65: Managing professional relationships - How to spot a ‘Taker' and why 'Giving' wins (but only if you avoid the pitfalls)
Okay, I admit it. I have a bad Amazon habit. I buy books and (most of the time!) read them - but often I don't properly reflect on what I've learned. I zealously highlight passages that I want to reflect on, and I might remember some of the key themes, but generally the learning points get crushed under the weight of another book being added to my groaning bookshelf. So I thought I would address this by actually writing down some of the key things I have learned when the reading books I…
MDE 40: Inspiring children with Jedi mind tricks, Chris Burgess of CBiS Education
How do you capture the imagination of children who are disengaged? Show them how to move a remote control car using their mind, that’s how! A request from a teacher to go and show off some robotics the company had been developing for the military led to a whole new revenue stream and is now the sole focus of their business. What you will learn in this interview: What Chris has learnt in the ups and downs of business The mistakes he has made What his strategy has been for funding the…
MDE 31: Recycling to reduce plastic waste and poverty. David Katz of The Plastic Bank
David Katz describes himself as a “Very solid C-student at school”. He laughs, “I was always distracted but that doesn’t mean I am not a learner.” The entrepreneur has certainly learned enough to devise an ingenious way to save the planet. Two years ago he founded The Plastic Bank, a company devoted to, well, saving the planet. They do this by monetising plastic waste. “There’s actually a ton of value in it,” says David, “in fact, recycled plastic has more demand than supply.” Paying…
MDE 29: Leading a supermarket revolution, Ruth Anslow of hiSbe
I love shopping in farmers’ markets and I am very into local food so the story and concept of hiSbe Food was something that immediately appealed to me. hiSbe (how it Should be) is a different kind of supermarket; one that puts the customers, suppliers and employees before profits and shareholders. Pretty groundbreaking. The supermarket was opened in Brighton in 2013 in a 'fanfare of alternative', but the route there for co-founder Ruth Anslow was a traditional one. She studied…
MDE 26: David Lale of Charity People and Career Volunteer - helping people use their skills to do good.
The entrepreneurs I interview here all have a mission and David Lale is no exception. I only wish I had known about his company when I left recruitment myself! David set up Charity People in the 1990s, after harbouring “ambitions to save the world”. He’d wanted to go into the church but they didn’t feel he was ready and because he was working in recruitment, he looked at other ways to make a difference. He was on honeymoon when the idea came for Charity People: “All good ideas come when…
MDE 9: Shoes with soul, Sven Segal, CoFounder of Po-Zu
Podcast: In this episode of Mission Driven Entrepreneurs I talk to Sven Segal who has made it his mission to manufacture beautiful shoes that are not only comfortable but also limit the impact they have on our planet. In this session you'll hear Sven's take on: The challenges of competing with huge brands The importance of a unique appearance or concept to support your brand The buying public's attitude to ethically produced products Thinking outside of the box - or should that be just…
Become a Parrot Fish in the Ocean - standing out in a crowded job market
Doing well, doing good' Last year I was at the inspiring conference at IESE, 'Doing well, doing good' which has just taken place this weekend. This year I couldn't go, but I happened to be reading about Zainab Salbi. Zainab is the founder of a global organisation called 'Women for Women' which provides support, such a access to legal advise and health services and training including job skills, to women affected by war in eight countries. She has just published a book; 'If you knew me you…