The Purposeful Strategist

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, host Belden Menkus speaks with Martin Dean, managing director of the UK regional bus division at Go Ahead Group. They discuss the company's clear purpose statement, the importance of connecting communities, fostering innovation in public transport, and the strategic growth plans of the bus division. Martin emphasizes the significance of people in the industry and the need for a balance between strategic and tactical approaches as the bus industry prepares for the Better Buses Act and other changes and challenges ahead.

Britain’s first bank to be launched in the cloud does not use automated credit scores, does not have an automated answering service or an online chatbot, and doesn’t keep customers waiting on hold when they call the bank.

Redwood Bank, which serves small to medium-sized businesses, balances traditional banking values with advanced technology. Its mission is “to be the UK’s best, go-to, specialist business bank.”

In 2021, four years after it obtained its banking licence, Redwood became one of the fastest challenger banks to achieve profitability, while building a strong internal culture and winning high satisfaction scores from its employees and customers.

CEO and co-founder Gary Wilkinson describes the journey and the insights it yielded, in this episode of The Purposeful Strategist.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with James Ashton, CEO of the Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA). They discuss the importance of transparency and governance in the business world, the role of small and medium-sized companies in the UK economy, and the challenges these companies face in public markets. Ashton emphasises the need for a supportive environment for growth, the significance of retail investors in the market, and the need for equities to be as attractive and accessible as crypto The conversation also touches on the QCA's growth strategy, the impact of regulatory changes, and the balance between purpose and profit in leadership.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, we dive into the success story of Unity Trust Bank, a Birmingham-based financial institution committed to purpose-driven banking. CEO Colin Fyfe shares how the bank has aligned its mission with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and surpassed £1 billion in lending for the first time in its 40-year history. Discover how Unity Trust's clear purpose fosters alignment among stakeholders—shareholders, board members, executives, and staff—and enables the bank to support businesses addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges. Colin discusses the balance of measuring social impact alongside financial performance, the challenges of leading a purpose-driven organisation, and how growth plays a pivotal role in enhancing that impact.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Paulo Lanzarotti, CEO of beer-maker Asahi Europe & International, discusses the importance of balancing purpose and pragmatism in organisations. He shares insights from the five-year journey that uncovered the company’s purpose of “creating meaningful connections”. The conversation explores how purpose can influence business decisions, engage employees, shape sustainable practices and drive product development, ultimately linking purpose to overall business strategy. Paolo also offers advice for CEOs embarking on their own purpose-driven journeys.

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.