Alice Barbery on Expanding Leadership: Balancing Business Success and Social Responsibility
In this episode of The Wisdom of… Show, host Simon Bowen talks to Alice Barbery, CEO of Universal Store, about impactful and meaningful leadership in today's superficial world. They discuss Alice's career in retail, her values guided by social justice, and the challenges of leading a modern, purpose-driven business. Alice shares why Universal Store prioritizes values such as environmental sustainability, ethical business practices, and fostering a positive workplace culture. The conversation delves into the role of young people in today's workforce, the complexities of technology and AI, and the broader implications of nurturing a compassionate and inclusive business environment. Here's what you're in for: 00:00 Introduction to the Wisdom of Show 00:19 Meet Alice Barbery: CEO of Universal Store 00:34 The Purpose of Leadership and Stewardship 01:19 Alice's Career Journey and Leadership Philosophy 02:15 Empowering People in Retail 03:34 Social Justice and Personal Values 05:34 Retail as a Platform for Inclusivity 08:59 Universal Store's Sustainability Goals 11:11 Challenges and Successes in Sustainability 14:45 The Role of Young People in the Workforce 22:38 Creating a Positive Work Environment 29:40 Embracing a Complaint-Free Culture 31:01 Protecting and Spreading Company Culture 34:30 Navigating the AI Landscape 42:36 Balancing Decisions with Human Impact 48:35 Personal Insights and Reflections About Alice Barbery No matter what problem or challenge Alice Barbery faces in business, there is only one core answer—PEOPLE. Regardless of the issue (stock, finance, property, systems, etc.), somebody has to fix it. Ideally, it's a collective group of smart and proactive individuals with a shared mission of overall business success. Alice believes in forgetting the silos, the internal competition, and the ego. In safe work environments where great people are motivated to contribute their best efforts, are passionate about the best outcomes for the whole, and strive to be better than their last record-breaking result, overcoming challenges is both rewarding and motivating. It's not about if—it's about how and when. Alice looks for people who want to be better than good, who are here to help and contribute. She seeks individuals who make it work and care about everyone in the organization. To her, feedback is feeding the business, and the business sustains the team, creating a continuous cycle of growth and improvement. Her firm belief is that it is essential to surround oneself with the best and the brightest, providing them the scope and autonomy they need to surprise themselves and outperform their own expectations. The question Alice asks herself every day is this: "So, what environment are you creating today, Alice?" About Simon Bowen Simon has spent over two decades working with some of the most influential leaders across many complex industries and circumstances. His very clear finding is quite simply that thinking is valued less than doing in almost every situation in our modern world. However, Simon has conversely observed that the power and success of any business, project or organization will be in direct proportion to the level and quality of thinking of the people and the quality of the idea or ideas on which it is built. As such, Simon is leading the renaissance of thinking. A sought-after speaker, facilitator and advisor to global leaders, Simon has demonstrated the efficacy of his line method for over 20 years with Fortune 500 companies, heads of Government, the military and private sector in strategic planning, the incubation of innovation, crisis management, and moments of...
