Pioneers Post is a quarterly magazine and networking platform for innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and advisors who are building a better world through good business.
Join Pioneers Post reporter David Lyons in Oaxaca state, Mexico, as he learns about how NGO SiKanda is supporting informal waste pickers to professionalise, set up enterprises and improve their communities' waste management.
Tim West and Liam Black invite purposeful business leaders to open up about their real-life issues in our new podcast series. First on the “couch”, Kerry Jones, founding CEO of eating disorder treatment clinic Orri, talks about the challenges of turning her vision into messy reality.
The two tech-for-good experts talk to Tim West about their initiative for women leading the development of ethical AI, the importance of empathy to advance AI for the good of humanity, and why women shouldn't be expected to work for free.
With clients like Ikea and KLM, Dutch social enterprise i-did could be judged a success story. But breaking new ground in the social economy hasn't always been easy. Join Estelle Uba in the Netherlands visiting the circular economy pioneer.
"I'm very conscious about what nurtures me": Triodos Bank UK boss Bevis Watts talks to Tim West about his journey from environmentalist to CEO of a multi-billion-euro ethical bank, transforming the financial sector, fostering connections and the importance of connecting with nature.
Join Pioneers Post reporter David Lyons in the Scottish Highlands as he voyages on an award-winning social business ferry.
"Here's what I knew: this was a place where a strong-minded female leader could flourish" – Kirsten Dueck of NESsT tells Tim West about stepping into the shoes of ‘the godmother of impact investing', retiring ‘imposter syndrome' and how her organisation has supported thousands of social entrepreneurs across very different regions and cultures.
"The magic happens when you create uncomfortable, unconventional partnerships" – Sebastian Rocca, founder of social enterprise Micro Rainbow, opens up to Tim West about what Pride Month means to him, growing up gay in Catholic Italy, the importance of understanding who your allies are and embracing vulnerability in leadership.
In this episode of the Good Leaders podcast, hosted by Tim West, Devi Clark, managing director of Impact Hub London, shares the good and bad of running an impact-driven ‘umbrella organisation': from the legal benefits of developing a new building to the struggle of attracting investors when your impact is “powerful, but often indirect”.
In this episode of the Good Leaders podcast, hosted by Tim West, Esther Foreman, founder and CEO of the SE100-listed Social Change Agency, and Social Change Nest, delves into navigating lockdown, new motherhood and multiple sclerosis alongside entrepreneurship, and says her social enterprises take care of administration and governance, the “two pillars of social change”, so that changemakers can get on with creating impact.
How do you build a high growth startup? In this episode of the Fit for the Future podcast, produced in partnership with Buzzacott accountants, we delve into how to take a startup to the next level at a fast pace, drawing from the journeys of two relatively young, high growth social enterprises. In this episode, co-hosts Tim West and Eddie Finch talk to Ariana Alexander-Sefre, founder and co-CEO of SE100 award-winning Spokeworld, and Joe Seddon, founder and CEO of Zero Gravity and winner of the SE100 Leadership award, about the steps required to build a high growth social business startup.
Rebecca White, CEO and founder of Your Own Place CIC, tells Tim West that she started the award-winning “targeted prevention homelessness” social enterprise after seeing that “something crucial was missing for people who didn't have many of the advantages” that others had, and opens up about her biggest regret as a social entrepreneur.
It has survived the 2008 financial crisis and Covid-19 – but, for events industry trailblazer Connection Crew, “the social enterprise narrative” isn't always helpful, says director Charlie Dorman, even if impact is embedded in the business model. In our Good Leaders podcast, founding editor Tim West grills some of those balancing purpose, profit and personal challenges, as they navigate the ups and downs of mission-driven business. This month: Charlie Dorman, director of award-winning social enterprise Connection Crew.
What makes a 'Social Business Champion'? In this Fit for the future podcast, produced in partnership with Buzzacott accountants, we explore the brilliant and blustery journey of Point and Sandwick Trust, a social enterprise based in the Outer Hebrides off the north-west coast of Scotland that built and operates the UK's biggest community wind farm. Point and Sandwick – winner of this year's NatWest SE100 Social Business Champion award – has been recognised as leading the way in community renewable energy. Not only does it generate power, but with the income this makes, it also provides significant support for projects and amenities within the local community. One such amenity is Bethesda Hospice, which must find more than £400,000 revenue to provide its crucial services to the islands each year, a significant part of which is provided by the wind farm. In the podcast, Pioneers Post's Tim West and Eddie Finch from Buzzacott speak to Point and Sandwick director Calum MacDonald about how they have built, funded and sustained this award-winning successful social business through good times and bad – and they also hear from Bethesda Hospice general manager Carol Somerville and finance development officer Joanne Ferguson about the work of the hospice, and the importance that Point and Sandwick has to the local community.
Katie Buckingham started Altruist Enterprises aged just 19 following her own experience of mental ill health. She tells Tim West why she's an optimist – and why outside support was crucial in taking her business to the next level.
‘Being on a journey of personal development is never ending' Teaching young people the practical life skills they've not learned at school: such is the mission of SE100 winner 2-3 Degrees. Co-founder Azzees Minott speaks to Tim West about leaving politics, imposter syndrome, and her initial suspicions about social investment.
What does it take to lead a pioneering organisation in the new impact economy? In our Good Leaders podcast, founding editor Tim West grills some of those balancing purpose, profit and personal challenges, as they navigate the ups and downs of purpose-driven business. This month: the founder and CEO of On Purpose Tom Rippin talks to Tim West about helping 1,000 people switch to impact-first careers, why an outdated view of science is hindering systems change, and what good leadership is all about.
There are only a few days left before the Impact Shakers summit in Brussels – which its organisers describe as “Europe's first big startup event focusing on inclusive entrepreneurship and impact”. But what does “inclusive entrepreneurship and impact” actually mean? In this episode, Tim West speaks to Yonca Braeckman, CEO and co-founder of Impact Shakers, about what drove her to want to build an “impact ecosystem”. She also recounts her career path from a Belgian chip-shop to social entrepreneurship – which took her to the pre-2008 banking sector and virtual reality filmmaking in New York along the way. Being a good leader? “For me, it's all about being kind and caring,” says Braeckman. Being too caring can also prompt her to take on too much – although she admits she performs well under pressure: “It never felt like an option, to me, to not lead… I'm good in crisis situations… when big challenges arise, I go into some type of problem-solving mode, and move on.”
Over his long and diverse career, Liam Black has run a number of purpose-led businesses – both his own and other people's. Now in his sixties, he's mentoring other leaders to do the same, and has just published a new book: How to lead with purpose – partly a story about his own journey as a purpose-driven leader, and partly drawing from his experiences as a mentor. In this episode, he speaks to old friend Tim West about having imposter syndrome in his first role as CEO, growing bored and moving on (more than once), the importance of building organisations that can thrive without his support in future, and the fine line between authenticity and virtue signalling. He shares successes and failures – and tells us that failing as a leader is different from failing a business. “The big failures for me in my leadership have been when I haven't stayed true to my values,” Black says. “As the CEO, or the chair of something, I think the biggest responsibility you have is to protect the strength and the positivity of the culture. And it's very easy to spoil that and when I have spoiled that by my own behaviour, or by allowing in people who were able to bullshit their way through… those, I feel, are my biggest failures in leadership rather than particular business decisions or business ventures that haven't worked.”
How did a kid from a London council estate end up advising the UN on inclusion? In this episode of the Good Leaders Podcast, Tim West speaks to social entrepreneur Atif Choudhury, founder of Zaytoun and Diversity and Ability.
What does it mean to build a healthy, resilient, sustainable organisation that's able to do good and well at the same time? Previously, we've discussed how to find the right finance, how to navigate risk, and how to look after your team in challenging times. In this episode, co-hosts Tim West and Eddie Finch talk to Martin Cosarinsky Campos, managing director of social enterprise Breadwinners, and trustee Harry George, about the art of impact measurement and management.
In our Good Leaders podcast, founding editor Tim West meets some of the best and brightest of social enterprise, impact investing and mission-driven business for a series of candid conversations – expect to be surprised. This month: Alice Williams of the award-winning Luminary Bakery.
In this series, we meet some of the stars of social enterprise and mission-driven business to find out what it means to build a healthy, resilient, sustainable organisation that's able to do good and well at the same time. In previous episodes, we've talked about how to find the right finance, how to navigate risk, how to operate in times of crisis, and much more. This time, we're focussing on how to lead an effective and happy team, even in difficult times. Pioneers Post founding editor Tim West is joined by Do It Now Now's Bayo Adelaja, Clear Voice's Sadie Visick, and Buzzacott's Sarah Dalton.
What makes a 'good' leader? It's a broad question with a myriad of possible answers and examples. In our new podcast, produced in partnership with NatWest and Buzzacott, our founding editor Tim West sits down with the best and brightest leaders of social enterprise, impact investing and mission-driven business for a series of candid conversations – expect to be surprised. This month: Susan Aktemel
The Good Leaders Podcast - Episode 1: Cemal Ezel by Pioneers Post
Pioneers Post presents: the Good Leaders Podcast by Pioneers Post
How does a social business deal with uncertainty? And after that, how do you know what impact you are making? In the latest episode of Fit for the Future, social entrepreneur Louisa Ziane and advisor Eddie Finch call for honesty, transparency and imagination.
In this episode of our Fit for the Future series, craft beer social entrepreneur Louisa Ziane shares her recipe for turning money (and surplus bread) into mission, with Buzzacott's Eddie Finch and Pioneers Post's Tim West. Love podcasts? Don't miss out on ours! Catch up on all our podcasts and subscribe free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Soundcloud.
In this episode of Fit for the Future, Pioneers Post host Tim West quizzes social entrepreneur Louisa Ziane of Toast Ale and expert Eddie Finch from Buzzacott accountants on four key 'Ms' to get right.
What does it mean to build a healthy, resilient, sustainable organisation that's able to do good and well at the same time? In this series, Buzzacott and Pioneers Post meet some of the stars of social enterprise and mission-driven business to talk about how to build a strong culture, how to find the right finance, how to navigate risk, and what it means to measure and manage impact. Growing a social enterprise – and growing its impact – often means taking risks. At the same time, making sure that a business is financially sustainable is essential to its survival. How to strike the right balance? Pioneers Post's managing editor Anna Patton and Buzzacott partner Eddie Finch talk to Zoe Portlock, co-founder and chair of the award-winning social enterprise Bikeworks, and Tej Dhami, managing director of The Change Coefficient, which provides social impact and investment advisory services. Together, they discuss how social enterprises and their investors can think of risk in a way that enables them to achieve greater social impact, while remaining sustainable. In part 1, we hear: - Why resilience is all about purpose and passion - Why funding - but also trust and tough conversations - are critical to a long-term mindset - And why taking shortcuts on communication can be one of the most dangerous things when it comes to risk Move on to part 2 to hear the conversation continue here: https://soundcloud.com/pioneers-post/fit-for-the-future-managing-risk-part-2
What does it mean to build a healthy, resilient, sustainable organisation that's able to do good and well at the same time? In this series, Buzzacott and Pioneers Post meet some of the stars of social enterprise and mission-driven business to talk about how to build a strong culture, how to find the right finance, how to navigate risk, and what it means to measure and manage impact. Growing a social enterprise – and growing its impact – often means taking risks. At the same time, making sure that a business is financially sustainable is essential to its survival. How to strike the right balance? Pioneers Post's managing editor Anna Patton and Buzzacott partner Eddie Finch talk to Zoe Portlock, co-founder and chair of the award-winning social enterprise Bikeworks, and Tej Dhami, managing director of The Change Coefficient, which provides social impact and investment advisory services. Together, they discuss how social enterprises and their investors can think of risk in a way that enables them to achieve greater social impact, while remaining sustainable. In part 2, we hear: - How attitudes to risk change as an organisation grows - The kind of capital needed to finance innovation - Why business risk may also be linked to the personal situation of a founder – and what that means for diversity and inclusion - And the ‘golden question': how and when to communicate concerns about financial sustainability to your board, staff and partners Listen to part 1 here: https://soundcloud.com/pioneers-post/fit-for-the-future-managing-risk-part-1
How to create, and be part of, an ethical supply chain? That's the question we're addressing today, in the first of our 2021 WISE Ways to Lead webinars delivered by Pioneers Post and NatWest. The first episode featured Jo Salter, founder of ethical brand Where does it come from, who explained how to build an ethical supply chain. In part 2, Pioneers Post's global editor Julie Pybus talks to Aoise Keogan-Nooshabadi, co-founder of Supply Change, an organisation that helps social enterprises win and deliver contracts, working with buyers in the construction industry, local authorities, housing associations and corporates. She tells us how social enterprises can get themselves into the supply chain as an ethical or more social alternative, and leverage that trend to build back better, during and post-pandemic. The episode concludes with Jo and Aoise answering questions from the webinar's audience. Keep an eye on our Twitter @pioneerspost or sign up to the Pioneers Post newsletter for more info on the next WISE webinar, coming soon.
How to create, and be part of, an ethical supply chain? That's the question we're addressing today, in the first of our 2021 WISE Ways to Lead webinars delivered by Pioneers Post and NatWest. In the first episode, Pioneers Post's global editor Julie Pybus talks to Jo Salter, who founded award-winning ethical brand Where Does It Come From in 2013. The company has established ethical and transparent supply chains in India and Africa with its goal to create “kind clothes that tell tales”, following clear ethics and sustainability criteria. Jo shares her experience and advice on how to build your ethical supply chain. The WISE100 network connects women working in the impact space, enabling them to learn from and inspire each other, discover collaboration opportunities and ultimately increase their social impact.
Mutual aid means that we look out for each other: you support me and I support you. In the wake of Covid-19, thousands of new groups have been set up on these principles. But is there a danger of losing the 'mutual'? In this special episode, guests hosts Vidhya Alakeson and Angela Fell are taking over the podcast to explore the role of mutuality in improving neighbourhoods. They talk to Neil McInroy, chief executive of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES), and Jess Steele, director of Jericho Road Solutions, and they discuss how communities can work with local government to rewire a system broken by market forces.
Social enterprises seeking to grow and increase their impact usually need to raise some type of finance. Often, they'll look to social investment: loans, equity or blended finance. But often the process can be confusing and difficult to navigate. In this episode of Fit for the Future, hosts Anna Patton, Pioneers Post’s managing editor, and Matt Katz, partner at Buzzacott accountancy firm, talk to Isabelle Irani, co-founder of social investment firm Sumerian Partners, and Mark Simms, CEO of P3 Charity, which supports vulnerable people in England through housing, outreach and other activities.
How do we best nurture mutual aid? In this episode, Vidhya Alakeson and Angela Fell discuss how institutions can create a supportive environment and enable community action – rather than trying to replace it.
What does it mean to build a healthy, resilient, sustainable organisation that’s able to do good and well at the same time? During this series, we meet some of the stars of social enterprise and mission-driven business to talk about how to build a strong culture, how to find the right finance, how to navigate risk, and what it means to measure and manage impact. In this first episode, hosts Tim West of Pioneers Post and Eddie Finch of Buzzacott accountants meet two social enterprise leaders: Anna Whitty MBE, who has been chief executive at community transport charity ECT for more than 13 years, and Natalie Campbell, who began her stint as the CEO of ethical drinks business Belu Water just three weeks before the coronavirus lockdown was announced in March.
In the latest episode of our podcast series, co-hosts Bob Thust and Maff Potts are joined by Thomas Waring of Macc, which supports the voluntary sector in Manchester, and Amardeep Dhillon, London bar tender, journalist and self-confessed ‘rabble rouser’. The debate is centred around informal groups engaging with formal institutions, delving into the good, bad and ugly of informal and formal mutual aid. “Mutuality is this thing that’s fuelled by connection, by opportunities to connect, and that can be supported in the right ways and with the understanding of power, through some formalised groups and through informal connections as well,” says Bob. After the recent publication of a report by Danny Kruger MP, discussion in this episode is politically charged. With general agreement the report gives a lot of hope, the group believes its limitations are clear. Tom comments: “It’s basically saying we’re going to accept mutual aid as long as it’s not challenging the normal order of things.”
In the second episode of our new podcast series, co-hosts Bob Thust and Maff Potts are joined by Dr Simon Kaye, Senior Policy Researcher at New Local Government Network, and Pat Fernandes, a Community Financial Inclusion Manager at Advice for Renters. Mutual aid means that we look out for each other: you support me and I support you. In the wake of Covid-19, thousands of new groups have been set up on these principles. But is there a danger of losing the 'mutual'? In a new podcast series – The Feeling's Mutual – Bob, Maff and guests discuss, and offer their potential solutions. Whilst the podcast kicks off with a discussion around the role of institutions, trust and connection soon become the buzzwords with Pat sharing her recent experiences of funding experiments at Brent Council: “What sprang to mind is a community ATM where people could get money on demand. It’s either madness or genius but I’m open to it either way.”
Leadership coach David Mcqueen and host Liam Black discuss some of the issues surrounding racial diversity in the workplace – including ‘cancel culture’, the ‘BAME’ acronym, and challenging the power of middle-aged white men. Edited by Caroline Hailstone. Music by A A Alto.
For Myriam Sidibe – a public health expert with experience leading on social mission at Unilever, and author of a new book, 'Brands on a Mission' – current crises underscore the need for organisations to get to grips with their purpose. “Brands and companies that have a history of having tackled these core social issues are coming out of [these times] extremely well. And the rest are falling fast, and far from everyone else,” she says. “It takes years of commitment to be a brand on a mission, so if there is a time when they should reset their business model: it is now.” Edited by Caroline Hailstone. Music by A A Alto. Love podcasts? Don't miss out on ours! Catch up on all our podcasts and subscribe free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Soundcloud.
Pioneers Post speaks to Ethical Property managing director Conrad Peberdy about how his workspace business is coping with Covid-19, how they are preparing for big changes – and what he misses about sharing an office space with colleagues. Find more podcast episodes from Pioneers Post on Apple, Soundcloud, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Interview by Anna Patton, edited by Caroline Hailstone. Music by A A Alto.
Thousands of new mutual aid groups have emerged in the wake of Covid-19: enabling neighbours and friends to both give and receive support. But is there a danger of losing the 'mutual'? In a new podcast series, Bob, Maff and guests discuss – and offer their potential solutions. This is episode 1 of The Feeling’s Mutual podcast. Get in touch or join future discussions for the series at hello@practicalgov.co.uk – and find more podcast episodes from Pioneers Post on Apple, Soundcloud, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Podcast edited by Caroline Hailstone. Music: If – Broke For Free
For the past 20 years, Liam Black – board chair, former CEO, investment advisor and mentor for corporates, social businesses and charities alike – has been signing off his blogs and emails in a way that reflects the conflicting values of the world of social business. Now, he has got together with Pioneers Post to create a new podcast series of the same name: ‘Peace, Love and Profit’. In the first episode, he talks to Henry Jones, CEO at mental health social enterprise Big White Wall, who opens up about what it's like to lead a social business which is thriving under Covid-19.
If there was ever any doubt that UK charity boards aren’t diverse enough, consider this: less than 3% of trustees are under 30 years old, while one in twelve are called John or David. In the latest episode of our Agenda Item One podcast, Practical Governance co-founder Bob Thust is joined by four people who want this to change. Over an online call, young trustees Leon Ward and Tamanna Miah, Blagrave Trust director Jo Wells, and Young Trustee Movement programme manager Mita Desai discuss why more organisations should include young people in decision making.
Creativity is set to become one of the most-needed skills of the future. From Cape Town, our DICE Young Storymaker reports on efforts to democratise the world of design and to bring creative education to new audiences. Music by A.A. Alto
The Pioneers Post team venture into absolute darkness on a visit to London’s Dialogue in the Dark sensory exhibition – and discover how the social enterprise franchise might inspire a more accessible world. PS. We rely on paid subscriptions and partnerships to sustain our purpose-led journalism – so if you think it's worth having an independent, specialist media platform to share your news, insight and debate across the globe, please consider subscribing here: www.pioneerspost.com/subscribe Music credits: A.A. Alto.
Why are so few social businesses household names – and what can we do about it? Our latest podcast captures some of the bright spots, bugbears and recommendations on scaling from the ScaleUp Institute, Big Society Capital and Impact Hub King's Cross. PS. We rely on paid subscriptions and partnerships to sustain our purpose-led journalism – so if you think it's worth having an independent, specialist media platform to share your news, insight and debate across the globe, please consider subscribing here: https://www.pioneerspost.com/subscribe Music credits: A.A. Alto.
This piece was produced by Nour Ibrahim for Pioneers Post as part of the DICE Young Storymakers Programme. Special thanks to Hisham Algazzar, founder of Yadawee. Read the full story here: https://www.pioneerspost.com/podcasts/20200130/family-business-the-women-starting-afresh-cairos-creative-sector Music from https://filmmusic.io "Imagefilm 018" by Sascha Ende (https://www.sascha-ende.de) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
There are numerous gender-specific networks and schemes to support women in business, including our very own Women in Social Enterprise (WISE100) created in partnership with NatWest. But how important is it to get together without men in the room? Bonnie Chiu, managing director at The Social Investment Consultancy (TSIC) and founder of social enterprise Lensational, is an advocate for women’s-only networking spaces. Speaking at a dinner hosted by NatWest and Pioneers Post in London last month, she posed some big questions about how women in social enterprise can be more supportive of each other, and revealed her own personal journey of thinking through her position as a woman in business.
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