TIE Unearthed

Can you do good and still be successful? 

What is the true value of purpose?

How are huge UK companies in the financial services sector currently struggling from a talent retention and recruitment perspective and what is the answer?

 After a bit of a break, TIE Unearthed is back, and today I’m speaking with the first person that hired me when I moved to London in 2001, Chris Norman.

Chris is the Founder and CEO of GOOD Agency, a pioneer

Chris’s breadth of experience is with the largest commercial and charity brands, and today we talk about how behaviours are the

We talk about GOOD being a B-corp, but why they haven’t been champions of the initiative until recently.

Chris tells us why they have become employee owned.

What a better world looks like and how we get there.

And we end with valuable learnings from Chris’ challenging journey.

I have found Chris’ story and that of GOOD fascinating, so much so I have captured it in my book, Return on Humanity, coming out in April of 2024. Here you get a sneak peek!

So throw on those running shoes or grab that favourite beverage, and here is Chris.

And please don’t forget to let us know what you think of this episode, leave a review and subscribe.

If you would like to be reminded of future podcasts and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter here. 

If you would like to pre-order Return on Humanity: Leadership lessons from all corners of the earth, you can do that here.

What does it look like to build a company that not only outlives you, but also makes you feel good in the process?

Can you make money and create a significantly positive impact on the planet at the same time?

What is the return on being more human?

Today I got to speak with Simon Rogerson, co-Founder and CEO of Octopus Group, a company that has invested $20 billion into many different companies in the last 23 years. He’s not only one of the sharpest and quickest minds I’ve had the pleasure to meet, but he’s also a really good guy. 

His mission is simple: to invest in the people, the ideas and the industries that will change the world.

Today he brings how he does this to life.

Simon explains why Octopus Group will never be publicly owned. 

He tells us the biggest lesson that he’s learned in 23 years of running Octopus.

Let’s us in on the key interview question he asks to reveal who people really are. 

And we get to hear two stories that bring to life the main two aspects of Octopus’ culture that make it possible for them to be an industry disruptor. 

I have always believed that business can be a force for good, although many companies aren’t built to make it that right now. Simon brings to life how this is possible through his approach to business, and the inspiring work they are doing. 

I adored this conversation – I think you’ll catch that from the energy. There is so much here. 

So throw on those running shoes, or grab that favourite beverage, and here is Simon.

And please don’t forget to let us know what you think of this episode, leave a review and subscribe.

And if you would like to be reminded of future podcasts and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter here. ⁠http://bit.ly/TIENewsletter⁠

How is the law firm that took on the UK government with Article 50 and took on the Royal Family as Princess Diana’s divorce attorneys so successful?

Is it because of their high-profile cases or is there another secret ingredient?

I was keen to find out.

So today, Elliot Moss, Partner and Chief Brand Officer at Mishcon, and Patrick Connolly, Director of the Mischon de Reya Academy, let us in on their secret. 

I wanted to understand what sets the law firm apart from their competitors.

How do they attract and retain such incredible talent?

And what makes them top of their class?

We talk about the key progressive values of the company and why they are so important.

We hear about the type of person that chooses to work there.

And a few of their impressive initiatives that have become an important part of the company.

Elliot and Patrick’s responses say a lot about the firm, and there is one thing that connects all of their answers: It’s their human centric strategy. 

Today we bring this to life.

So throw on those running shoes, or grab that favourite beverage, and here is Patrick and Elliot.

And please don’t forget to let us know what you think of this episode, leave a review and subscribe.

And if you would like to be reminded of future podcasts and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter here. ⁠⁠http://bit.ly/TIENewsletter⁠⁠

Can you have purpose driven organizations without purpose driven leaders? 

What does it feel like to be in service of something bigger than us? 

And should it really come down to tax status to decide if people, or companies, are going to make a difference in the world?

These are just some of the questions that get answered in today’s episode with Jon Duschinsky. 

Jon is a global thought leader, social innovator and champion of Business for Good.  

He inspires future-thinking leaders to Make More Money by Doing More Good, accelerating their innovation, social and environmental impact and talent retention. He has advised clients in over 60 countries, including companies like Airbus, NASCAR, and Prudential as well as the Governments of Germany, the US, France and the UAE. And he's coached hundreds of leaders and future leaders, written two books and lectures regularly at universities around the world.

We talk about why unlocking your personal purpose and your corporate purpose is so important.

Jon talks about our conditioned behavior patterns, and how they don’t serve us. 

And the return on leaning into purpose - both as a company and as an individual. 

There is so much here. 

So grab that favourite beverage or throw on those running shoes, and enjoy this conversation with Jon.

And please don’t forget to let us know what you think of this episode, leave a review and subscribe.

If you would like to be reminded of future podcasts and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter here. http://bit.ly/TIENewsletter

And you can also reach Jon on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonduschinsky/

Is it possible to be a profitable and rapidly growing business and still put people first?

What makes a company an incredible place to work?

And what is the return on being a human centric company and a human centric leader?

As many of you know, I’m in the final stages of writing my book Return on Humanity: The unexpected benefits of being more human in life and business.

I’ve been speaking with people from various sectors and businesses around the world to confirm my hypothesis. And I’m happy to say, until now, it hasn’t been challenged.

But this conversation with Sam Theobald doesn’t just confirm the hypothesis. Her entire career has been focused on it. And this podcast brings the real quantifiable benefits and examples to life. It is such an incredible conversation.

Sam is an HR professional with over 20 years’ experience working with entrepreneurial leaders, bringing a strong commercial edge to the HR function, and championing a “people first” approach to business.

Sam’s current role at Next 15 spans multi-markets and provides strategic guidance to HR teams within subsidiaries across the group, as well as working closely to counsel businesses so they understand the value of great people practices and human centric leadership in high growth organisations.

She explains how it’s possible to have a commercial focus and still put people first. 

She talks about the power of self-awareness. And what it means in the context of her work.

And the details of what it actually means to have a human centric approach to business. 

Essentially, if you want to be able to attract great people and get the best out of them, you can’t miss this podcast. 

This conversation was electric. I promise you’ll enjoy the energy! We were both buzzing afterwards. 

So grab that favourite beverage or throw on those running shoes, and enjoy this conversation with Sam.

And please don’t forget to let us know what you think of this episode, leave a review and subscribe.

And if you would like to be reminded of future podcasts and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter here. http://bit.ly/TIENewsletter

What is success?

Really, if you stop to think about it. What does it mean in the whole scheme of things?

We all know how easy it is to get sidetracked in life to what we think a successful life is. 

But what happens if you reflect on when you feel fulfilled? What does that look like? Is it the same as what you imagined the definition of success to be?

Today I am speaking with Erik Fernholm, co founder of The Inner Development Goals, a global framework defining the skills needed for us to reach the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. And 29k.org, the world's first free platform for practicing self-leadership, mental health, and inner development through evidence-based programs which has measurably transformed the lives of tens of thousands of people.

Today we ask some big questions.

What is the root of unsustainability?

When do we feel happiness and connection?

And what needs to happen to build a more sustainable society?

We talk about the power of shared experience and common humanity. 

Corporate metrics. 

And we end on the Nordic Secret. If you haven’t heard about it already, you need to. It’s the future, and how I end my up-and-coming book. 

I could have talked to Erik for hours. And when you listen in, you’ll understand why. There is so much overlap with what we are both doing. 

So grab that favourite beverage or throw on those running shoes, and enjoy this conversation with Erik.

And please don’t forget to let us know what you think of this episode, leave a review and subscribe.

And if you would like to be reminded of future podcasts and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter here. http://bit.ly/TIENewsletter

Progress.

Would you say that the customer experience over the last 20 years has gotten better?

But is that acceptable?

25 years ago, he started his career on a market stall in Essex, and since then has worked in and with companies around the world to make things better for customers.

He’s been in front-line teams delivering the experience, innovation teams designing the propositions, and global HQ teams creating the strategy. He's been a bank manager during the financial crisis (not fun), launched a mobile app to millions of people (very fun), and regularly visits strangers’ houses to ask very personal questions (incredible fun).

He now works with companies across industries and around the world, and before joining The Foundation spent twelve years at HSBC, latterly as Head of Customer Innovation.

And he’s just published a book on the topic - The Human Experience.

So grab that favourite beverage, or throw on those running shoes, and here is John.

And please don’t forget to let us know what you think of this episode, leave a review and subscribe.

And if you would like to be reminded of future podcasts and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter here. http://bit.ly/TIENewsletter

What are the logistical financial challenges that a bereaved spouse faces when their loved one passes away?

Is it possible for a bank to help someone who has dementia feel safe?

What are the worries that people who are living with cancer have when it comes to their life-insurance policy?

These are just a handful of the human concerns that people around the UK have voiced when it comes to their finances. And concerns that can be answered when companies are willing to listen.

Jan and his team at Three Hands makes that listening and human interaction possible.

Jan Levy is the MD of Three Hands, a small socially minded business that sets out to create business value and social value, hand in hand.

Sitting in the space between businesses and non-profits, Three Hands develops leaders through projects in communities, helps businesses create and run high impact social impact activities and, increasingly, brings the voice of charities, and the ‘lived experts’ they support, into businesses.

As companies move closer to the digital world and become more disconnected from society, Three Hands is helping to fill the void through social insights.

Working with companies to create more connection with the services they need to offer. And the desire that customers have, to deal with humans.

We talk about the power of opening channels of curiosity and understanding different parts of society.

Jan explains what it means for business to be a part of society.

And what happens when you create empathy between two sets of people or two organisations.

Today Jan will bring all of this to life.

So grab that favourite beverage or throw on those running shoes, and enjoy this conversation with Jan.

And please don’t forget to let us know what you think of this episode, leave a review and subscribe.

And if you would like to be reminded of future podcasts and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter here. http://bit.ly/TIENewsletter

What value do we lose when economics reduces communities to markets?

Imagine waking up in hospital discovering you have not only broken your spine and will never walk again.

But then learning that you are also pregnant.

When Faustina was about to start university in Tanzania in the year 2000, this was what she was facing.

And today you will hear her story.

Faustina Urassa is a spinal cord injury thriver, and founder and Executive Director at Songambele Initiative Organisation.

Being a woman in Africa isn’t easy.

And Faustina saw being a disabled woman in Africa as a death sentence.

This is a story of a woman who not only came from a challenging experience, but one who refused to accept the status quo on all fronts and thrived as a result.

Today we hear about the challenges she faced in the early years. No one in her family, including her, knew what a spinal cord injury was, let alone what it meant for her life moving forward.

There wasn’t clear information on how someone with a spinal cord injury could safely deliver a baby. Would her disability compromise the health of her child?

Was it even possible for her to ever be independent again?

Faustina takes us on a journey from a spinal cord injury victim to a spinal cord injury thriver.

We hear about how her life changed when she met others going through similar situations as her.

She tells us about the power of self-awareness and self-acceptance.

And the power and importance of community.

Which all lead to why she founded Songambele.

We hear about what life looks like for people once they have come into contact with Songambele and the power that is Faustina.

This is one inspirational story. So, grab that favourite beverage or throw on those running shoes, and enjoy this conversation.

And please don’t forget to let us know what you think of this episode, leave a review and subscribe.

And if you would like to be reminded of future podcasts and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter here. http://bit.ly/TIENewsletter

And if you want to support Songambele, you can reach them here https://www.songambele.org/) and donation here (https://www.songambele.org/donate-1)