In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, host Belden Menkus sits down with Emma Gaudern, co-founder and Managing Director of EMG Solicitors. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, EMG has grown from four employees to 180 across five offices, earning accolades like the Times 100 Best Places to Work and B Corp certification. Emma shares her journey of creating a purpose-driven law firm, balancing growth with values, and fostering a culture of kindness and flexibility.

Key topics include:

Building a firm where flexibility and joy drive success.

The transformative impact of becoming a B Corp.

Emma's vision for a lasting legacy through community endowment.

How EMG uses strategic tools like the Balanced Scorecard to sustain growth and alignment.

Listen to discover actionable insights on integrating purpose into strategy and leadership for long-term success.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Robin Mortimer, CEO of the Port of London Authority (PLA), about the challenges and opportunities facing the port sector in the wake of COVID-19. They discuss the PLA's purpose, the ambitious Thames Vision 2050 plan aimed at achieving net zero emissions along with economic, environmental and recreational goals, and the importance of balancing stakeholder interests. Robin shares insights on innovative land use solutions, the evolving role of the PLA, and the need for greater public awareness. The conversation also touches on the hydrogen economy's potential in decarbonisation and the lessons learned from recent years, emphasizing the importance of clear direction and governance in organizational success.

Ignition Law describes itself as “the law firm for start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs and the entrepreneurially spirited”.  It also prides itself on being “a force for good” in its community. Since its founding in 2015, Ignition has grown to 70 people, expanded its range of services, won several awards, and qualified as a Certified B-Corporation.

Founder and partner Alex McPherson explains how they did it, on this episode of The Purposeful Strategist.

Powervault, the London-based manufacturer of renewable energy storage systems, exists to help solve climate change by transforming the way people use energy. It’s a big purpose, but achieving it requires people to change their behaviour in a way that many instinctively resist, because they perceive it as limiting their lifestyle. Powervault developed its technology make the change not only easy, but financially rewarding.

Robin Stopford, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer explains the company’s approach in this episode of The Purposeful Strategist.

Culture and purpose are powerful tools when you are challenged to turn around a business that isn't reaching its full potential. CEO Kevin Davidson used both to successfully turn around Norman Broadbent plc, the London-based executive search and recruitment firm.

This year the firm announced its best financial results in over a decade, with a 41 per cent increase in revenues.

Kevin Davidson discusses how he did it, on this episode of The Purposeful Strategist.

Messenger RNA and personalised medicine promise to transform how we prevent and treat disease.

Darius Hughes, General Manager in the UK and Ireland for Moderna, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, wants the UK to lead the way.

Learn how he uses the company’s purpose to attract and keep the talented professionals he needs to achieve that ambition, on this episode of The Purposeful Strategist. #moderna

Do not put an end date on your strategy, teach your team how to say “no” and use Purpose and Ambition instead of mission and vision. So says Ben Peachey, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors.

Learn how these beliefs, and the use Theory of Change maps, are key to refreshing and implementing the institute’s purpose-driven strategy. On this episode of The Purposeful Strategist.

#ciehf #humanfactors #ergonomics

Employers and health-and-safety professionals face an increasingly complex array of challenges as they try to make workplaces physically and psychologically safe.

Vanessa Harwood-Whitcher is Chief Executive of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. Listen as she explains how IOSH is equipping employers and health-and-safety professionals to deal with their ever-widening remit, on this episode of The Purposeful Strategist.

Tap water must be safe, reliable and high-quality. The purpose of the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) is to ensure that public water supplies in England and Wales meets those standards.

Delivering on that purpose has required solving a set of complex interrelated challenges, and developing a new approach to regulation.

Marcus Rink, Chief Inspector at the DWI, describes the journey on this episode of The Purposeful Strategist.

#drinkingwater #drinkingwaterinspectorate #regulation

Cambridge Building Society turns a branch refurbishment programme into an opportunity to provide practical help for struggling first-time home buyers.

CEO Peter Burrows tells the story, and explains why purpose is like “the force” in Star Wars, on this episode of The Purposeful Strategist.

#TheCambridge