Leaders with Purpose

manifesto
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What does it really take to lead with purpose in a world of uncertainty, complexity and constant change? What happens when profit, people and values collide? Hosted by Rebecca Hull and Lou Lai from Manifesto, Leaders with Purpose goes beyond the headlines and leadership clichés to explore the real, messy, and meaningful work of leading with courage and clarity. Every fortnight, hear from the leaders shaping the future across non-profits, culture, technology, and mission-driven organisations to unpack how they stay connected to purpose, navigate transformation, and lead with integrity. Through honest reflections, surprising lessons, and practical takeaways, this podcast offers a candid look at what it means to lead today. You’ll hear from industry experts, peers, and change makers across sectors, sharing lived experiences from the frontlines and the system’s edges. Because great leadership doesn’t always come with a playbook, but it always starts with purpose.

  1. Sep 23

    Why leaders need to talk about mental health

    How honest should leaders be when they’re struggling? In this extra mini episode of Leaders with Purpose, Ben Kay, Chief Experience Officer at the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), joins Lou to discuss vulnerability in leadership, his experience of burnout and why speaking openly about mental health is essential. Ben shares how difficult periods have shaped the way he leads, why health must remain a priority and how finding purpose has brought greater meaning to his work. Topics covered include: 00:00 Navigating uncertainty as a leader 00:56 Being open about vulnerability and burnout 02:38 Why it’s important to say when you’re not fine 04:25 Putting health first within an organisation 05:02 Finding personal purpose through your work 06:00 Creating a shared sense of purpose at BACP This honest conversation offers reassurance to leaders facing difficult periods and a reminder that asking for support can be an important step forward. Subscribe to Leaders with Purpose for more conversations about purposeful leadership, workplace culture and mental health. Listen to the podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ASRJjPQjcijfeFxyiafX?si=41269ee0af1a468d Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-with-purpose/id1836126863 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/ad0874f0-68de-4c21-a3e2-e08dfe71597a/leaders-with-purpose Connect with us Ben Kay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benkay76/ Lou Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/ manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

  2. Sep 16

    What happens when AI becomes your therapist?

    Could AI make mental health support more accessible without losing the human connection at the heart of therapy? In this mini episode of Leaders with Purpose, Ben Kay, Chief Experience Officer at the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) explores the role AI could play in supporting the nation’s mental health. With public services under pressure and private therapy unaffordable for many, people are already turning to AI chatbots during vulnerable moments. Ben discusses the risks this creates, why technology should complement rather than replace therapists and the need for strong ethical frameworks. He also explains how BACP can help technology companies develop safer, more human tools grounded in evidence and clinical understanding. Topics covered include: 00:00 - Creating an ethical framework for AI 00:14 - The growing gap in access to mental health support 01:28 - Using technology to support human interaction 02:00 - Why vulnerable people are turning to AI chatbots 02:42 - The risks of using AI for mental health support 03:06 - Why AI cannot replace human connection 03:38 - How technology could support therapists and clients 04:15 - Bringing therapeutic ethics into technology 05:19 - BACP’s responsibility to its members 05:46 - Why decisions must be grounded in research 06:16 - Helping the public choose safer digital tools 06:54 - Using AI to support the nation’s wellbeing Subscribe to Leaders with Purpose for more conversations about leadership, mental health, technology and organisational change. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ASRJjPQjcijfeFxyiafX?si=41269ee0af1a468d Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-with-purpose/id1836126863 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/ad0874f0-68de-4c21-a3e2-e08dfe71597a/leaders-with-purpose Connect with us: Ben Kay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benkay76/ Lou Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/ manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

    What happens when AI becomes your therapist?

  3. Sep 2

    How great leaders navigate burnout and uncertainty

    Can AI improve access to mental health support without replacing the human connection at the heart of therapy? In this episode of Leaders with Purpose, Lou Lai is joined by Ben Kay, Chief Experience Officer at the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Ben shares how his experience of burnout has shaped the way he leads and why vulnerability should be treated as a strength in the workplace. He also explores the ethical role AI could play in mental health support, from helping therapists with everyday tasks to supporting people when human help is unavailable. The conversation also looks at BACP’s transformation as it approaches its 50th anniversary, including how the organisation is improving its membership experience and preparing for a future defined by constant change. They also covered: 00:53 - Moving from the private sector into purpose-led work 02:14 - Supporting counsellors and psychotherapists across Britain 05:43 - Leading an organisation through major change 10:00 - Why change management must remain human 12:56 - Financial sustainability in purpose-led organisations 16:45 - Technology, AI and access to mental health support 19:18 - Can AI support therapy without replacing human connection? 22:47 - Building ethical technology for mental health 25:20 - Vulnerability, burnout and leadership 28:03 - Why leaders need to admit when they are not fine 30:00 - Finding purpose through personal experience 32:55 - The future of membership at BACP 37:13 - Rebuilding trust with 76,000 members 39:16 - Using continuous feedback to improve member experience 41:34 - Measuring how easy an organisation is to engage with 45:33 - Why every organisation is judged by its last best experience 47:49 - Building technology for an uncertain future 52:08 - Keeping human connection at the centre of change 54:14 - What happens when people do not support the vision? 59:39 - Advice for the next generation of leaders Subscribe to Leaders with Purpose for more conversations about leadership, organisational change, mental health and technology.   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ASRJjPQjcijfeFxyiafX?si=41269ee0af1a468d Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-with-purpose/id1836126863 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/ad0874f0-68de-4c21-a3e2-e08dfe71597a/leaders-with-purpose Connect with us: Ben Kay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benkay76/ Lou Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/ manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

    How great leaders navigate burnout and uncertainty

  4. Aug 19

    How leaders build psychological safety at work

    What makes someone feel safe enough to speak up, ask for help or challenge a leader at work? Psychological safety shapes whether people contribute their ideas, raise concerns and give honest feedback. Without it, important questions go unasked and problems can remain hidden. When people feel safe, teams can learn from each other and make better decisions and impact. In this mini episode of Leaders with Purpose, David Amos-Reeves, Head of Customer Experience and Engagement at Prostate Cancer UK, explores how leaders can build psychological safety through the everyday behaviours and interactions that shape workplace culture. Drawing on his own research into psychological safety and his experience leading teams, David explains how seemingly small reactions from leaders can have a lasting impact on whether people feel comfortable contributing.  Other topics covered include: 00:00 - Belonging, inclusion and psychological safety 00:41 - Researching psychological safety in the workplace 01:40 - How leadership behaviour shapes psychological safety 02:10 - Why one negative response can stop someone speaking up 02:45 - Rewarding feedback, questions and asking for help 03:30 - Creating a culture where teams challenge their leaders 04:21 - Psychological safety within teams vs across organisations 05:26 - Psychological safety in boards and governance 06:42 - Why people worry about speaking up 07:30 - How curiosity and open-minded leadership create safety 08:00 - A powerful example of psychological safety in action Subscribe to Leaders with Purpose for conversations on leadership, workplace culture, psychological safety, employee engagement and creating organisations where people can thrive. Subscribe to Leaders with Purpose for more conversations about charity leadership, technology, customer experience and digital transformation. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ASRJjPQjcijfeFxyiafX?si=41269ee0af1a468d Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-with-purpose/id1836126863 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/ad0874f0-68de-4c21-a3e2-e08dfe71597a/leaders-with-purpose Connect with us: David Amos-Reeves: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidreeves87/ Prostate Cancer UK: https://prostatecanceruk.org/ Lou Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/ manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

    How leaders build psychological safety at work

  5. Aug 5

    How AI is transforming customer experience in charities with Prostate Cancer UK

    What does a truly customer-centred charity look like? Lou Lai is joined by David Amos-Reeves, Head of Customer Engagement and Experience at Prostate Cancer UK, to explore how charities can build stronger relationships with the people they support. They discuss moving away from traditional fundraising silos, using data to understand people more fully and applying AI in ways that improve experiences rather than create more distance. David also shares the research he carried out into psychological safety while working at the Woodland Trust. By comparing high and low-scoring teams, he found that leadership behaviour had a major impact on whether people felt safe enough to speak up, ask for help and challenge ideas. Other topics covered include: 00:00 Introducing David Amos-Reeves 01:17 From fundraising to customer experience 05:18 Customer engagement at Prostate Cancer UK 08:56 Designing around customer outcomes 11:18 Measuring loyalty and engagement 14:28 AI and charity customer experience 19:49 The hidden cost of automation 26:08 Building a voice of the customer programme 29:26 Moving from management into leadership 33:08 Team one versus team two 41:04 Rethinking feedback 46:44 Psychological safety in practice 54:26 Leading through change 58:54 Where charities should start Subscribe to Leaders with Purpose for more conversations about charity leadership, technology, customer experience and digital transformation. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ASRJjPQjcijfeFxyiafX?si=41269ee0af1a468d Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-with-purpose/id1836126863 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/ad0874f0-68de-4c21-a3e2-e08dfe71597a/leaders-with-purpose Connect with us: David Amos-Reeves: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidreeves87/ Prostate Cancer UK: https://prostatecanceruk.org/ Lou Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/ manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

    How AI is transforming customer experience in charities with Prostate Cancer UK

  6. Jul 22

    How cultural organisations build loyal audiences

    How can cultural organisations reach new audiences and turn first-time visitors into loyal supporters? In this mini episode of Leaders With Purpose, Josephine Chanter, Deputy Director of the Design Museum, shares how the museum is rethinking audience development and cultural engagement. Josephine explains why meeting people where they are is essential. By using familiar interests, nostalgia and popular culture as an entry point, cultural organisations can introduce audiences to new ideas and take them on a deeper journey.  The Design Museum has already seen the impact of this approach, with its Tim Burton exhibition attracting 260,000 visitors and helping grow its membership to 10,000. She also explores the challenge of building loyalty in a world where people have more choice than ever. Topics covered include: 00:00 Building a new audience development strategy 00:33 Reaching younger and more diverse audiences 01:31 Using programming to create organisational change 02:15 Rethinking who is represented in cultural spaces 02:40 The “Happy Meal test” for reaching a mass audience 03:45 How the Tim Burton exhibition grew the Design Museum’s audience 04:01 Turning visitors into loyal supporters 05:00 Building meaningful audience relationships 05:29 Putting audience insight at the heart of an organisation 06:10 Returning from maternity leave into a new leadership role 06:47 Asking for support and overcoming self-doubt 07:19 Why three mentoring conversations proved transformational Subscribe to Leaders With Purpose for more conversations about leadership, organisational change and creating meaningful impact. Subscribe to the podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ASRJjPQjcijfeFxyiafX?si=41269ee0af1a468d Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-with-purpose/id1836126863 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/ad0874f0-68de-4c21-a3e2-e08dfe71597a/leaders-with-purpose Connect with us: Josephine Chanter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephine-chanter/ Louise Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/ Manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

    How cultural organisations build loyal audiences

  7. Jul 8

    How to build a loyal audience while the world keeps changing

    How do cultural institutions lead change while staying creative, audience-focused, revenue-driven and true to their purpose? In this episode of Leaders with Purpose, Lou Lai, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Manifesto, is joined by Josephine Chanter, Deputy Director of the Design Museum, to explore what it takes to lead transformation across one of the UK’s most recognised cultural institutions. Josephine shares her journey from political lobbying and communications into the culture sector, reflecting on two decades at the Design Museum and the lessons she has learned about leadership, audience engagement and loyalty, decision-making and change. She also discusses women in leadership, including what it means to be a present as a leader, how to create safe spaces for teams to challenge the status quo, and why cultural organisations need to meet audiences where they are while still inspiring them to think differently. Topics covered include: 00:00 Introduction to Josephine Chanter and the Design Museum 00:54 Josephine’s journey into the culture sector 04:43 Leading change at the Design Museum 12:42 Helping teams navigate transformation and ambiguity 17:09 Building an audience strategy for the future 21:51 Loyalty, relevance and meeting audiences where they are 24:38 Mentoring, support and women in leadership 32:34 Rethinking boardrooms and better governance 36:53 Creating autonomy, trust and safer decision-making 42:05 Challenging “we’ve always done it this way” 48:49 How technology, AI and Instagram are changing audience behaviour 55:20 Measuring impact and making better decisions 56:34 Advice for the next generation of cultural leaders 57:51 What’s next for Josephine and the Design Museum This conversation offers valuable insight into cultural leadership, audience strategy, digital transformation, governance, women in leadership and leading change with clarity and purpose. Subscribe for more conversations on charity leadership, cultural organisations, nonprofit strategy, digital transformation, governance and social impact. Subscribe to the podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ASRJjPQjcijfeFxyiafX?si=41269ee0af1a468d Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-with-purpose/id1836126863 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/ad0874f0-68de-4c21-a3e2-e08dfe71597a/leaders-with-purpose Connect with us: Josephine Chanter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephine-chanter/ Louise Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/ Manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

    How to build a loyal audience while the world keeps changing

  8. Jun 17

    How inclusive design can help charities create greater impact

    How can charities evolve to meet today’s challenges while staying focused on inclusion, impact and good governance? In this mini episode of Leaders with Purpose, Jim Bowes, CEO of Designability explores the future of the charity sector, sharing insight on inclusive design, fundraising, trustee relationships, organisational storytelling and the importance of bold leadership. Jim also discusses why charities need to be more opportunistic, how critical friends and sounding boards can help test new ideas, and why telling powerful stories about impact is essential when income generation is increasingly difficult across the sector. This conversation offers valuable insight into how charities can adapt, communicate and lead more effectively. Subscribe for more conversations on charity leadership, nonprofit strategy, inclusive design, governance, fundraising and social impact. Subscribe to the podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ASRJjPQjcijfeFxyiafX?si=41269ee0af1a468d Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-with-purpose/id1836126863 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/ad0874f0-68de-4c21-a3e2-e08dfe71597a/leaders-with-purpose Connect with us:  Jim Bowes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimbowes/ Rebecca Hull: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-hull-75a78b39/ Louise Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/ manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

    How inclusive design can help charities create greater impact
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About

What does it really take to lead with purpose in a world of uncertainty, complexity and constant change? What happens when profit, people and values collide? Hosted by Rebecca Hull and Lou Lai from Manifesto, Leaders with Purpose goes beyond the headlines and leadership clichés to explore the real, messy, and meaningful work of leading with courage and clarity. Every fortnight, hear from the leaders shaping the future across non-profits, culture, technology, and mission-driven organisations to unpack how they stay connected to purpose, navigate transformation, and lead with integrity. Through honest reflections, surprising lessons, and practical takeaways, this podcast offers a candid look at what it means to lead today. You’ll hear from industry experts, peers, and change makers across sectors, sharing lived experiences from the frontlines and the system’s edges. Because great leadership doesn’t always come with a playbook, but it always starts with purpose.

Information

  • Creator
    manifesto
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Leaders with Purpose

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