Advertise on podcast: Leading From Purpose Podcast

Andy Hawkins, C-3PO (Chief People, Planet, and Purpose Officer) at Business On Purpose and B Leader for B Corp, transformed from corporate IT sales to a community builder across three continents. After moving to South Africa for a gap year that became six years, he tackled community challenges like reducing murder rates through football programs. Now back in the UK, Andy coaches businesses through B Corp certification while building an inclusive community of 26 nationalities in Bristol, proving that purpose-driven living creates unexpected adventures and meaningful impact. The key topics discussed in this episode: ●       Transitioning from corporate life to purpose-driven community building ●       Creating solutions without expertise – from township programs to language teaching   ●       Building inclusive communities across cultural and language barriers ●       How purpose leads to nonlinear career paths and unexpected opportunities ●       Balancing the "wizard" and the "kid" – bringing authenticity to professional life.

Harry Brouwer is the former CEO of Unilever Food Solutions, where he led a global team through transformative moments, including the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Harry reflects on his journey of bringing purpose to leadership, both inside and outside the corporate world. He shares his transition from managing corporate "kingdoms" to embracing personal freedom in his next chapter, exploring impactful projects like investing in social initiatives and creating a lasting family legacy. In this episode, we discuss: ●       Defining personal purpose and its evolution over time ●       The transition from corporate leadership to a purpose-driven “freedom” chapter ●       Leading Unilever Food Solutions through COVID-19 ●       Investing in social ventures, including a restaurant for young people with different abilities ●       A legacy project for seven generations and embracing long-term impact ●       The differences in purpose between multinationals and family-owned businesses.

Anthoula Kostantinidi is Head of Commercial Productivity at dormakaba, a global leader in security technology. Tune in as Anthoula unpacks her journey toward discovering her personal purpose and how it empowers her to lead boldly in a male-dominated industry. Anthoula recounts the transformative experience of developing her purpose statement, “to make the boys wonder what just happened”, and how it connects to her childhood experiences and unique strengths. This conversation explores the impact of authenticity, informal power, and owning your individual energy as keys to successful leadership and transformation. In this episode, we discuss: ●       Embracing your authentic self, especially as a minority ●       How childhood shapes leadership ●       Using informal power in global teams ●       Clarity of purpose in tough moments ●       Be bold, be memorable, stay you

When a life-altering diagnosis shakes everything, how does a leader stay true to their mission? Former Silicon Couloir CEO Gary Trauner joins Nick Craig to share how his health crisis tested his resilience and deepened his sense of purpose. In this candid conversation, he unpacks hard-earned lessons on clarity, perseverance, and impact, proving that true leadership is forged in adversity. In this episode, we discuss: ●       From CEO to navigating a major health crisis ●       How purpose guides leadership in tough times ●       Balancing ambition with life’s unpredictability ●       Gaining clarity through adversity ●       Adapting purpose as life evolves

Steve Bewick is the Chief Commercial Officer for dormakaba, a global leader in safety and security solutions. With a purpose defined as “Cool head, caring heart, wild places,” Steve shares his personal journey of discovering and living his purpose both in business and life. In this episode, host Nick Craig and Steve discuss how purpose-driven leadership shapes team culture, creates psychological safety, and forges authentic connections across diverse global teams. Steve offers candid stories about building trust, navigating challenging conversations, and sparking transformation during remote and in-person team journeys. In this episode, we discuss: ●       Why discovering personal purpose shapes leadership approach. ●       When emotional connection builds trust in global teams. ●       Navigating tough conversations with practical strategies. ●       Fostering psychological safety and vulnerability at work. ●       How adventure and authenticity unlock team potential.

What if business could be the driving force for real change? Andy Last isn’t just talking about it – he’s making it happen. He has advised senior leadership in organizations including Unilever, Mondelez, Bayer and the Lego Group and led that consultancy to become a founding UK B Corp. From launching Global Handwashing Day to shaping the UN’s International Day of Play, his work has changed lives on a global scale. In this episode, we discuss: ●       The story behind Global Handwashing Day and how it became a worldwide movement ●       How the LEGO Group’s International Day of Play is shaping the future of childhood ●       Why businesses need to integrate purpose into their core strategy – and how they can do it ●       The power of creativity and fun in driving social good ●       How aligning personal, brand, and corporate purpose leads to real impact.

Charlie Malouf and Manny Rodrigues lead Broad River Retail, a company with 33 stores across the Carolinas and Georgia. In this episode, host Nick Craig dives into their incredible journey – from near bankruptcy to a thriving business. Charlie (CEO) and Manny (President and COO) share how their personal purposes – Charlie’s “Play the game and rise to the occasion” and Manny’s “Illuminate the path one story at a time” – helped them drive growth, build a strong team, and change the way people see furniture retail. They also reveal the bold moves that reshaped their company culture and success.   In this episode, we discuss: ●       How personal purpose fuels business success ●       Innovating through near-bankruptcy ●       Redefining careers in retail ●       The rise of “Million Dollar Memory Makers” ●       Project Cascade and bold market expansion   Links mentioned: Connect with Charlie Malouf on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/iposit/ Connect with Manny Rodrigues on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannyrodrigues-23/ Broad River Retail https://broadriverretail.com/ Stories From The River https://www.youtube.com/@StoriesFromTheRiver Riverstone Logistics https://rlx.us/ Spokane market https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q_H3Mjltjk

Steve Miles is the former Chief Marketing Officer for Dove at Unilever. Steve’s purpose is to create beauty and brilliance in brands and people. Steve reflects on his 29-year journey at Unilever, his integral role in leading Dove and furthering its Campaign For Real Beauty, and the challenges he faced in revitalizing the brand. He shares how blending analytical and creative skills helped him achieve remarkable success, boosting Dove's brand value by several billions of dollars. We also explore the importance of defining a purpose that transcends professional titles. In this episode, we discuss: ●       Aligning personal purpose with professional goals ●       The journey from Dove CMO to purpose-driven retiree ●       How to balance career and personal growth ●       Why post-retirement life isn’t “the end”, but a shift in focus ●       How excellence isn't a one-time event

Nick Craig sits down with Loren Shuster, Chief People Officer for the LEGO Group, where they focus on the pivotal role of wellbeing & applying your purpose yourself. Loren underscores the importance of setting boundaries, investing in meaningful relationships, and ensuring personal nourishment… even in the face of high-pressure roles.   In this episode, we discuss: ●       The ‘Oxygen Mask’ principle ●       A disciplined approach to exercise, diet, and mindfulness ●       Intentional and meaningful relationships ●       The science behind booking holidays ●       … and other ways to integrate purpose into your everyday life

Loren Shuster is the Chief People Officer for the LEGO Group. Loren and I have been on quite a journey together, and in this episode, we'll explore his path from Chief Commercial Officer to Chief People Officer. We'll discuss toy industry challenges, especially post-COVID, and how aligning individual purpose with the LEGO Group's mission has created immense value and driven success. In this episode, we discuss: ●       How the LEGO Group has outpaced toy industry growth ●       Transitioning from Chief Commercial Officer to Chief People Officer ●       How the LEGO Group doubled its size in 7 years ●       The rise of corporate purpose in 2024 ●       Digital impact on children's play

In today’s episode, we'll dive deep into the incredible journey of Tran Tue Tri, a distinguished guest from Vietnam, who's shifting the narrative around purpose and impact on a national scale. Nick and Tri explore her evolution from a childhood in post-war Vietnam to becoming a senior executive at global giants like Procter & Gamble and Unilever. Now, Tri is channelling her passion and expertise into branding her home country, Vietnam.    In this episode, we discuss: ●       Childhood experiences during Vietnam's post-war period ●       The decision to move away from a corporate career at P&G and Unilever ●       Why it's important to develop the global brand of Vietnam ●       How purpose serves as a compass during uncertain times ●       Introducing the ‘Purpose to Impact’ program for leaders in Vietnam

Today we are joined by two extraordinary purpose-driven leaders, Sibon Schouten and Xander Meijer. Based in Amsterdam, Sibon is the founder of Markd Global, a company dedicated to helping global leaders and their businesses grow and scale to make a societal impact. Xander, a former corporate executive found his true calling by reconnecting people to nature through good food. This led him to co-found The Farm Kitchen and work intimately with local regenerative farmers to create enriching soil-to-plate food experiences. Both of our guests share their unique journeys and profound wisdom on the interconnectedness of purpose, nature, and business.  In this episode, we discuss: ●       What it means to be a "global village human” ●       Embracing the South African concept of Ubuntu ●       Team building through cooking workshops and eating together ●       How time in nature can influence your sense of purpose ●       Personal energy and food connection

In this episode we are joined by Claire Thwaites and Ed Lewin from the LEGO Group. We explore how their Government & Public Affairs team navigated the challenges of maintaining purpose and identity within a global team, culminating in the creation of the groundbreaking International Day of Play. Join us as we unravel the inspiring story of collaboration, resilience, and the power of purpose in achieving remarkable outcomes. In this episode, we discuss: ●       The concept of an International Day of Play within the LEGO Group framework ●       The collaboration of various organizations, including commercial entities, NGOs, and governments ●       The impact of play under stress during the pandemic ●       Overcoming the challenge of maintaining a global team's identity in various local environments ●       The success of achieving a UN International Day of Play

Carlos Rey is an expert who has spent 15 years pioneering the integration of purpose into the corporate world. Carlos introduces us to his acclaimed three-question approach, providing insights into how organizations can align their culture and values with their employee's sense of purpose. Refining the art of measuring purpose, Carlos and his team have identified the need for a multifaceted approach.  Carlos has also authored multiple published articles for HDBR (Harvard Deusto Business Review).    In this episode, we discuss: ●     The three key questions on purpose ●     The multi-faceted approach to effectively measure purpose ●     The goal of measurement for improvement – not merely for display ●     Continuous improvement in purpose initiatives  Links mentioned: www.measuretoimprove.org

Nick Craig sits down with Paul Cobban, who served as the Chief Transformation Officer at DBS Bank in Singapore for over a decade. Paul shares a vivid account of his first day at DBS and the challenges they faced, such as long wait times, low customer satisfaction scores, and underperforming financial metrics. They discuss the evolution of a purpose-driven approach that propelled DBS to become the best digital bank and earned it prestigious accolades.  In this episode, we discuss: ●       Purpose-driven transformation vs. traditional transformations ●       Enhancing the internal employee experiences ●       The implementation of the rituals "meeting mojo" and “racoon” ●       How to change culture through design ●       What are the characteristics of purpose-driven transformation?