How to tap into the power of skilled volunteers 

It’s Volunteers Week so we wanted to find out how charities and corporates alike can benefit from skilled volunteering programmes. 

Kim Perlow is the founder and CEO of Link UP London an organisation that harnesses professional skills for social good through skilled volunteering. Link UP, which started in 2016, is committed to building stronger communities and offering meaningful volunteer opportunities by connecting skilled professionals with charitable organisations, in areas such as legal, finance, human resources, communications, marketing, data, strategy, organisational development and more.

We chat to Kim about volunteering trends, how smart use of volunteering is helping charity leaders to take a step back from delivery to think about strategy and how the way that corporates and charities partner on volunteering initiatives is changing.

Notes

Link UP London would love to hear from anyone interested in volunteering their skills in a meaningful way with London based community organisations or engaging their company in a skilled volunteering event or programme. 

You can learn more on their website – www.linkuplondon.org 

Find out more about their Corporate Programme - https://linkuplondon.org/corporates/

You can also find them on:

LinkedIn – linkuplondon

Twitter - linkuplondonuk

Instagram - linkuplondonuk

Ars Technica story on statement from Center for AI Safety

Statement on AI Risk

Rest is Politics podcast AI special

Email us with your questions and ideas for future episodes [email protected]

And please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!

Editing and production from Syren Studios and Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

Transcripts also available through your podcast app.

How to influence Westminster now

We meet Ian Dunt, author, political journalist and broadcaster

Have you ever wondered what really goes on in Westminster? Maybe you work in policy and are planning how to campaign for change in politically turbulent times? Ian Dunt, author of new bestselling book How Westminster Works…and Why It Doesn’t is here to lift the lid on Westminster and share what he found, and what this tells us about leadership.

As a political journalist and broadcaster, Ian spent several years working in the heart of Westminster. Ian discusses why our political system needs to change, how ministers make decisions, whether politicians getting burned out is a political issue, and how your organisation can influence policy when so much is up in the air. What needs to change about the current system, and how can we make this happen?

This interview will be invaluable for anyone interested in or involved in working with politicians. We’re grateful to Ian for a very thought provoking conversation.

Notes

Find Ian's book here:

How Westminster Works... and Why It Doesn't by Ian Dunt

Follow Ian Dunt on Twitter

Email us with your questions and ideas for future episodes [email protected]

And please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!

Editing and production from Syren Studios and Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

Transcripts also available through your podcast app.

We chat with Bruce Daisley, author of Fortitude, workplace culture expert, and podcaster

We’re thrilled to open season 7 with a brilliant conversation with Bruce Daisley. Many of you will know Bruce as the author of Fortitude: The Myth of Resilience and the Secrets of Inner Strength (out now in paperback) and his previous book The Joy of Work. Bruce is a workplace culture expert and the host of the legendary podcast Eat Sleep Work Repeat.  

In Fortitude Bruce challenges the myths we’ve all heard about resilience, and asks if they’re really achieving their desired effect. Organisations invest time and money in resilience training. Schools aim to increase children’s resilience. Yet the data shows that these interventions aren’t always successful. Why is resilience seen as an individual, rather than a collective responsibility? How can leaders really help their teams develop inner strength? Are we doing it right?

In this episode, Bruce explains why we need to flip the concept of resilience on its head and focus on the power of building communities in and outside the workplace. Fortitude is an especially timely read as he also discusses the impact of trauma and how we can help the people around us heal. This is a vital leadership skill given the events of the last 3 years.

A huge thank you to Bruce for sharing his insights into what leaders need to do differently.

Fortitude: The Myth of Resilience and the Secrets of Inner Strength by Bruce Daisley is published by Penguin in paperback.

For more about Fortitude check out https://www.findfortitude.net/

You can buy the book on Hive - https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Bruce-Daisley/Fortitude--The-Myth-of-Resilience-and-the-Secrets-of-Inne/27169356

We also have two copies of Bruce’s book Fortitude to give away. To be in with a chance of winning sign up to our newsletter over at https://www.startsatthetop.co.uk/

We are delighted that this episode of Starts At The Top is sponsored by Arvato CRM Solutions. 

Arvato CRM Solutions designs and delivers award-winning customer service, business process outsourcing (BPO), and digital and intelligent automation solutions for some of the world’s most respected brands, as well as innovative charity and public sector clients. They partner with clients to help them define their customer experience and transformation strategies by implementing the right technology, people and processes to improve their customer journey, while driving new efficiencies and helping them prepare for the future. To find out more about how Arvato CRM Solutions could help an organisation like yours and to receive a free no-obligation chat visit wwww.arvato.co.uk/WalesAirAmbulance

Email us with your questions and ideas for future episodes [email protected]

And please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!

Editing and production from Syren Studios and Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

We chat to Sharon Jones, Head of Digital Innovation at The King’s Fund

We’re closing season 6 by chatting to a charity digital legend about their journey as a leader. Step forward Sharon Jones, Head of Digital Innovation at The King’s Fund.

Sharon has worked as an editor and producer in organisations such as MTV, Sky and among others, the BBC. Before The King’s Fund she also worked at BookTrust. We discuss which of these experiences informed the way she leads and why, the digital challenges and opportunities she is leading on at The King's Fund and her thoughts on digital skills. We also chat through the latest digital trends facing the sector, and where charities are at with inclusion.

Email us with your questions and ideas for future episodes [email protected]

And please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!

Editing and production from Syren Studios and Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

Transcripts also available through your podcast app.

We speak to Jeff Nathenson, Managing Director, International at Whistle.

We speak to a lot of leaders who want to reach young people online. So how do you get the attention of Gen Z, when every brand and influencer is competing for their attention?

We chat with Tree Hall, CEO of Charity IT Leaders

It’s estimated that 1 in 7 people in the UK is neurodiverse. So what is it like to be a neurodiverse leader? 

Tree Hall, CEO of Charity IT Leaders, was diagnosed as autistic at the age of 47. In this very personal episode, she shares her story, exploring what autism means to her, and how it has shaped her life. Tree has become a staunch advocate of how everyone needs to understand autism and other neurodivergence. She is on a mission to make the workplace more inclusive and supportive of neurodivergent individuals.

We’re very grateful to Tree for sharing such an open, honest account of the experience of being a neurodiverse leader. We discuss how leaders can better understand what being neurodiverse means, and how improving the workplace with this in mind will help improve it for everyone.

Notes:

BBC story about over 50s in the workplace

Twitter thread about the CBI’s comments on remote work (original story on the BBC is here).

Email us with your questions and ideas for future episodes [email protected]

And please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!

Editing and production from Syren Studios and Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

The last 3 years have been tough and 2023 will be challenging. Engaging our teams is more important than ever so how can we bring fun and joy back into the workplace? Is it even possible right now?

Emmy and Michael take us through how leaders can create more opportunities for fun at work, how to make it inclusive, and where enjoyment can create additional benefits, such as developing psychological safety and changing your culture. Ultimately it’s about us all being free to be who we are at work, and who doesn’t want that?

Notes:

Oxfordshire Youth

The Fun Habit book (published by Pan Macmillan)

Connect with Mike via his website and Twitter

Email us with your questions and ideas for future episodes [email protected]

And please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!

Editing and production from Syren Studios and Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

In our latest episode, we chat with Lou Lai, Chief Client and Transformation Officer at TPXimpact.

The new year can mean new ways of doing things. And we’ve got just the episode for you if your organisation needs reinvention in 2023.

Paul and Zoe also round up the latest tech news. What does big tech cutting back on staff and office space mean for the rest of us?

Notes:

LinkedIn : Tech giants downsize office space

Email us with your questions and ideas for future episodes [email protected]

And please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!

Editing and production from Syren Studios and Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Transcripts also available through your podcast app.

The last two years have seen huge, unprecedented upheaval, leading to the current state of permacrisis. There are so many challenges facing civil society, and the wider world, into 2023. What qualities will leaders need for the road ahead?

If you’re a leader who’s ever experienced doubt, wondered where to focus your attention or questioned whether you’re working as successfully as you can with your team this episode is for you. Jane’s insights are both inspiring and reassuring, and will set you on the right path for 2023.

Zoe and Paul also discuss how podcasts can be more inclusive, along with their views on racism at sector events.

Notes:

Zoe Amar’s blog What does ‘Where are you really from?’ really mean?

Email us with your questions and ideas for future episodes [email protected]

And please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!

Editing and production from Syren Studios and Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of episode 39 with Jane Ide (.txt file) - transcript also available through your podcast app.

Going fully remote, and agile, is a big ask of any organisation. It inevitably brings risk as much as opportunity. What do charities need to do to make this a success?

Michael Wilkinson, Associate Director for Digital and Innovation at RNID, tells us how their team has thrived through remote working, establishing new ways of working, removing core working hours, and taking an agile approach to leadership and strategy.

Zoe and Paul discuss what’s happening at Twitter after staff walkouts and share their advice on how to plan for whatever the future holds for the platform.

Notes:

RNID’s hearing test

Read Michael’s blog about his blueprint for digital transformation

Read Roger Swannell’s blog about RNID’s project opportunity canvas

Email us with your questions and ideas for future episodes [email protected]

And please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!

Editing and production from Syren Studios and Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of episode 38 with Michael Wilkinson (.txt file) - transcript also available through your podcast app.