About this podcast
Talent and customers choose companies with purpose over those who only prioritise profit. Businesses must step up or get left behind. But where to start?
Purposing speaks with leaders from some of the world’s most recognised brands to discover how they built purpose into their businesses. Join CEO of Given Agency, Becky Willan and a host of guests as they demystify this misunderstood topic into clear, actionable advice you can use in your own business.
Why did John Lewis Partnership modernise their purpose in the midst of a global pandemic? How did The Body Shop make their purpose matter to everyone in their business? What are Lloyds Banking Group doing to make decisions differently, to help Britain prosper?
All this and more on this season of Purposing.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 47 episodes
- How fair are bananas? What Fyffes learned from a workers rights crisis in its value chain | Caoimhe Buckley · 38 minWhat does it take to make a global supply chain more sustainable? And how can businesses address the human rights and environmental challenges behind everyday products like…
- What if supermarkets could end food poverty? The Iceland Food Club story | Hilary Berg · 40 minWhat does it take to turn a good idea into meaningful social change? And how can businesses work with communities to tackle real-world problems like food insecurity in ways that…
- LIVE from New York Climate Week: Finding the Actionable Edge · 48 minSustainability has spent years building the business case, but the low-hanging fruit has largely been picked. The challenge now is finding the more difficult, higher-value…
- James Reed: "Socialism and Capitalism don't work, but THIS works." - How becoming PhilCo forces long-term strength, not short-term extraction. · 31 minIn this episode, Becky is joined by James Reed, Chairman and CEO of Reed, one of the UK’s most recognisable and successful family-owned businesses. James is also the author of…
- The sustainable return on investment framework: Proving profit, people and performance can align | Emilio Tenuta · 37 minThis week Becky is joined by Emilio Tenuta, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ecolab. With more than three decades working at the intersection of business and sustainability…
- The sustainability agenda 2026: Where leaders should focus their attention | Matthew Bell, CEO of Anthesis · 40 minWhat lies ahead in shaping the sustainability agenda in 2026? And what do leaders need to be preparing for to drive real-world change whilst driving profit? Today, Becky is…
- When your purpose stops landing: How Legal & General rebuilt theirs and how you can too | Emma Hardaker-Jones · 33 minWhen a company built on purpose realises its purpose no longer lands, everything has to be re-examined. Even the language that once united it. So how do leaders reshape something…
- Can your cuppa change a global industry? Putting the tea in sustainability | Gareth Mead, Lipton · 34 minWe all love a cuppa, but did you know the contents of the mug in your hands could hold the key to transforming global value chains? in this episode, Becky is joined by Gareth…
- Mutual benefits: How YBS enacts purpose to make financial services mutual, meaningful and member-led | Susan Allen, YBS · 34 minWhat if decisions were not just owned by stakeholders, but shaped by the customers themselves? In this Episode, Becky is joined by Susan Allen. Susan is leading the organisation…
- What the 'purpose gap' reveals about leadership and trust (and 3 THINGS needed to get employees to stay) | Sarah Gillard and Ben Hayman · 36 min Some estimates put the cost of replacing an employee in the UK at 25,000 pounds. And with one in five people considering leaving their roles, that really adds up. It's not just…
- WWF’s innovative new model to fund wildlife conservation | Stanley Anyetei, WWF · 37 minIn this episode Becky is joined by Stanley Anyetei, Financing Green Lead at WWF Netherlands. Stanley is helping to redefine how conservation is funded, shifting from traditional…
- What is sustainable finance?: 3 steps to access cheaper, long-term finance and create impact | Vijay Bains, Emirates NBD Group · 36 minIn this episode, Becky is joined by Vijay Bains, Group Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of ESG at Emirates NBD. With a career spanning climate science research, consulting…
- Unlocking influence and creating change as an individual | Arabella Ellis, Co-Founder of Gyre · 34 minThe role of the sustainability leader is rapidly shifting. It’s no longer just about technical expertise – it’s about navigating complexity, unlocking influence, and leading…
- Uniting Purpose and Storytelling to Drive Sustainability at Virgin | Darshna Myronidis, Group Director of Sustainability · 35 minSustainability is a growing priority for organisations, but driving it forward can feel challenging and uninspiring. So how can we make it more engaging for teams while still…
- A greener route: Decarbonising Europe's largest delivery network: Caryn-Ann Allen, Geopost · 32 minCutting emissions is crucial for the planet. But how can we effectively shift the mindsets and behaviors of suppliers whose practices have a significant environmental impact? In…
- Healing beyond healthcare: The role of sustainability in shaping Bupa’s vision for people and planet | Nigel Sullivan · 27 minWhat role can sustainability play in improving both the health of people and of the planet? In this episode, Becky is joined by Nigel Sullivan, Chief Sustainability & People…
- Championing the power of sport to drive meaningful social and environmental impact | Gemma Wiggs and Jamie McKeown, World Rugby · 33 minSporting events can be truly transformative. But how do you create positive impact, long after the tournament ends? Today, Becky is joined by Gemma Wiggs and Jamie McKeown from…
- Avon Calling: A Purpose-Led Model for Women's Economic Empowerment | Natalie Deacon, Avon · 35 minWhen an organisation has had purpose in the heart of the business for decades, how do you ensure you keep that purpose fresh? Today, Becky is joined by Natalie Deacon, Executive…
- Driving innovation and change in urban mobility | Will Butler Adams, CEO at Brompton · 32 minOur cities have been built around the automobile. So how do we reclaim our streets to promote modes of transport that benefit both people and the environment? This week, Becky…
- Top 5 tips for 2025: Creating a culture that attracts and retains top talent · 18 minAt this time of year, around one in ten of your workforce is looking for new jobs. And nearly half of employees are considering leaving their job due to employers failing to live…
