Purposing – Details, episodes & analysis

Family-owned businesses are truly unique, serving as the embodiment of tradition, community, and legacy. But how do these qualities shape their sense of purpose? More importantly, can the core values that define family businesses be infused throughout an entire organisation, driving culture and long-term success?

Today, Becky is joined by Steve Beechey, Group Public Sector Director at the Wates Group. 

In this conversation, they’ll be discussing how Wates designed, shared and implemented purpose in a family owned business.

Do you want to learn how to build a purpose-driven business from Given, the consultancy that’s helped some of the world's largest organisations become purposeful? Download the Insiders’ Guide to Purpose HERE.

Creative expression brings joy, purpose, and meaning to human lives. More than that, it is the definition of the possible, the desirable and the tactical. But can the next generation actually use the arts to tackle climate change and help to build more equitable prosperity?

Today, Becky is joined by Polly Mackenzie, Chief Social Purpose Officer at the University of Arts London and former Head of Policy for the Deputy Prime Minister. 

In this conversation, they’ll be discussing how creativity needs purpose and how purpose needs creativity to create true social impact for society and the planet.

Do you want to learn how to build a purpose-driven business from Given, the consultancy that’s helped some of the world's largest organisations become purposeful? Download the Insiders’ Guide to Purpose HERE.

Recruitment is a commercially-driven industry where results and commissions keep the wheels turning. Few would expect purpose to be front and centre. But fundamentally, it’s an industry with people at its heart, and people are the drivers of purposeful change. So how can recruitment firms embed and activate purpose to transform their businesses?

Today, host Becky Willan speaks to a leader who climbed her company ranks from Graduate Recruiter to CEO. Hayley Still’s journey to the top of Hydrogen Group has put her in a prime position to reshape purpose at the company. Now operating in 67 countries, Hydrogen merged with Argyll Scott in 2017 - and when Hayley took over as CEO in 2022 she saw an opportunity to cement that merger, catalyze new company-wide values and ignite a fresh purpose. 

In this episode, you’ll discover how you can disrupt an industry through purpose, and using moments of change to rearticulate and reinforce core values. 

Do you want to learn how to build a purpose-driven business from Given, the consultancy that’s helped some of the world's largest organisations become purposeful? Download the Insiders’ Guide to Purpose HERE.  

Pioneers of purposeful business have been around for decades. Graze is a recent addition rewriting the snacking playbook for healthy people and planet. But what if balancing the needs of society with what's good for profits was required by law for every business?

On this episode of Purposing, Becky Willan speaks to healthy snack CEO, Joanna Allen. She joined British supermarket staple Graze in 2020, believing customers shouldn't compromise between taste and nutrition. With this purpose built into everything Graze does, the business isn't afraid to lean into big decisions or tough conversations. 

And Joanna's taking these conversations beyond the four walls of the company. Reengineering product packaging to make it more sustainable meant new partnerships with suppliers. And beyond this, she's now a prominent campaigner for the Better Business Act.

Do you want to learn how to build a purpose-driven business from Given, the consultancy that’s helped some of the world's largest organisations become purposeful? Download the Insiders’ Guide to Purpose HERE.  

Having a clear, actionable purpose that acts as a real North Star can help businesses attract and retain talent, build engaged workforces and drive innovation. But what if your starting point is diverse, disparate teams with completely different agendas?

Today, host Becky Willan speaks to Cath Possamai, Talent Acquisition Director for Amazon in EMEA. Before arriving in tech, she led recruitment for the British Army as part of a struggling and much-scrutinised partnership with Capita. The two organisatons were culturally misaligned, but by co-creating a shared purpose, Cath was able to instigate a major reset. Now at Amazon, Cath’s found teams can operate like separate businesses - from Web Services to Devices to Stores - so building a unified purpose is an essential part of breaking down siloes and driving collaboration. 

In this episode, you’ll learn that focusing on incremental change -  not just big promises - and upskilling leaders to bring purpose to life in a way that keeps it front of mind for everyone - can help you unlock the cultural benefits of purpose. 

Do you want to learn how to build a purpose-driven business from Given, the consultancy that’s helped some of the world's largest organisations become purposeful? Download the Insiders’ Guide to Purpose HERE. 

Global supply chains and seasonal production gives fashion a big carbon footprint. We’ve heard a lot about this in fast fashion. But in the luxury space, the story is changing. Shoppers are conscious of where products come from, and how they impact the planet and people. But how can companies harness sustainability to drive purpose and growth?

Today, host Becky Willan speaks to a Global Director of Sustainable Business reshaping purpose in fashion. Tom Berry has been at FARFETCH for 5 years - a company that connects customers in over 190 countries with 1,400 of the world’s best-known fashion brands, boutiques and department stores. Four years into launching their sustainability strategy, Positively FARFETCH, Tom is demonstrating clear commercial results from their groundbreaking approach.

In this episode you’ll learn how FARFETCH embraces partnerships with forward-thinking start-ups, providing tangible solutions to the industry’s problems. And how small behavioural changes among company leaders, workforces and consumers, can help drive profit with purpose.

Do you want to learn how to build a purpose-driven business from Given, the consultancy that’s helped some of the world's largest organisations become purposeful? Download the Insiders’ Guide to Purpose HERE.  

It might feel like purpose is under attack from the “anti-woke” brigade. But that isn’t stopping leading companies rewiring their businesses around a different set of priorities - making them more sustainable, more inclusive, and, ultimately, more purposeful.

Becky Willan, CEO of brand purpose agency Given, is back with a brand new season of Purposing - the podcast that lifts the lid on how to run a truly purpose-driven business.

Last season we spoke with leaders from organisations like IKEA, The Body Shop and John Lewis Partnership to discover how they defined their purpose and put it to work in their business - boosting engagement, driving innovation and building better brands.

This season, we’re back with more guests from Ben and Jerry’s, Farfetch, and Aviva and many more, to demystify this often misunderstood topic into clear, actionable advice you can use in your own business. 

Do you want to learn how to build a purpose-driven business from Given, the consultancy that’s helped some of the world's largest organisations become purposeful? Download the Insiders’ Guide to Purpose HERE.  

In the last episode of the first season of the Purposing podcast, Given CEO Becky Willan speaks to Simon Henzell-Thomas, Global Director Climate, Ingka Group (IKEA). 

The two discuss how purpose can catalyse positive change inside and outside a global organisation, the challenge of sustainable growth, and busting myths about the retail giant. Simon explains how IKEA is shifting to sustainable materials and business models at a scale that’s unimaginable for most companies and lifts the lid on the things that really make the difference - from circular and inclusive design approaches to investment management, governance and measurement.

Listen to Purposing for the inside story on one of the world’s most respected purpose-driven businesses. 

Do you want to learn how to build a purpose-driven business from Given, the consultancy that’s helped some of the world's largest organizations become purposeful? Download the Insiders’ Guide to Purpose HERE. 

Rewiring a business around a new set of purpose-driven priorities is a huge undertaking. It can take several years and involve reassessing strategy, culture, innovation, and investment. Companies serious about purpose recognise that every decision either advances or detracts from the role they play in profitably solving problems for people and the planet.

In her latest podcast episode, Given CEO Becky Willan spoke with Peter Simpson, CEO of Anglian Water and founding member and co-Chair of the University of Cambridge’s Corporate Leaders Group (CLG), about what it takes for businesses to play a meaningful role in the transition to a climate-neutral, resource-efficient and socially inclusive economy. 

Listen to Purposing to get the insider's story on how Peter has led Anglian Water’s transformation into a truly purpose-driven business, including the move to enshrine their purpose in the fabric of their company constitution; their Articles of Association. These efforts have been widely recognised in the UK; they were named Responsible Business of the Year in 2017, voted ‘best place to work’ in the UK by Glassdoor in 2019, and earned the Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development in 2020.

Do you want to learn how to build a purpose-driven business from Given, the consultancy that’s helped some of the world's largest organisations become purposeful? Download the Insiders’ Guide to Purpose HERE.  

Links: 

BSI standard on purpose-LED business: 

https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/standards/bsi-knowledge/sustainability/purpose-and-esg-standards/ 

Responsible Business Tracker by Business in the Community: https://www.bitc.org.uk/the-responsible-business-tracker/

Even if you’re not familiar with Reckitt, you’ll probably have some of their products in your home, including iconic household brands like Dettol, Finish, Strepsils or Durex. The company exists to “protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner and healthier world.” As you’ll hear in today’s episode, they take this purpose seriously; and are working hard to embed it in every part of the Reckitt culture. 

The sixth episode of Purposing offers insight into the multinational company’s strategy to make purpose more than just brand positioning, building systems for measuring impact and adding substance to new product development. David Croft, Global Director of Sustainability at Reckitt, will share how they’re applying purpose to innovation, sustainability, and supply chain management - in a way that drives growth and makes a positive difference on inequality and climate change. 

Do you want to learn how to build a purpose-driven brand from Given, the consultancy that’s helped some of the world's largest organisations become purposeful? Download the Insiders’ Guide to Purpose HERE.