The Purposeful Strategist

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist , Belden Menkus speaks with Fiona Dunsire, the Government Actuary and the first woman to head the Government Actuary’s Department since its establishment in 1917. Together, they discuss how leaders can learn and grow together in teams, all while ensuring an organisation maintains its core purpose. With her team at GAD, Fiona unlocks value in her behind-...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Gavin Slark, CEO of SIG – a leading European supplier of specialist insulation and sustainable building products. With operations across six countries, connecting over 75,000 customers with expert solutions, SIG is on a mission to become the best provider of specialist construction and insulation products in Europe. Gavin join...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist , Belden Menkus sits down with Florence Brocklesby, founder of Bellevue Law – a boutique firm specialising in employment law, dispute resolution, and private client services. Founded in 2014, Bellevue has grown into a 30-person team. It is B Corp certified, Good Business Charter accredited, and recognised as a Legal 500 Leading Firm. Florence launched t...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Karl Jansen, Managing Partner of Freeths. Freeths is a full-service law firm which operates across 13 offices and is the largest law firm with B-Corp status in the UK. Karl has been with the firm almost 35 years and has been central to the firm’s development – not just in financial performance, but in culture and reputation. I...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks again with Dr Mohammad Al-Ubaydli, CEO of Patients Know Best (PKB). Mohammad returns to the podcast to discuss the incredible progress PKB has made since his first appearance in 2024. With over 5 million registered patients and international growth, PKB continues to transform healthcare by giving patients control of their own healt...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Robert White, CEO of Brabners and founder of True North. Robert discusses how True North is connecting purpose-led businesses across the North of England and catalysing positive change through collaboration and community-building. ·      How True North is uniting over 400 purpose-led businesses to...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks again with Mike Scott, Senior Partner at Cripps, last on the podcast in 2022. This time, he is joined by James Beatton, Managing Partner at Cripps, to discuss how the firm has leveraged its purpose to drive both business growth and cultural transformation. Together, they reflect on the progress of their five-year strategy and share...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Sara Bailey, Senior Partner at Trowers & Hamlins. Sara brings over 30 years of experience in the legal profession and reflects on the progress of the firm’s ambitious transformation since her first appearance on the podcast in 2023. She shares insights on balancing long-term, purpose-driven strategies with the short-t...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus interviews Nik White, managing partner at Brabners, a purpose-led independent law firm in the UK. They discuss the firm's commitment to community engagement, the importance of defining culture and values, and strategies for sustainable growth. Nik shares insights on managing partnership dynamics, maintaining culture while growing, and the...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Matt Westmore, Chief Executive of the UK's Health Research Authority, about the significant advances in health research during the COVID-19 pandemic, the complexities of research approvals, and the importance of trust and inclusion in research. They discuss HRA’s success in significantly shortening the research timeline, the r...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, host Belden Menkus speaks with Olly Purnell, co-founder of Q5, a management consulting firm focused on organisational health. They discuss the evolution of Q5 from its inception in a basement to its current status as a global player in consulting. The conversation delves into the founding principles of Q5, emphasising the importance of purpose and valu...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus interviews Graham North, CEO of Anstey Horn & Co, the UK's leading specialist surveying practice. Founded in 1795 in London, the privately held company now employs about 120 people and operates across the UK. The firm is particularly well known for its expertise in Rights of Light, Party Wall and Fire Consultancy. The discussion cover...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Simon Thompson, Group CEO of Windracers, discusses the transformative potential of autonomous aviation in logistics and humanitarian aid. He highlights the innovative ULTRA drone, which is designed for cost-effective delivery over long distances, and the importance of navigating regulatory challenges. Simon emphasizes the balance between commercial via...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, host Belden Menkus interviews Mark Cuddigan, CEO of the UK plant-based food company THIS. They discuss the transition of leadership from founders to new CEOs, the importance of defining a company's purpose, and the role of team involvement in strategy development. Mark shares insights on empowering employees, the challenges of achieving profitability,...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, host Belden Menkus speaks with Martin Dean, managing director of the UK regional bus division at Go Ahead Group. They discuss the company's clear purpose statement, the importance of connecting communities, fostering innovation in public transport, and the strategic growth plans of the bus division. Martin emphasizes the significance of people in the i...

Britain’s first bank to be launched in the cloud does not use automated credit scores, does not have an automated answering service or an online chatbot, and doesn’t keep customers waiting on hold when they call the bank. Redwood Bank, which serves small to medium-sized businesses, balances traditional banking values with advanced technology. Its mission is “to be the UK’s best, go-to, specialist...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with James Ashton, CEO of the Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA). They discuss the importance of transparency and governance in the business world, the role of small and medium-sized companies in the UK economy, and the challenges these companies face in public markets. Ashton emphasises the need for a supportive environment for growt...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist , we dive into the success story of Unity Trust Bank, a Birmingham-based financial institution committed to purpose-driven banking. CEO Colin Fyfe shares how the bank has aligned its mission with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and surpassed £1 billion in lending for the first time in its 40-year history. Discover how Unity Trust's clear purpose...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Paulo Lanzarotti, CEO of beer-maker Asahi Europe & International, discusses the importance of balancing purpose and pragmatism in organisations. He shares insights from the five-year journey that uncovered the company’s purpose of “creating meaningful connections”. The conversation explores how purpose can influence business decisions, engage emplo...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist , host Belden Menkus sits down with Emma Gaudern, co-founder and Managing Director of EMG Solicitors. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, EMG has grown from four employees to 180 across five offices, earning accolades like the Times 100 Best Places to Work and B Corp certification. Emma shares her journey of creating a purpose-driven law firm, balancing g...

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Robin Mortimer, CEO of the Port of London Authority (PLA), about the challenges and opportunities facing the port sector in the wake of COVID-19. They discuss the PLA's purpose, the ambitious Thames Vision 2050 plan aimed at achieving net zero emissions along with economic, environmental and recreational goals, and the importa...

Ignition Law describes itself as “the law firm for start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs and the entrepreneurially spirited”.  It also prides itself on being “a force for good” in its community. Since its founding in 2015, Ignition has grown to 70 people, expanded its range of services, won several awards, and qualified as a Certified B-Corporation. Founder and partner Alex McPherson explains how they d...

Powervault, the London-based manufacturer of renewable energy storage systems, exists to help solve climate change by transforming the way people use energy. It’s a big purpose, but achieving it requires people to change their behaviour in a way that many instinctively resist, because they perceive it as limiting their lifestyle. Powervault developed its technology make the change not only easy, b...

Culture and purpose are powerful tools when you are challenged to turn around a business that isn't reaching its full potential. CEO Kevin Davidson used both to successfully turn around Norman Broadbent plc, the London-based executive search and recruitment firm. This year the firm announced its best financial results in over a decade, with a 41 per cent increase in revenues. Kevin Davidson discus...

Messenger RNA and personalised medicine promise to transform how we prevent and treat disease. Darius Hughes, General Manager in the UK and Ireland for Moderna, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, wants the UK to lead the way. Learn how he uses the company’s purpose to attract and keep the talented professionals he needs to achieve that ambition, on this episode of The Purposeful Strateg...