Episodes

  • 13: From the Sustainability Conference

    13: From the Sustainability Conference
    Mar 28 2022
    Gareth reports from the biz4Biz Sustainability Conference at the Rothamsted Institute of Agricultural Research near St Albans, Hertfordshire.   The event – which took place on 3rd of March 2022 was attended by over 170 business leaders from the region and had an amazing line-up of keynote speakers, on topics across the ESG spectrum.

    To learn more about the event, visit the conference page on the biz4Biz website.

    The line-up of keynote speakers who are interviewed in this episode includes :

    Bim Afolami
    MP for Hitchin & Harpenden and Chair, APPG for Renewable and Sustainable Energy

    Richard Roberts
    Leader, Hertfordshire County Council and Chair, Hertfordshire Growth Board

    Richard Whitehead
    Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership Board Member and Chair, Herts IQ

    Stephen Ainsworth
    Head of Eastern Region, Barclays

    Marco De Benedictis
    Head of Sustainable Finance, Barclays

    Philip Webb
    MD and Founder, Investors In Community

    Leon Reed
    CEO & Founder, Verisio

    Monica Kanwar
    Director of Sustainability, University of Hertfordshire

    Yanina Aubrey-Gimenez
    Head of Business Growth & Entrepreneurship, University of Hertfordshire

    Mark Pashley
    Corporate Tax Partner, Mercer & Hole

    Andrew Griffiths
    Director of Community and Partnerships, Planet Mark

    David Hawes
    Co-Founder, Net Zero International

    Rondi Allan & Nick Reilly
    Co-Founders, Sustainable X

    Adrian Hawkins OBE and Ian Taylor
    from the event organisers, biz4Biz
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • 12: Becoming A B-Corp

    12: Becoming A B-Corp
    Mar 10 2022
    Gareth speaks with Graham Gillen, founder of Eccountinc, and a B-Leader who assists companies across the UK and Republic of Ireland in pursuing and achieving B-Corp status.   Graham shares his insights on the processes available to both established and early-stage businesses, and gives some examples of sustainable companies he has helped become B-Corps, together with their compelling reasons for doing so.

    The following are mentioned in this episode :

    • BCorp UK
    • Purposely
    • Green Salon Collective
    • CleanTheWorld
    And for founders of startups who are seeking to incorporate with B-Corp-ready Articles of Association, etc, an example platform that simplifies this process can be found at :

    • FounderCatalyst
    Graham can be contacted via LinkedIn or via email to graham@eccountinc.com.
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • 11: Businesses as Forces for Good

    11: Businesses as Forces for Good
    Jan 24 2022
    Gareth speaks with Paul Hargreaves, founder and Chief Executive of Cotswold Fayre, a speciality and fine food wholesaler and purpose-driven company that seeks to reduce poverty, injustice and environmental damage by balancing the needs of people and the planet with the pursuit of profit.    Paul discusses his 20-year journey of building his company and defining his style of inclusive leadership.

    Paul is also a B-Corp ambassador, with Cotswold Fayre having been one of the earliest companies in the UK to achieve certification as a B Corporation, in 2015.

    In addition, Paul is a published author, having written 2 books on purpose-driven business and compassionate leadership :

    Forces For Good (2019), and     
    The Fourth Bottom Line (2021)   

    Paul is an inspiring keynote speaker and shares his powerful insights at events, conferences and retreats.  To learn more about Paul, or to enquire as to his availability for speaking engagements, visit www.paulhargreaves.co.uk.
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • 10: Sustainable Energy - with Bim Afolami MP

    10: Sustainable Energy - with Bim Afolami MP
    Oct 22 2021
    Gareth speaks with Bim Afolami, Conservative member of Parliament for the UK constituency of Hitchin and Harpenden and current Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Renewable And Sustainable Energy Group.  Recorded in the Autumn of 2021, with all eyes on the UN Climate Change Conference following the IPCC's publishing of its sixth climate-change assessment report.

    Bim shares his thoughts on a range of solutions, and speaks candidly about what he considers necessary in order to achieve the UK's target of Net Zero Carbon status by 2050.

    You can learn more about Bim Afolami MP at his website, or contact him via the UK Parliament.

    This episode is sponsored by biz4Biz, the members’ association for business Founders and Leaders in the South-East of England.  Join or discover more at www.biz4biz.org
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • 9: The Sentient Soldier

    9: The Sentient Soldier
    Oct 10 2021
    Gareth speaks with Growth Leader and US Digital Healthcare Strategist, Corey Feldman, about how his military service in the Middle-East shaped him as an empathetic and objective thinker, and how his experiences have enlightened him to seek truths in both sides of a dispute.

    They discuss his recently-published memoir, ‘A Line In The Sand’, and his pursuit of innovations in improvements to healthcare.

    After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Corey enlisted in the IDF, where he served for 3 years and now holds the rank of Staff Sergeant as a reservist.  Corey is an Erickson certified professional coach, holds an Executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology, and a Masters in Healthcare Innovation from The University of Pennsylvania.

    Since leaving the military, Corey has spent his career helping early stage digital healthcare SaaS companies scale their commercial offerings as a growth-leader, advisor, and investor.

    He is a volunteer EMT with the Central Park Medical Unit, a published author and hosts 2 podcasts - The Lone Soldier, and Healthcare Reimagined, which can be found on Spotify and Apple podcasts.

    Corey's book is available in eBook and print at the Amazon UK and Amazon US stores.    His diverse and detailed blog can be found at The Examined Life NYC.
    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • 8: Revolution in Remittances

    8: Revolution in Remittances
    Sep 20 2021
    Gareth is joined by blockchain technology veteran and payments app entrepreneur, Michael Lawal, whose company, Sendit.Money, is set to play a revolutionary role in democratising remittances across emerging markets, making funds-transfers cheaper, faster and easier to, from and within Africa.
     
    They discuss the challenge faced in sending and receiving money throughout the developing world, and the pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals which address these challenges.     They discuss several blockchain protocols, such as :

    • Stellar
    • Cardano
    • Ripple

    PSA: Gareth is an investor in, and advisor to, Sendit.Money.
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • 7: Go Placidly, Tread Lightly

    7: Go Placidly, Tread Lightly
    Sep 6 2021
    Gareth speaks to Ameena Ahmed, a lead social-impact consultant and coach with experience leading in the public, private and 3rd sectors. 

    They discuss Ameena's journey, mission and values, as well as leadership, independence, gender, faith, lifelong learning and collaboration.

    Ameena shares her insights into stepping boldly into the unknown, living a values-driven life with 'alignfulness', through Buddhism, and remaining centred in a turbulent and discordant world.

    Ameena's Reading List from this episode : 
    • Proof of Heaven by Dr Eben Alexander

    Reach-out to Ameena via her consultancy, Direct Path
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • 6: Ikigai and Your Higher Purpose

    6: Ikigai and Your Higher Purpose
    Aug 25 2021
    Gareth speaks with Ian Windle, author of recently-published book 'The Leadership Map' and co-host of the Gritty Leaders Club podcast.

    As well as a deep-dive into several principles put forward in the book, Ian and Gareth discuss Ian's 2018 TEDx talk on having 'An Unreasonable Dream', the revelations that come from his work with business leaders in the Peer Advisory Group he chairs, and his admiration of Asian business culture, high-performing sportspeople and those who challenge the status quo.

    Touching on numerous sources of leadership theory, this episode namechecks several inspiring books, such as :

    • Blue Zones, by Dan Buettner
    • Vivid Vision, by Cameron Herold
    • Fear Less, by Dr Pippa Grange

    You can learn more about Ian's work at www.ianwindle.com 
    Show More Show Less
    48 mins