broadbent
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.

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