Pioneers Post

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 gre

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 gr

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 W

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