Change Makers: Leadership, Good Business, Ideas and Innovation Seven Hills

Joining Michael on Change Makers is Rick de Blaby, the CEO of Get Living.

Get Living are the build-to-rent pioneers, with a mission to change renting for the better.

With almost 4,000 homes across three neighbourhoods in London and Manchester and four more on the horizon in the next two years, this is a 10-year story about where we belong and community at the heart of happy living.

One of those neighbourhoods is East Village London – the site of the Olympic Village in 2012 – and where Michael joins Rick for this conversation.

Change Makers returns and we're joined by former Deputy Prime Minister and co-founder of Haymarket, Lord Heseltine.

Michael paid a visit to the spectacular Thenford Arboretum and Gardens for this inspiring conversation with a beast of the political jungle. Lord Heseltine remains as sharp today as he was at the dispatch box, even aged 90 and with his famous blonde mane now a snowy white. 

From the lemonade stand that made him to how Liverpool changed him, and the legacy he sees for himself, you'll hear honest insights into the life of one of the UK's most consequential public figures in the 20th century. Did he really try to bring down Thatcher? Why does he think Brexit was a century-defining mistake? And is this political titan in fact a more reserved figure than his public persona emits?

You can listen to this episode through all your usual podcast platforms, or watch it on our website changemakers.works to see the full beauty of Thenford Gardens and the three surprise guests who tried to disrupt the fun!

Michael is joined by George Clarke, the architect, TV presenter, lecturer and writer, best known for his work with Channel 4, including The Restoration Man and George Clarke's Amazing Spaces.
 
Growing up on a Sunderland council estate, George was inspired to become an architect, spending summers on building sites with his grandfather.
 
While studying at Newcastle University School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, and London’s Bartlett School of Architecture, George supported himself by renovating people’s homes in his spare time, before turning his attention to TV and programmes that demonstrate the opportunity of space and the vital importance of the home.

We are excited to bring you the second episode of Journeys of Discovery – Change Makers’ collaborative series with the Royal Philharmonic Orchesta. Over the course of these interviews, Michael explores fundamental questions about what it means to be human that accompany nine incredible concerts.

This week, the themes are Freedom and Redemption, and our guest Katy Emck OBE, knows a thing or two about both of those.

As Founding Director of Fine Cell Work, Katy speaks to Michael about how she is helping to transform the lives of prisoners and ex-prisoners through needlework. Prisons can be “places of soul, spirit and connection”, says Katy. Rather than carrying out their sentences “full of rage and self hate”, prisoners should be permitted to embark on a journey of “self understanding and self acceptance”.

Craftwork in prisons is common, but Katy feels there is something about the intense focus of needlework that provides a much needed “release from the here and now”. Whilst momentarily being transported out of their cell’s confinement, prisoners are also developing a skill, creating something they can be proud of, and generating income. This positions them with the self belief to rebuild meaningful, independent, crime free lives once they have finished their sentences.

There is no better depiction of Katy’s belief in the power of freedom and redemption than her favourite song by Nina Simone, ‘I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free’, which she describes as the ultimate song about freedom, release and the longing we all have to break free of inhibition and to be connected.

Through needlework, Fine Cell Work is opening one of the few doors of opportunity available to prisoners – allowing them both a glimpse of freedom, and a chance for redemption.

For our guest this week, there are 10,000 stories behind her message but perhaps above all, one reason to listen. For a message that is determined, optimistic and empowering, that is: “this next decade will be the best of my life yet”. 

Charlotte Keenan is the Managing Director of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Women initiatives – providing women entrepreneurs around the world with business and management education, mentoring and networking, and access to capital. 

Alongside its sister programme 10,000 Small Businesses, which is committed to stimulating small business growth, it gives her a ringside seat into the importance of entrepreneurs to the economy and insights into how gloomy times for growth might glow again with the feel good factor of progress and potential realised. 

Cécile Reinaud is the founder of Seraphine, the international maternity label worn by the stars. From Kate Winslet to Kate Hudson to  Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. 

Launched as a single store in 2003, over the next 15 years Cécile scaled the company and grew turnover to £18 million by 2018. Exporting to more than 30 countries around the world and winning two Queens Awards for Enterprise along the way. 

After exiting the business last year, Cécile has taken on roles as European Co-Chair of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women with a mission to empower women to start, grow, and sustain successful businesses.

Michael and Cécile are also joined later in the episode by Xavier Mufraggi, CEO of YPO. 

YPO is a global leadership community of more than 30,000 CEOs in 142 countries. Its members are those who have achieved significant leadership success at a young age. 

Combined, their businesses contribute to over $9 trillion in annual global revenue. YPO supports them by fostering peer learning and inspiration as a community driven by values of open sharing and trust.