Only 2% of VC funding goes to women-owned businesses in Australia.  Women over 50 feature in less than 4% of media globally.    I’ll just let that sit with you for a moment before you dive into my interview with Jules Brook – founder of She’s The Boss and Handle Your Own PR.   Those two statistics, alongside others that should make you feel distinctly confused/uncomfortable/angry (pick your choice) is what inspired Jules to launch She’s The Boss at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Since then, it has grown into a thriving community. There are online zoom lunches and Learning Table events with female founders, real life networking events, two podcasts, She’s The Boss Chats and She’s The Boss Leaders. She’s The Boss also has a YouTube channel and all the media features interviews with wildly successful women in business from Australia and around the world.   Jules is also the founder of Handle Your Own PR, a DIY PR service for business owners. Using her online PR Accelerator program and PR SaaS platform, Jules’ students have been on TV, radio, magazines and newspapers nationally. Many have gone on to huge success in their business.   Jules is passionate about making female founders and women doing extraordinary things in business more visible. You’ll feel that passion right through this interview. IMHO Jules is one of those women doing extraordinary things, even if she doesn’t realise it herself!   To get a shot of Jules’ passion and energy that’s driving her purpose and her commitment to it, tune into this episode. I know you’ll enjoy it; not just for the love of Jules, but also for some of the rich insights that come out of our conversation.   Some of the highlights:   Jules’ take on the importance of love in business: Not just loving what you do but loving the people you work with – your customers and teams The origin journey of She’s The Boss: from Ticker TV guest to show host; to what happened as a result of Covid, as Melbourne went through one of the world’s harshest lockdowns; She’s The Boss became a beacon of solidarity and support for female business founders in Jules’ community Jules shares her Big Hairy Audacious Goal, to start a TV network for women in business and what this looks like; and what it will take. Her absolute clarity on who her target audience are and why (a stunning example of what clear targeting looks like) Jules shares her view about the isolation and loneliness of women who have succeeded and got to the top of the corporate ladder; and the need to provide them with the support of other women She references a Forbes article: The Power of the Pack which talks about the need for women to support women in business and how important it is: men who succeed are supported by men; women generally only succeed if they are supported by other women We talk about the need for feminisation of business to balance the dominant masculine traits  Jules shares her mission – get ready for the sheer clarity of this one! I ask Jules her thoughts on the key characteristics of female purposeful leaders We have a great discussion on the money side of FOR LOVE & MONEY – Jules shares how she’s trying to monetise her venture, which opens up insights into the funding gap for female owned businesses and finally the statistics which galvanised Jules herself into action Finally, Jules shares some fabulous advice for women in business Connect with Jules Shesthebossgroup.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/julesbrooke/

Our guest on this episode of the FOR LOVE & MONEY PODCAST works at the very heart of social impact and business. Tom Dawkins (he/him) is the Co-Founder and CEO of the social impact crowdfunding platform and innovation agency Start Some Good. Start Some Good began in 2010,  and aims to help emerging entrepreneurs to design, launch, and grow their prospective social impact projects.    A leading advocate for social enterprise, Tom was previously the founder of youth non-profit Vibewire, the first Digital Communications Director for Ashoka in Washington DC, and co-founder of the Australian Changemakers Festival. Tom is also a founding Director of The Social Enterprise Council of NSW and the ACT, as well as currently operating as Non-Executive Director of the Centre for Social Impact since 2019.   On top of this, Tom has also received awards and fellowships from the World Summit Youth Awards, The International Youth Foundation, Nexus Summit, and the Social Enterprise Awards, while also being a global speaker on social innovation and entrepreneurship, teaching workshops, and speaking at events around the globe, from The Social Enterprise World Forum to The World Summit on the Information Society.   Start Some Good is a B Corp Certified Enterprise and, in addition to helping in the development of social impact projects, also runs the Good Hustle social enterprise design course, StartSomeGood.com crowdfunding platform, and impact accelerators and entrepreneur education programs for partners including Optus, ING, the United Nations Development Program and the City of Sydney.   Here are just some of the highlights from our conversation with Tom as he passionately shares his journey of accelerating innovation and helping social impact projects prosper:   Tom shares his origins as a serial starter-upper and social activist to social entrepreneur Tom’s experiences overcoming challenges and learning from observing while on his journey to fund innovation projects and making a social changemaker world  Tom’s discussion on calculating social impact and the need for greater financial commitment in overcoming societal challenges through business Tom discusses the “Will it work?” lens versus the “Could it work?” lens that is impacting the deal flow of prospective social projects How Kickstarter and its role in helping creative entrepreneurs inspired the vision behind Start Some Good and its approach to angel financing Start Some Good’s evolution from a crowdfunding platform to an interconnected ecosystem using core principles of entrepreneurship to help entrepreneurs turn an idea into a business plan Capacity-building programs delivered through partnerships, such as the Good Hustle Social Enterprise Design Course, that focus on specific beneficiary communities Tom discussing Lend For Good, a crowdlending platform for growth-ready social enterprises directly designed in addressing “the missing middle” Tom’s advice on the core building blocks necessary before initiating your crowdfunding campaign Tom on what it takes to become “investable” and “launch ready” as a social impact entrepreneur How Tom’s personal mission to build a better democracy and create change together has inspired and shaped his crowdfunding journey Tom shares some examples of the social enterprises the SSG ecosystem has supported and helped to start on their road to scaleable impact   Connect with Tom Linkedin linkedin.com/in/tomdawkins     Website https://www.startsomegood.com/

Dr Kyle Turner is our guest on this episode of the FOR LOVE & MONEY PODCAST. Kyle, a Wiradjuri man (he/him) from central New South Wales, is the CEO and Founder of Pearlii, a for-profit social enterprise using artificial intelligence to bring free dental check-ups and free oral health education to the world.     Dr Turner holds a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Oxford and he has published widely on the burden of chronic diseases, with a heavy focus on prevention, together with a passion for improving health outcomes for First Nation Peoples.   Pearlii is an investor-backed, social enterprise which started in 2019. It’s such an interesting business model, designed to both prevent and treat oral health; an area of need that has such wide-ranging health impacts. I particularly love the way they’re leveraging technology to drive accessibility.   In our interview, Kyle shares his journey with Pearlii and his vision for the future. Some of the highlights of our conversation include:   Kyle’s journey from epidemiologist to social enterprise techpreneur How growing up with bad teeth made him painfully aware of the impact that can have on someone’s confidence  We talk about the problem of poor oral hygiene and the impact that it has on general physical health, as well as mental health How he found investors who were attracted to Pearlii’s mission and learned to perfect his “pitch” in the process Kyle shares the 2 parts to the business model: prevention and treatment and how Pearlii targets both of these (Pearlii’s is a really interesting model tackling a problem that has wide-ranging impacts) The business that inspires him the most  His vision for the future and how it includes non-Dental practitioners helping with oral health Kyle shares some savvy advice for other social entrepreneurs starting their journey Connect with Kyle Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-turner1111/ Website https://www.pearlii.com

Mike Smith is an entrepreneur, adventurer and not-for-profit founder. Over the past fifteen years he’s founded three startups in the surfing, wine and sustainability arenas and built two schools in Myanmar. He’s travelled to some of the most remote corners of the planet, including North Korea, Tajikistan and Nagorno-Karabakh to name just a few. Mike Smith's most recent venture - Zero Co - aims to solve the global plastic problem through large scale ocean clean-ups and a closed-loop solution for personal-care and home-cleaning products. Mike is infectiously passionate about having a positive impact on the planet and inspiring others to dare greatly. You can’t fail to feel this passion as he shares Zero Co’s story. Enjoy!   Here are some of the interview highlights:   Zero Co’s origins started with a trip Mike and his girlfriend (now wife) took travelling to some of the most far-flung places in the world Mike shares “the mission-driven brief” of the business they set themselves, highlighting that he was agnostic about the industry they went into.  He talks about what he calls “mission-driven 2.0 businesses”, where the mission and the product are the same thing, not an afterthought He explains how Zero Co works – basically disrupting the household and personal care products category – and inviting the consumer to change their behaviour to become part of the solution While talking about the complexities of this business, Mike acknowledges that he frequently thinks about how crazy this idea is, but they are driven by their big mission: to scale the business model profitably and become such a pain in the ass for the big guys, that they have to copy them! Mike shares the experience of their latest equity crowdfunding campaign which has set the Australian record We talk about their brand and its lighthearted tone that came from the core values Zero Co was established on Their values are truly inspiring and you’ll really want to hear the stories that Mike shares that inspire those values (gave me goosebumps)!   Connect with Mike   Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-smith-62aa383a/ Zero Co website https://www.zeroco.com.au

On the 9th of February 2009, our guest on this episode lost most of what he owned in the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, Australia. Grateful to be alive and overwhelmed by the support he received, David Laity decided to begin a wine business that gave back. And so began Goodwill Wine, Australia's only certified social enterprise wine company.    Since its inception, Goodwill Wine has donated close to half a million dollars to Australian charities by empowering its customers to choose which charity they would like to receive half of the profits from their case of wine.   In 2019 Goodwill Wine took on its first round of angel investment, allowing it to undergo a rebrand, extend its range of wine offerings and embark upon a substantial growth phase. Since then, the business has seen a 500 per cent increase in the amount it has been able to donate to charity.   In an intensely competitive market, David has managed to cut through all the noise simply by embedding purpose into the very heart of his business's DNA.   If you haven’t heard of Goodwill Wine yet, you’ll want to listen to this episode. There is everything to love about them. Their wines are fabulous. And they donate 50 per cent of their profits to charity. But at its essence, the story of Goodwill Wine is a story of David’s recovery from the trauma of the bushfires and his resulting PTSD.    Here are just some of the highlights of this beautiful and personal interview with David:   He shares his journey from filmmaker to wine merchant and how an idea about advertising on pool balls turned into Goodwill Wine The origin story of Goodwill Wine demonstrates the impact human kindness can have on people and what it can inspire them to create David shares his motivation in building Goodwill Wine was to reward the supporters of great causes, with quality wine they could enjoy If you assume these wines aren’t high quality because they’re not a “known label”, you’ll want to listen to how Goodwill Wine sources the wines  He talks about the extraordinary amount of love that customers have for the business: the love of the wine itself, the love of the charity they support and the love of an ethical business Handwritten notes from David to his customers are a feature of Goodwill Wine’s customer experience and David shares how he has clocked over 50,000 personalised notes! He also shares the incredible ‘why’ behind the handwritten notes. They were never a marketing strategy, but a way for him to connect with people as he recovered from PTSD  Learn about some of the tangible impacts Goodwill Wine customers have been able to create through over 300 charity partners Sharing his deep appreciation for the people around him, David talks about what he’s most proud of and his pride in leaving a legacy for his daughter Connect with David and Goodwill Wine   Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-laity-b652aa41/ Website https://goodwillwine.com.au

Today’s guest is Paul Dunn, a 4-time TEDx speaker, master storyteller and one of the most well-read people I know!   He is a Senior Fellow in one of the World’s Leading Think Tanks and consults to and mentors leading-edge businesses around the world.   He was honoured as a Social Innovation Fellow in his new home of Singapore; something he shares with film-star and philanthropist Jet Li and Walmart Chairman, Rob Walton.   He was one of the first 10 people in Hewlett Packard in Australia. He then created one of Australia’s first computer companies and then The Results Corporation where he helped develop and grow 23,000 small and medium scale business enterprises.    His programs are used by an estimated 226,000 companies around the world and he continues to push the boundaries. He featured in Forbes Magazine alongside Sir Richard Branson in a global piece on ‘disrupters’ in business.   He is the co-founder of B1G1: Business for Good, the history-making Global Giving Initiative that’s already enabled businesses to create over 281 Million giving impacts globally.   Paul shares an incredible story about something that happened involving him after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. It precipitated his meeting with Masami Sato that led to them co-founding B1G1, but it profoundly shifted his thinking on what he believed was the secret to success in business. He then tells the story of Masami Sato, who he was mentoring, sharing the idea that directly led to B1G1 starting, which has now led to a global movement that has created over 281 million impacts (as at May 2022). We talk about the idea of “possibilities” and Paul shares an insight from the book, Teeming, by Dr Woolley-Barker.  One of the major learning points is that we need to understand that nature does not solve problems. Nature always looks for potential. An idea that perhaps humans can learn from. He shares his thinking on the two types of companies that exist: standard companies and standout companies, through the lens of legacy Another book he references is Cult Status by Tim Duggan and the idea that of seven things leaders can work on to gain cult status, number 1 is to define the impact you want to have. And define it in terms of the number of lives that you will touch. Paul shares a rousing quote from Steve Jobs about how powerful the storyteller is. It’s a quote that makes you really think about the potency of storytelling for generations to come. For those who don’t know B1G1, Paul explains how it works and the profound impact it creates for everyone involved.   Get in touch with Paul... https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulb1g1/ https://b1g1.com

Anna Sheppard, Founder and CEO of Bambuddha Group strongly believes the power of Kindness is world changing. With a deep commitment for creating equality based on her lived experience, Anna began Bambuddha Group to empower corporate leaders and their teams how to ‘work kinder’. The team at Bambuddha developed an evidence-informed kindness curriculum which minimises risk and improves outcomes across all organisational areas. Bambuddha Group is a multi-award winning social enterprise that provides leadership coaching and corporate kindness programs.  Anna has added value to thousands of companies and inspirational leaders by showing them how to ‘work kinder’ and is also the founder of several other major initiatives, including The Corporate Kindness Awards, Working Kind Collective (the world’s first kind business centre), the Impact Studios and The Corporate Kindness Project, which is an Australian-based research study focusing on the business benefits of working kind. The first white paper was released in 2019 and is now an upbeat, honest and feel-good podcast show called ‘Project Good Boss.’ Anna Sheppard and Bambuddha Group have won multiple awards for work in this space, including being recognised as one of the ‘Top 10 Leadership Development Training and Coaching Companies 2021 in APAC’, ‘Top 50 leading light for APAC’, ‘Top 50 most impactful LinkedIn Influencers’, a 2021 NSW Business Awards finalist and currently, a finalist for 2022 Telstra Best of Business Awards. Anna believes in a future where every leader and organisation is committed to creating a sustainable world of equality and opportunity for everyone. In this interview Anna shares how she is using Bambuddha to contribute to that future by building a movement of like minded people and leaders who prioritise kindness. She shares with us her incredibly colourful background and how it inspired her passion for diversity and inclusion and her commitment to building a movement of kind leaders. The sense of belonging Anna talks about early in the interview weaves its way through the rest of the interview as a constant theme. The interview also includes a great discussion on the need for kind leadership today, more than ever. (Excuse the couple of barks towards the end of the interview – introducing Monty our beautiful mini-Groodle. Oh the joys of working from home!) Here are some of the highlights of this interview: Anna talks about her early years, including finding her “gang of others” and how it was able to give her a sense of belonging. She highlights how her travels around the world opened her eyes to the massive disparity of opportunity that some people get in life vs others – which she found difficult to understand and which spurred her to create Bambuddha. Anna shares with listeners how Bambuddha is empowering leaders with knowledge through a 12-month academy with masterclasses and support. She also shares some of the other ways that Bambuddha Group is delivering on their mission, including:The Bambuddha pay-it-forward model which funds a Gamechanger Program – a scholarship program for diverse and under-represented business owners and leaders. The world’s first kind business centre in Stanmore; a space where people can come together to collaborate The 5 key pillars of a wholesome Kindness Curriculum that they have built The Corporate Kindness Index that is in development to track how leaders are improving in each of those areas The Corporate Kindness Annual Conference and Awards –showcasing leaders who are leading the way in kindness I ask Anna to share a leader who inspires her and why; and she highlights three very different people: Nelson Mandela, his prison guard Christo Brand and Pamela Bishop, the COO of Blooms The Chemist (and the recipient of the Corporate Kindness Awards – the Gamechanger Award, the highest honour of the annual awards). Why ‘kindness’ is so important and what it means to be a kind leader. We talk about the importance of empathy and how a leader might be able to operate with kindness even if there is a lack of capacity for empathy. Why the answer to more meaningful work doesn’t necessarily mean going to work for a non-profit organisation. The importance of support from others and building a community of like-minded people to support you on your leadership journey. She zeroes in on the results of kind leadership: brand trust, happy workforces, staff retention, community engagement, investment, well leaders and reconciliation.   Connect with Anna https://www.linkedin.com/in/annasheppard2021/ https://www.bambuddhagroup.com https://www.facebook.com/bambuddhagroup

My guest on this podcast says that the best advice she has ever been given was “when you are dancing on thin ice, you may as well tap dance” and that’s how she lives her life.   Nicky Sparshott is the CEO of Unilever Australia & New Zealand and former Global CEO of luxury retailer, T2 Tea. She has over 25 years of experience in developing & building brands, growing businesses and transforming infrastructure and culture. She has worked across a broad range of organisations including Unilever, The Coca-Cola Company, P&G and George Patterson Y&R.   Recognised for her depth and breadth of expertise across FMCG, Retail, Luxury and Ecommerce, Nicky also brings broader based category experience spanning food, beverages, health care and personal care.   Nicky holds a Masters in International Business, which has been supported by significant global management experience across Australia, New Zealand, UK, Europe, USA and the highly diverse markets of Asia. She recently completed an Executive MBA in Change, through INSEAD, graduating with Distinction and is also an HBDI certified practitioner.   Nicky is a Non-Executive Director on the boards of World Wildlife Fund Australia, Global Sisters and the Australian Food & Grocery Council and sits on the Australasian Advisory Board of the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute and UTS Vice Chancellors Industry Advisory Board.  She is a National Member of the Champions of Change Coalition; a Founding Member of the B-Team Australasia and Climate Leaders Coalition and is a member of Chief Executive Women. She is a passionate advocate for businesses driving sustainable agendas that positively impact both people and the planet and in doing so be a true force for good.   Avid followers of purpose-led businesses will recognise Unilever as one of the global leaders of the corporate purpose movement, so much so that they’ve copped criticism from some investors for too much focus on “soft” issues like sustainability and social responsibility. So I was really excited to hear Nicky’s perspective on all things purpose and profit and what leadership looks like through the perspective of purpose in business. Nicky’s own leadership shines through powerfully in this interview. Not perhaps in the way you might expect of a traditional leader of a big corporation; rather a leader for our times. Australia, and indeed the world, would do well to have more leaders with Nicky’s outlook and beliefs.    If you are looking for inspiration on courageous, strong and vulnerable leadership, you need to tune into this episode.   Here are some of the highlights of our interview:   Nicky shares some of her views from the thesis she recently wrote as part of her Masters of Change, on Love and Fear; emotions that can unleash superpowers, which are so relevant to business during changing times. Despite not growing up with the ambition to be a CEO of a company like Unilever, Nicky highlights the two key characteristics that she believes has brought her to where she is today: an entrepreneurial spirit which she had from a young age and the activist within, coming from her sense of injustice and a desire to do something about it. Nicky shares with us her views on leadership, including what she believes her number one job is and how leadership needs to shift from the traditional hierarchical structure to creation of a steer co of equals, agnostic of function, age and hierarchy. The Great Resignation is reframed positively by Nicky as The Great Realisation and what this means to leaders who want to recruit and retain great talent. Nicky shares her views on the opportunity behind purposeful business. She challenges listeners to stop looking at the opportunity cost of “doing purpose”. Instead look at the opportunity cost of NOT doing it. Nicky highlights Unilever’s background and purpose; what it means for the business; and how Unilever’s purpose shows up in practical ways. She shares an overview of Unilever’s current Compass Strategy and highlights the integrated nature of the strategy, being good for business, as well as good for society and the planet. Unleashing people’s superpowers is a recurring theme through this podcast and I suspect something Nicky feels passionately about. She talks about this in the context of goal setting. Nicky’s beliefs on what the new corporate currency is: Care, Compassion and Courage. She speaks about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Not just as another box to be ticked, but in human terms and with a real understanding about what people really desire: an environment where they can belong and show up in their most authentic way. We discuss the balance between profit and purpose and what Unilever’s approach to this is. Nicky highlights her views on the role of play, purpose and potential to raise performance and to create sticky teams.   And we covered all of this (and more) in under 1 hour!   If you enjoy this episode, please rate it in your favourite podcast listening app.

James started The Good Beer Co – Australia’s first social enterprise of its kind – to brew beer for good causes and inspire change by demonstrating what purpose-led businesses can achieve. In his 20+ year career, he’s been a change-maker, pioneering corporate social responsibility at a major banking group, helping build partnerships to lift one million UK homes out of energy poverty, helping grow a social enterprise that floated on the London Stock Exchange, negotiating ground-breaking, multi-million dollar partnerships to cut carbon emissions, creating a national Healthy Air Campaign as the CEO of a national environmental charity, and forming an alliance between a new green energy company and leading environmental organisations to generate over $3 million in funding.    He’s also been named on Linkedin’s inaugural list of Top Green Voices in Australia and New Zealand, a curation of 15 must-follow thought leaders sharing their perspectives and passion for sustainability, climate change and protecting the environment.    In this episode, James shares his background leading to where his focus now lies, through the lens of partnerships.   I think you’ll get so much value from listening to how James approaches product development and campaigns. I truly believe that any organisation leading with a higher purpose is compelled to think innovatively and to seek out strategic partnerships. It’s consistent with the ambitious nature of purposeful organisations to find collaborators that help them to build awareness and scale their impact. This interview is a masterclass in purposeful partnerships.   Here are some of the highlights: Listen out for James’ response to my question – what is the role of love in inspiring purpose-led business? It’s a powerful response. James shares his career progression and some of his achievements, from where he started in politics and media, through government, to corporate, to his activity today through The Good Beer Co He shares the start-up story Great Barrier Beer in partnership with Australian Marine Conservation Society; along with partnering with Dan Murphys and BWS to trial the first ever biodegradable 6-pack packaging We talk about the power of purpose to inspire richer, more meaningful conversations that build relationships that lead to purposeful partnerships James tells us about The Good Beer Co’s upcoming campaign in the UK for Thank Brew, a limited edition Pale Ale created by breweries across the UK in partnership with Big Drop Brewing Co, celebrating Thank You Day, for the Queen’s Jubilee Weekend, with all profits going to support good causes He also whets our appetite by sharing a little about a new local initiative in Australia in partnership with Sobah. due to launch later this year. A purpose-led business, Sobah exists to raise positive awareness and promote First Nations' culture, arts, language, and history.  Connect with James Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesgrugeon/ Twitter:   JamesGrugeon   Website: https://www.thegoodbeerco.co.uk

We decided to do something a little different for this podcast episode. Instead of interviewing a guest, I read a chapter from my book FOR LOVE & MONEY. How to profit with purpose and grow a business with love.   The chapter I selected is: The Purpose of Business Part II   What is the purpose of business? Surely by now, we can get beyond the idea that the purpose of business is to make money. The evidence is clear that trickle-down economics has not delivered what it promised.    This chapter shares a picture of what business can be, when we unlock its full potential. When business serves a meaningful higher purpose, that is when it will capture the hearts and minds of people. That is when it will realise its true and full potential.   I share a story, a personal experience with a client, that demonstrates the potential that people can bring to a business when they’re emotionally invested in the outcomes that they’re trying to achieve.    The other themes highlighted in this short episode include: Human endeavour and identity – the role our identity, our narrative plays in the choices we make and how we show up Emotions drive superpower – how when we care enough about something, that’s when we can realise our own full potential Changing the system – I share my thoughts on what we can change What are the needs we are solving as businesses? How vital are they?   I hope you enjoy this episode. If you do, you can get the book here.    For every book sold we protect one square metre of rainforest through our partnership with B1G1 Business for Good and our impact partner, Rainforest Rescue.   If you’re enjoying this podcast, please take a moment to rate it on your favourite listening app. CORRECTION: The MS Act came into effect on 1st Jan 2019 rather than 2020.

My guest on this episode is Carsten Primdal, a Sustainability, ESG and Modern Slavery Expert and co-founder of Scertify, an organisation merging tech and sustainability to drive impact, enabled by blockchain, AI and Machine Learning.   Carsten’s sustainability experience has been forged around the world, in Australia, Europe, China and Asia. He is the Author of two published books, “A Roadmap to Modern Slavery Compliance and a Sustainable Supply Chain” and  “Red Flag – Your Guide to Risk Management when Buying in China”, in which he shares his experience in sustainability risk mitigation.   Our interview covers his career and what led him to co-founding Scertify with two US-based business partners and launching the Competent Boards ESG Training Program.   Through this interview some of the topics we discuss are: What ESG actually means The relationship between ESG and Purpose What the ESG Competent Boards Designation Program is Who would get value from this program Why the program is so important; particularly now What participants can get out of the program   I think this is such good timing for a discussion about the role of Boards in ESG and Purpose. From my observation, many Boards appear to be on the back foot when it comes to these subjects. The simple fact is, Boards should be driving the Purpose and ESG agenda, rather than pondering how much of a priority it is given in the business’ strategy.    The Competent Boards Program is such a valuable offering to business leaders today. Carsten has kindly offered a discount to listeners of this podcast. If you would like to take advantage of this discount, use the code FLAM when submitting your application online. You  can learn more about the program here https://scertify.co/cbeducation/esg-designation-program/ CONNECT WITH CARSTEN Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsten-primdal/ Scertify website https://scertify.co

I’m delighted to welcome two guests for this episode of the For Love & Money Podcast: Jade Collins and Alanna Bastin-Byrne from Femeconomy.   Femeconomy educates consumers, budget owners and business owners on how purchasing decisions can create gender equality.    Femeconomy certified businesses have at least 30% of women on the Board of Directors or are 50% female owned. So far over 850 brands have met Femeconomy’s criteria.   More on that in the episode. For now, let me introduce my guests:   Jade Collins has 20 years’ global experience in corporate executive Human Resources and management consulting roles in the Mining, Energy and Aerospace industries, leading large scale, complex multi-million-dollar change management programs. Jade finds the combination of her HR, Psychology and MBA qualifications and her leadership experience is invaluable for creating networks and engaging others to increase gender equality in leadership across industries. Jade was a member of the Queensland Government's Strategic Advisory Group for the Toward Gender Parity: Women on Boards Initiative and the 2019 CQU Alumni of the Year for Social Impact for her work with Femeconomy.   Alanna Bastin-Byrne has over 20 years’ experience in Marketing, Communications and Community Development leadership in the UK and Australia. The diversity of Alanna’s leadership experience has been instrumental in building Femeconomy’s engaged community to advance gender equality. In 2018 Alanna was announced as one of 80 Women2Watch in Business Disruption in US, Canada, Australia and Europe. In 2020 Alanna was a Telstra Business Woman of the Year finalist and Griffith University’s Entrepreneur in Residence.   We chat about the female economy. What it means for businesses and for society more widely. Despite the progress that we’ve made over the years, some of the stats that Jade and Alanna share are mind-blowing and really tell a very powerful story of unrealised opportunity.   Here are some of the areas of discussion we get into:   Why Femeconomy was started – the purpose inspiring the business  Why we need more balance in leadership representation: the value of lived experience; and why female representation is not a zero sum game The economic value exercised by women’s spending power The reality of female representation of CEOs in ASX companies and on ASX boards The stats that tell a surprising story about Australia’s position when it comes to gender equality within businesses.  NOTE: One of the stats provided was out of date - at about the 22.45 minute mark of the interview, the stat references under 5 per cent of female CEOs are represented at ASX 200 organisations. Update to this with a couple of stats: Zero new female CEOs appointed to ASX 200 companies in 2021 https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/management/asx-200-companies-failed-to-appoint-a-single-female-ceo-last-year-20210907-p58piz Just six per cent of ASX300 companies employ female CEOs https://www.businessnewsaustralia.com/articles/-wake-up-call---just-six-per-cent-of-asx300-companies-employ-female-ceos.html How Femeconomy are building a movement to educate, advocate for and support women-owned businesses The progress that has been made and the role of culture in society in empowering or limiting the rate of progress Why female-led businesses are more profitable than their male-led counterparts   If your business is female-owned, led, has at least 30% of women on the Board of Directors or are 50% female owned, then you’ll want to check out Femeconomy.   Equally, whether you’re male or female, if you want to support businesses that are Femeconomy accredited (as a customer or an employee), then head over to their website and find the businesses that are leading the way.   Connect with Femeconomy   Alanna Bastin-Byrne Jade Collins Femeconomy website https://femeconomy.com  

Pamela Bishop is my guest on Episode 11. Pam is Chief Marketing Officer of Blooms The Chemist. I’ve had the absolute pleasure of working with Pamela and the exceptional team who engaged in our Path To Purpose Program to discover, define and embed meaningful purpose into Blooms The Chemist.   While Blooms The Chemist is in the early stages of their purpose journey, I wanted to invite Pamela on the show to share the experience they have had in navigating their path to purpose so far. How it started, some of the surprises it has created and how it has changed the way she and the wider Blooms team think of their role as a business.   There are so many reasons leaders give for putting off starting the process of discovery and purpose strategy. My sincere wish is that this episode gives you the motivation to get started, in whatever way best works for your organisation. To not delay one day longer.. If you’re a leader or influencer  in a  large or medium sized organisation trying to figure out how to get started and engage your wider team, his interview I believe is a masterclass in purpose leadership.    Here is some of what we get into in this interview where Pam generously lifts the lid on the process and Blooms The Chemist purpose-driven plans:   Pamela’s story of what drove her to lead the purpose development and strategy work for Blooms The Chemist Blooms The Chemist’s Purpose and a bit of an insight into their purpose journey Pamela’s belief of what purpose means to an organisation who are already showing a strong commitment to CSR and Community; and how it emerged as the missing piece for their brand Some of the ways this purpose will impact the organisation’s approach to their own employees, around health and wellbeing  Blooms The Chemist leadership team’s support and role in inviting even more ambition from the working group The clarity that a clear purpose statement provides a business in where and how they invest their time and what initiatives they support Pam shares some of the initiatives that have been driven by the company’s purpose that are in the pipeline The challenges of bringing all stakeholders together behind the new purpose and the implications to the wider business Pamela shares how they are navigating some of those key challenges, including how the inclusion of one simple word in their purpose statement was part of taking an inclusive approach to bringing all stakeholders on the journey A reflection on the past 12-18 months for Blooms The Chemist’s work and plans in CSR, supply chain and modern slavery, purpose, alignment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals Connect with Pam https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelasiobhainbishop/ https://www.bloomsthechemist.com.au

My guest on this episode of the FOR LOVE AND MONEY PODCAST is JAMES BARTLE, the founding CEO of Outland Denim, a fashion company on the vanguard of the socially conscious manufacturing movement. James is passionate about denim and the craft of jean manufacturing, but also the unique ability of the garment industry to drive change.   Outland Denim employs young women seamstresses who’ve been impacted by human rights abuses and gives them a hope and a future through sustainable employment and career progression in their Cambodia-based production facilities.   This interview is packed with insights and inspiration. But honestly, the central theme to this interview is the power of love to create change. I dare you to listen to it and not be inspired to act.   I really hope you enjoy listening to this episode. Here are just some of the topics we covered.  James’ journey from freestyle motocross rider to CEO of Outland Denim The power of love in business and how purpose gives you a superpower How, by approaching the human sex trafficking industry as an economic problem, Outland Denim is empowering a cycle of freedom The four pillar approach Outland Denim are taking to create social change in the lives of their employees The power of consumerism and the opportunity for business The investment challenges that social impact-led businesses are facing in Australia and the role of risk in holding back progress The connection between tackling slavery and climate change The Meghan Markle effect on Outland Denim and how celebrities are using their influence to drive change   Contact James https://www.instagram.com/bartle.james/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-bartle-17b6b6103/ https://www.outlanddenim.com.au

Our guest for Episode 9 is Carolyn Tate, a Purpose and Storytelling Expert. She’s author of multiple books, an inspirational speaker and a highly respected leader of the purpose movement in Australia.    In 2010, Carolyn came to the crashing realisation that her career was at a dead-end. After 20 years in banking and 10 years in her own marketing consultancy, her work was no longer meaningful. So, she closed the business and took a writing sabbatical in Aix-en-Provence, France with her son Billy. It was the beginning of her search for a new livelihood and it led her to discovering her twin passions for writing and teaching. Ten years on, she’s published five books, including 'The Purpose Project', and taught more than 10,000 people on the power of purpose and story. Her own purpose is to help you bring your purpose to life, so together we can build a better world. When she’s not working, she's a dedicated community-builder and committed Birrarung (Yarra) river-swimmer. 'The Purpose Project' is a trusted guide to thousands of leaders and her focus is on working with school and corporate leadership teams.   I really enjoyed exploring “the practice of purpose” in this interview. We didn’t even have time to get into the topic of women in leadership, so we will be doing a second interview on that topic down the track. In the meantime, here are some of the themes we did explore:   Carolyn’s own path to purpose. Her journey from her epiphany in her corporate marketing career, to where she plays today Carolyn’s work in the educational sector, working with principals on their purpose as a leader The three levels of purpose and the opportunities for organisations and individuals when they can align the three Carolyn talks about the opportunity to BYO your personal purpose to work. She shares a wonderful example and references a blog she wrote on it which you can read here https://carolyntate.co/when-two-worlds-collide/ Storytelling and its connection to purpose. Stories incite action and create movements for change. We talk about the TED Talk “How to start a movement” – a brilliant 3 minute talk you don’t want to miss https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement/up-next How purpose connects to community. Carolyn shares her wonderful story about discovering river swimming in the age of Covid and finding her community. Find out more about Carolyn Tate at carolyntate.co and sign up to her weekly Purpose in Action stories. You can also find her books here https://carolyntate.co/books/

My guest on this episode of FOR LOVE & MONEY is a man who describes himself as ”a four-time loser before I realised I was in the wrong game”.   He is Dave Dahl. Creator of Dave’s Killer Bread, the USA’s number 1 organic bread. If you haven’t heard of Dave’s Killer Bread, I can’t wait to share the story behind it. If you have, then you know you’ll want to listen to this episode.   Dave’s story IS the story of Dave’s Killer Bread. It is a story of a family bakery that became the business behind the USA’s number 1 organic bread. It is a story of transformation and inspiration. Dave’s Killer Bread has a purpose behind every loaf;  a purpose about second chances. It may not be as well-known a brand in Australia as other purpose-led brands like Patagonia or Zambrero. Yet every time I share a bit of this story, people connect with it and want to learn more. Its power I believe is that it is a very HUMAN story. Quite the antithesis of what we have come to expect of business.   Our interview covers Dave’s backstory and how it connects with the business that was sold in 2015 to Flower Foods for US$@275 million. Here are some of the things that Dave shares in this interview: Dave’s early life leading to four stints in prison How a prison workshop initiative helped Dave to connect to his purpose and feel like he belonged for the first time How Dave used a second chance to build the USA’s number 1 organic bread The power of story in bringing a purpose to life How Dave’s Killer Bread became a supporter of the Second Chance Initiative Dave’s work with his charity Constructing Hope    You can learn more about Dave Dahl here at his official website https://davedahl360.com   If you would like to learn more about or donate to Constructing Hope, you can do so here https://www.constructinghope.org

Like many people who value purposeful organisations, I love Patagonia. They are an unconventional business that is difficult to categorise in traditional business terms. Their purpose is a hugely ambitious one - they’re in business to save our home planet.   In this episode I speak to Dane O’Shanassy, Country Director for Patagonia.    Dane shares stories about this extraordinary company from its origins to where it is today. Along the way he shares the philosophies that has guided the business over the last few decades. What I loved about our chat was Dane’s view that Patagonia’s approach isn’t complex. It’s really simple. In fact it boils down to doing the right thing.    As Dane says in the interview, he is fortunate to work for people who simply want the people who work for Patagonia to figure out how they can use business as a tool for environmental protection.    I hope you enjoy this episode and the insights that come from it. There are some great learnings here. We did have some connection issues during this recording, which we’ve done our best to edit out. I hope it doesn’t affect your listening experience too much.   Here are some of the stories and themes we cover in our interview: Patagonia’s origins and the climbing experience that inspired Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard to start the business back in the 1950s Patagonia’s journey towards 100% organic cotton including the employee experience in this changeover How Yvon practices his own version of an MBA - Management By Absence - giving people opportunity Putting people first is the most important thing we can do as business leaders and colleagues Dane shares Patagonia’s purpose and values and explains how they go deep into the culture and beliefs of the organisation How transparency and being accountable for mistakes as well as successes has built trust in its brand The story behind Patagonia’s traceable down certification (it’s a great lesson on how the way leaders respond to a crisis can be a way to build brand equity) What attracts potential employees to Patagonia. And the diversity of employees it attracts How Patagonia’s focus on quality supports their purpose by making things that last Patagonia’s commitment to pledging a 1% “Earth Tax” and how it has built partnerships and collaborations in service of its mission to save our home planet Some examples of Patagonia’s activism, including how a film made by Patagonia led to the biggest environmental petition to the Tasmanian State Parliament; and how a campaign for protection of The Great Australian Bight against oil drilling led to a Norwegian oil company to rescind their drilling permit How marketing for Patagonia is an opportunity to tell stories about things they care about About Dane O’Shanassy Since August 2013, Dane has been leading Patagonia in Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia, supporting growth in sales and brand awareness, alongside steering our regional environmental impact. He finds joy and satisfaction through building strong teams and creating business strategy that can be disruptive and transformational. A Master’s in Business Administration at Melbourne’s Deakin University underscores more than 20 years working with some iconic Australian brands including Rip Curl, Bellroy and Colorado.   Now in his role at Patagonia, Dane has the opportunity to demonstrate that business success and positive environmental impact don’t have to be at odds, in fact, they can be harmonious and profitable. Dane finds his passion in the surf, the mountains, and through spending time with his family at home on Victoria’s Surf Coast. About Patagonia We’re in business to save our home planet. Founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1973, Patagonia is an outdoor apparel company based in Ventura, California. A certified B Corporation, the company is recognised internationally for its commitment to product quality and environmental activism – and its contributions of more than US$145 million in grants and in-kind donations to date.  

Our guest on Episode 6 of the For Love & Money podcast is Shared Value Project CEO, Sarah Downie.   Sarah is an accomplished executive and strategist, with a particular talent for transforming, leading and activating purpose-led organisations.   As CEO for the Shared Value Project Australia and New Zealand (SVP), she builds on 20 years’ experience in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors to champion a better future for business and society collectively, through shared value. Driven by the belief that corporate assets, resources and innovation can unlock unrivalled social progress – whilst increasing business prosperity and sustainability – Sarah is committed to advancing a new kind of capitalism; fit for the times.   A member of the Shared Value Global Steering Committee, she directs the SVP team to deliver the evidence, tools, education and inspiration required make this urgent shift. Established in 2014, SVP has grown into a thriving and influential network of members including AIA Australia, IAG, NAB, PwC Australia, Nestlé Oceania and Optus.   This episode is a must listen especially for people working in the corporate sector. Here are just some of the topics we get into: Sarah’s journey from brand marketing to the non-profit sector to Shared Value and her awakening about the power of business to create scaleable change Shared Value’s story – how it started and the meaning behind the name Co-founders Michael E. Porter and Mark R Kramer’s vision of Shared Value. We touch on their 2011 HBR article and it’s absolute relevance today 10 years on  Sarah shares some examples of Shared Value companies to demonstrate how Shared Value creates value for society and drives business success and profitability She also shares an example of an initiative coming from a Shared Value approach -  HSBC Hong Kong’s “No Fixed Address” product We talk about how the pandemic has changed things fundamentally; how Shared Value organisations are approaching business differently with a whole new mindset on “value” The opportunity and the need for businesses to become collaborators in change “The Purpose Playbook” – Sarah shares Share Valued Project’s new initiative which gets into the ‘how’ of an organisation’s purpose across their strategy and full value chain The power of one individual acting and how it can make extraordinary change    Connect with Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/downiesarah/   Connect with Shared Value Project: https://sharedvalue.org.au

My guest on this episode of For Love & Money is Paul Tierney, General Manager of Business Development at TPG Telecom (previously Vodafone Australia). Paul has spent 15 years in the telecommunications industry in a range of roles from Finance to Strategy to Sales and Marketing. In his current role he is responsible for the Lebara and Felix consumer brands. Paul also recently led a piece of work which led to TPG Telecom committing to power their operations with 100% renewable electricity by 2025. The felix brand is the newest brand in the TPG Telecom family having launched in November 2020 and has a strong focus on sustainability and on driving positive impact.   One of the things I want to achieve with this podcast is to share a diverse range of stories from businesses and brands at different stages of their purpose journey; as well as from different perspectives - small, medium and corporate.   This episode is a good one for getting an insight into how a new business unit and/or brand can start their purpose journey within a corporate organisation.  Clearly there are challenges, but also potential opportunities. A great message comes out of this episode for me - it's all about just getting started and recognising that perfection is the enemy of progress.   Here are some of the areas my interview with Paul covered: The secret that our mobile phones are hiding How TPG Telecom’s new brand felix started their journey that led them to becoming a brand driven by a higher purpose How the personal beliefs of the start-up team influenced the decision to become a purpose-led brand Navigating the challenges and opportunities of being part of a big corporate business  How felix is contributing to the momentum within the movement to broaden commitments from the telco industry Balancing the need to be financially-stable and driving impact How Felix uses partnerships to ensure that the supply chain of tree planting is authentic and effective felix’s 2-year social impact goal and Paul’s 5-year ambition for the business 

My guest on this episode is Simon Sheikh, founder of Australia’s first fossil fuel free super fund, Future Super.   Before starting Future Super, Simon led GetUp for six years. Getup is a member based independent movement to build a progressive Australia and bring participation back into our democracy.    In 2014, Simon co-founded Future Super with his business partner Adam Verwey. The company has a rapidly growing member base and is successfully disrupting the Australian superannuation industry, by proving there is demand for high-impact, sustainable investments.     This interview delivers some great insights for those interested in how to navigate their path to purpose. Future Super’s clarity of purpose is second-to-none. They consider themselves more a movement for change than a business. The discussion was wide-ranging but reveals Future Super’s depth of purpose. Here are some of the topics we covered.    Simon’s view on the role of love and empathy in business Why Simon and his business partner Adam Verwey started Future Super  Future Super’s theory of change. (It’s simple, but super powerful) The financial argument for ethical superannuation investments The shared narrative of the type of people who are Future Super members Where the large players of the superannuation industry are investing (I suspect you’re going to be shocked at one of these)  The move to transparency and what this will mean to the superannuation industry Future Super’s investment performance and why ethical investments have lower volatility than non-ethical investments How the “employee value proposition” has changed and how purpose and identity are central to competition for people The #notbusinessasusual campaign Future Super’s unique “for-purpose” ownership model The similarities and differences between building a not-for-profit organisation and a purpose-led for-profit business Contact Simon https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonsheikh/ Future Super Website https://www.futuresuper.com.au

My guest on Episode 3 of the For Love & Money Podcast is Nina Mapson Bone.    Nina is the Managing Director of Beaumont People, a specialised recruitment business that truly believes in “placing people first”. She is also President of the RCSA, the Recruitment Consulting and Staffing Association of Australia and New Zealand and she is Chair of the Development Committee for the NORTH Foundation, a charity which supports innovation in health research and patient care.  Nina helps business leaders with their people problems and delights in bringing talented people together to drive value, build vision and realise opportunities.     With extensive leadership experience, she has built and restructured high-performing teams with a focus on talent attraction and retention.   As a non-executive director and managing director, Nina understands the challenges and complexities of driving growth and ensuring a customer-first approach in large, diverse businesses that have multiple service lines.  If you have a business problem, complex tactical challenges with your employees or organisational structure, you can be guaranteed that Nina has helped others navigate through similar issues.   Nina has an MA (Hons), is a Fellow for the RCSA (Recruitment Consulting and Staffing Association) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.   Nina and I had a great discussion on Beaumont People’s purpose and how it has guided their actions before and during the pandemic and positioned them strongly for success. Some of the things we covered in this conversation include: Nina’s personal purpose and how it inspires her in her work Beaumont People’s purpose and how it inspired their investment in an Australian-first research initiative and the world’s first meaningful work profiling tool How the GFC inspired an initiative to support Beaumont People’s people; that has gone onto become a big part of Beaumont People’s strategic success and enhanced their reputation and culture The architecture of Beaumont People’s brand purpose positioning and how their ‘how’ contributes to their ‘why’ and shapes their decision lens What the Australian research on meaningful work reveals about organisations in Australia and the expectations of Australian employees How everyone’s path to meaningful work is unique and how understanding what it means to individuals and organisations can be game changing The trap of assumptions around meaningful work The psychological and sociological aspects of meaningful work How Beaumont People’s purpose around meaningful work guided their actions during the initial stages of the pandemic and accelerated some of their longer term plans and positioned them for success How purpose has reinvigorated the Beaumont People team The balance between purpose and profit at Beaumont People   So many insights in this episode about “meaningful work” that I hope will challenge some assumptions and get people thinking more deeply about their work and the kind of meaningful work that can be offered through organisations.   Contact Nina https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninamapsonbone/   Beaumont People Website https://www.beaumontpeople.com.au   Explore the Meaningful Work Research and Profiling Tool  https://go.meaningfulwork.com.au/home?r_done=1