Shifting to Ethical Systems

JERICA Global

This is where leaders, businesses, and investors come together for change that truly matters. We share what we’re learning as critical friends — reflections, lessons, and practices for building systems that are ethical, inclusive, and regenerative. Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes it’s hopeful. Always it’s worth it! Tune in bi-weekly on Wednesday mornings (CET) for the latest learnings.

  1. 2d ago

    #19 Ethical Leadership | Stubborn or Principled? Why Women Leaders Carry Extra Weight in Decisions

    When a woman holds a principle firmly, there's a word that tends to get used. Stubborn. When a man does the same thing, the words are different. Clear. Focused. A strong negotiator. In this episode of Shifting to Ethical Systems, host Jules Harrison-Annear explores the cumulative weight of small decisions, and goes somewhere adjacent but distinct: the extra weight women carry when those decisions are theirs to make. Ethical leadership asks all of us to hold firm on what matters while staying open to learning. That's hard for anyone.  But for women, there's an added layer: the social expectation, still very present in 2026, to be agreeable, to smooth things over, to not make people uncomfortable. And when you're building an ethical business that sometimes challenges the norm, that pressure can be relentless. Through three reflections, Jules names what rarely gets named. The loaded language used for women who hold firm. The extra cognitive and emotional load that runs in parallel with the actual work. And why your gut instinct deserves to be treated as evidence, not noise to be overridden. This episode is for women leaders and female entrepreneurs navigating the gap between what they know to be right and the pressure to behave differently. It is also for anyone who leads alongside them. Key quote: "Being principled is not the same as being stubborn. Knowing the difference is one of the most important things ethical leadership asks of us." Psst… If you liked the episode, check out this one next: #13 Ethical Leadership | Why Ethical Leaders Feel Lonely (And How to Find Your People) Episode breakdown: 00:44 The Double Standard Around Holding Firm Why women leaders are often judged differently when they stand by their principles. 01:45 The Hidden Cost of Ethical Leadership How social expectations can make values-based decision-making more complex for women. 02:57 The Tension: Flexibility or Capitulation? Why distinguishing between strategic adaptation and giving in to external pressure is harder than it seems. 03:55 When Principle Gets Labelled as Stubbornness A founder's experience of being criticised for protecting a core ethical commitment. 05:03 The Power of Language How words like "stubborn," "difficult," and "inflexible" can obscure what's really happening. 06:02 A Question Worth Asking How to tell the difference between refusing to bend and refusing to abandon a principle. 06:28 The Extra Cognitive Load Women Carry Why women leaders often spend additional emotional and mental energy processing difficult decisions. 07:53 Gut Instinct Is Data, Not Noise Why intuition deserves consideration alongside logic when making values-based decisions. 09:01 Listening to What Feels Off How to recognise when external pressure is overriding your own judgement. 10:08 The Wisdom of Not Responding Immediately Why creating space before making a decision can strengthen clarity and integrity. 11:03 Separating External Pressure from Internal Uncertainty How reflection helps distinguish genuine doubt from the accumulated weight of other people's expectations. 11:55 Mentoring as Critical Infrastructure Why judgement-free spaces for reflection are essential for ethical leadership. 12:37 Being Principled Is Not the Same as Being Stubborn Why understanding the difference is a vital leadership practice for anyone creating meaningful change. P.S. If you've been called stubborn for holding a principle, you don't have to untangle it alone. Visit jericaglobal.com or book a mentoring conversation. Not to be told whether you were right or wrong, but to think it through on your own terms. Credits: Music: Under the Willow Tree by Vita Irrita, used with full permission from the artists.Podcast created with the support of Conscious Marketing Movement.

    #19 Ethical Leadership | Stubborn or Principled? Why Women Leaders Carry Extra Weight in Decisions

  2. Jul 8

    #18 Ethical Leadership | How Small Everyday Decisions Shape the Business You're Building

    What if the decisions that shape your business most aren't the big, dramatic ones, but the small ones you make on a tired Tuesday afternoon? In this episode of Shifting to Ethical Systems, host Jules Harrison-Annear explores the power of small decisions, and how everyday choices compound into the business, and the leadership, you actually intended to build. We talk a lot about systems change as big structural shifts. But values-based leadership usually starts much closer to home. Who you take a call from. Which client you say yes to. Whether you soften a boundary because you're worried what someone will think. None of those feel world-altering. Together, they are writing the story of your business. Through three reflections drawn from years of mentoring founders and leaders, Jules names a tension many of us feel but rarely say out loud: the difference between strategic flexibility and a slow drift away from what matters. They can look almost identical in the moment. It is usually only in hindsight that you can tell which one it was. This episode is for founders, business owners, and purpose-driven leaders who want their everyday choices to add up, rather than waking up one day to a business that doesn't quite sound like them anymore. Key quote: "The business you intend to build is shaped, more than you might think, by the decisions you make when no one's watching." Psst… If you liked the episode, check out this one next: #5 Ethical Leadership: Anchored by Values, Turning Pressure into Purpose Episode breakdown: 00:44 Small Decisions Shape Big Outcomes Why the choices you make in everyday moments often have the greatest impact on your business and leadership. 01:56 Systems Change Starts with Micro-Choices How seemingly insignificant decisions accumulate to shape the future of your organisation. 02:33 The Tension: Flexibility or Drift? Why adapting to circumstances is essential, but losing sight of your values happens more easily than you think. 03:14 Small Decisions Are Never Just Small A founder's story of how a series of reasonable choices gradually led her away from the business she intended to build. 04:34 The Alignment Check Why pausing before saying yes can reveal whether an opportunity truly supports your purpose. 04:49 Flexibility Without Anchors Becomes Drift How principles and values act as a compass when navigating difficult decisions. 05:53 Building with Clear Principles Why explicit anchors create consistency, trust, and clarity for your team, clients, and partners. 06:35 The Regret Test A practical framework for making decisions you can stand behind, regardless of the outcome. 07:34 The Power of Values-Aligned Decisions How coherence between your values and actions strengthens trust, reduces fatigue, and attracts the right opportunities. 08:22 Patterns, Not Isolated Decisions Why meaningful change often begins by recognising the cumulative effect of small choices over time. 09:17 Creating Space for Better Decisions How reflection and mentoring can help uncover patterns, clarify priorities, and support intentional leadership. 09:58 Change Begins with Choices Why the business you're building is ultimately shaped by the decisions you make when no one's watching. P.S. If you're carrying a decision right now, small or large, that doesn't quite feel right, you don't have to think it through alone. Visit jericaglobal.com or book a mentoring conversation: a space to reconnect with what you actually believe, and make the choice you'll be able to stand behind. Credits: Music: Under the Willow Tree by Vita Irrita, used with full permission from the artists.Podcast created with the support of Conscious Marketing Movement.

    #18 Ethical Leadership | How Small Everyday Decisions Shape the Business You're Building

  3. Jun 24

    #17 Ethical Models | How to Build Ecosystems That Don’t Depend on You

    What if the ecosystem you’re building depends too much on you? In this episode of Shifting to Ethical Systems, host Esteban Fernandez Drovetta speaks directly to ecosystem builders — leaders working across organisations, sectors, and communities to create lasting change. Because there’s a common but rarely challenged assumption: That we need to be at the centre to hold everything together. But here’s the tension: If you step back, will everything fall apart? Drawing on JERICA Global’s Catalyst Projects, including a powerful example from Fiji, this episode explores what happens when ecosystem builders shift from being the hub to becoming part of the system they helped create. You’ll learn why centralized ecosystems are fragile, how shared leadership builds resilience, and why the goal isn’t to be indispensable, but to design systems that thrive without you. This episode is for ecosystem builders, founders, and leaders who want to create systems that last — without becoming the bottleneck. Key quote: “If the ecosystem can’t function without you, it’s not an ecosystem. It’s a dependency.” Psst… If you liked the episode, check out this one next: #9 Ethical Models | How Ecosystem Builders Share Power Without Losing Impact Episode breakdown: 00:44 Ecosystem Builders and the Illusion of Centrality Why many leaders assume they need to be at the centre and why that creates risk. 02:15 The Tension: Letting Go of Control The fear of stepping back when you’ve built the relationships and hold the vision. 03:30 A Real Example: The Fiji Catalyst Project How shifting from leading to supporting strengthened the entire ecosystem. 06:25 Redefining Your Role in the Ecosystem Why your position will change and why that’s a sign of success, not failure. 07:40 Centralised vs Decentralised Systems Why ecosystems built around one actor are fragile, and distributed systems are resilient. 08:43 The Whole Is Greater Than Any One Part Why ecosystems should evolve beyond you and why that’s the goal. 09:58 Sharing Power Multiplies Impact How distributing decision-making unlocks innovation, leadership, and capacity. 11:27 From Control to Catalyst How governance, visibility, and partnerships shift when you design for decentralisation. P.S. If you’re building an ecosystem and navigating the tension between control and shared leadership, you’re not alone. At JERICA, we support ecosystem builders to design for resilience, not dependency — through advisory, gatherings, and Catalyst Projects. Visit jericaglobal.com or book a discovery call to explore how we can support you. Credits: Music: Under the Willow Tree by Vita Irrita, used with full permission from the artists.Podcast created with the support of Conscious Marketing Movement.

    #17 Ethical Models | How to Build Ecosystems That Don’t Depend on You

  4. Jun 10

    #16 Ethical Projects | The Hidden Cost of “Value for Money” (And What to Do Instead)

    What if “value for money” is actually costing more than you think? In this episode of Shifting to Ethical Systems, host Esteban Fernandez Drovetta explores ethical supply chains and the hidden human and environmental costs behind the pursuit of the lowest price. Because the real question isn’t just “What does this cost?” It’s “Who is paying the price?” Through reflections from JERICA Global’s Catalyst Projects, Esteban shares how ethical supply chains move beyond transactions: toward relationships, resilience, and long-term value creation. You’ll explore the real tension leaders face: How do we balance budgets with ethical responsibility? And a powerful reframe: ethical supply chains aren’t more expensive, they’re more honest! This episode challenges the assumption that cheaper equals better, and offers a more grounded way to think about value, impact, and long-term success. If you’re a founder, investor, or leader trying to build systems that are not only efficient — but fair, resilient, and built to last — this episode is for you. Key quote: “When something is dramatically cheaper than alternatives, there’s a reason. And that reason is usually: someone else is absorbing the cost.” Episode breakdown: 00:44 Rethinking “Value for Money” Why cost optimisation often hides human and environmental impact. 02:05 The Tension: Cost vs Ethics Balancing budget pressure with the responsibility to avoid exploitation. 02:57 The Problem with Cheap Supply Chains How low-cost sourcing often hides fragility and hidden harm. 04:48 Building Supplier Ecosystems Why relationships (not transactions!) create stronger, more resilient supply chains. 06:48 The Hidden Cost of Cheap Why the lowest price usually means someone else is absorbing the real cost. 08:18 Redefining Value Why ethical projects measure more than financial cost, including people and planet. 09:33 Ethics Create Resilience How ethical supply chains outperform extractive ones in times of disruption. 10:45 Changing Supply Chain Practice How sourcing, budgeting, and partnerships shift when ethics are prioritised. P.S. If you’re designing projects and navigating the tension between cost and ethics, you’re not alone. At JERICA, we help leaders redesign supply chains for fairness, resilience, and long-term value. Explore our Catalyst Projects at jericaglobal.com or book a discovery call to start a conversation. Credits: Music: Under the Willow Tree by Vita Irrita, used with full permission from the artists.Podcast created with the support of Conscious Marketing Movement.

    #16 Ethical Projects | The Hidden Cost of “Value for Money” (And What to Do Instead)

  5. May 27

    #15 Ethical Models | Why Universal Design Drives Business Growth (Not Just Accessibility)

    What if designing for inclusion wasn’t a cost… but a competitive advantage? In this episode of Shifting to Ethical Systems, host Jules Harrison-Annear explores universal design as a powerful business strategy: one that expands markets, unlocks innovation, and creates better experiences for everyone. Most businesses design for the “average user” and retrofit accessibility later. But ethical and inclusive leadership asks a different question: What if we designed for those who face the most barriers first? From wheelchair users to neurodivergent thinkers, from elderly customers to parents with young children — designing with these perspectives at the centre doesn’t limit your business. It strengthens it. Drawing on JERICA Global’s tourism Catalyst Project in Fiji, Jules shares how designing for accessibility from the ground up creates not just inclusion, but value creation at scale. This episode is for founders, product designers, investors, and leaders who want to build inclusive, innovative, and profitable systems that work for real people. Not just the “average”. This episode is for investors, founders, and leaders who want to align capital with purpose, and build systems that last. Key quote: “When you design for the most marginalised first, you don’t just serve them better — you serve everyone better.” Episode breakdown: 00:45 Rethinking Design Through Inclusion Why universal design starts with those facing the most barriers and why that changes everything. 01:50 The Tension: Cost vs Value Why universal design can feel like an upfront burden in efficiency-driven systems. 02:58 The Fiji Catalyst Project A real-world example of designing universally accessible tourism from the ground up. 04:50 Designing for Wheelchair Users (and Everyone Else) How accessibility features improve experiences for a much wider audience. 06:10 Inclusion as Market Expansion Why universal design unlocks underserved markets and creates new demand. 07:13 The Ripple Effect of Removing Barriers How designing for one group benefits many others across different contexts. 08:30 Designing Differently in Practice How universal design shifts product development, research, budgeting, and marketing. P.S. If you’re building products, services, or systems and want to design for real inclusion — not just compliance — we’d love to support you. At JERICA, we work with leaders and investors to design universally accessible, regenerative models that create long-term value. Explore our Catalyst Projects at jericaglobal.com or book a discovery call to start a conversation. Credits: Music: Under the Willow Tree by Vita Irrita, used with full permission from the artists.Podcast created with the support of Conscious Marketing Movement.

    #15 Ethical Models | Why Universal Design Drives Business Growth (Not Just Accessibility)

  6. May 13

    #14 Ethical Investing | Patient Capital vs Traditional Investing: How to Build Long-Term, Resilient Returns

    What if the best investment returns don’t come from speed… but from patience? In this episode of Shifting to Ethical Systems, host Jules Harrison-Annear explores ethical investing through the lens of patient capital: a values-based approach that prioritises long-term impact, relationships, and resilience over rapid returns. In today’s dominant investment model, success is defined by speed: scale fast, exit faster, maximise short-term returns. But that model often creates fragile systems: businesses optimised for sale, not service, leaders driven by quarterly pressure, and communities left behind once capital exits. This episode challenges that narrative. Drawing on JERICA Global’s Catalyst Project in Fiji, Jules shares how patient capital enables a different kind of investing — one that centres community partnership, steward ownership, and long-term ecosystem health. This episode is for investors, founders, and leaders who want to align capital with purpose, and build systems that last. Key quote: “Patient capital isn’t slower returns. It’s smarter returns — the kind that last.” Episode breakdown: 00:45 Rethinking Investment TimelinesWhy ethical investing requires a shift from speed and scale to patience, resilience, and long-term impact. 01:30 The Tension: Speed vs PatienceWhy slowing down can feel like falling behind in systems that reward rapid growth and quick exits. 03:10 A Real Example: The Fiji Catalyst ProjectHow building relationships, shared ownership, and community-led design requires time — and why that’s the point. 05:09 Speed vs ResilienceWhy fast growth models optimise for extraction, while patient capital builds trust, capacity, and long-term systems health. 06:20 Trusting People, Not Just SpreadsheetsHow ethical investing balances data with relationships, care, and local expertise. 07:32 Returns That Compound Over TimeWhy the most valuable outcomes emerge from long-term relationships, not short-term plans. 08:40 Redefining Investment PracticeHow due diligence, timelines, partnerships, and exits shift when you design for decades, not quarters. 09:45 Patient Capital in PracticeHow JERICA applies patient capital through Catalyst Projects and investor partnerships. P.S. If you’re exploring how to align capital with long-term impact — or feeling the pressure to prioritise speed over what truly matters — you’re not alone. At JERICA, we work with investors and leaders to design ethical, regenerative investment approaches grounded in care, courage, and long-term value. Visit jericaglobal.com to explore our Catalyst Projects or book a discovery call to start a conversation. Credits: Music: Under the Willow Tree by Vita Irrita, used with full permission from the artists.Podcast created with the support of Conscious Marketing Movement.

    #14 Ethical Investing | Patient Capital vs Traditional Investing: How to Build Long-Term, Resilient Returns

  7. Apr 29

    #13 Ethical Leadership | Why Ethical Leaders Feel Lonely (And How to Find Your People)

    Why does ethical leadership feel lonely? In this episode of Shifting to Ethical Systems, host Jules Harrison-Annear explores a rarely discussed reality of ethical leadership: loneliness. Not the kind that comes from being alone, but the kind that comes from choosing differently. Choosing regeneration in systems designed for extraction. Choosing inclusion when efficiency dominates. Choosing integrity when compromise would be easier. The tension at the heart of this episode is one many leaders carry: If I don’t follow the system, will I be left behind? Through a personal story and three reflections, Jules reframes this experience. Loneliness is not a sign you’re failing. It’s often a sign you’re leading. This episode explores how ethical leadership can feel isolating, why that isolation often comes with courage, and how finding even a small circle of aligned people can transform loneliness into solidarity. If you’re a leader, founder, investor, or changemaker navigating the pressure to compromise your values, this episode will help you stay grounded, connected, and resilient. Key quote: “Loneliness in ethical leadership isn't a sign you're wrong. It's often a sign you're ahead.” Episode breakdown: 00:45 Ethical Leadership and Loneliness Why choosing differently can feel isolating in systems designed for short-term gain. 01:50 The Tension: Integrity vs Belonging The emotional cost of staying aligned with your values when others move faster by compromising. 03:09 A Real Leadership Choice A personal story of saying no to opportunity to stay aligned with purpose. 04:30 Loneliness as a Signal of Courage Why feeling alone can mean you’re challenging the system, not failing within it. 05:50 Finding Your People How a small circle of aligned leaders transforms isolation into shared strength. 07:31 Community as Infrastructure Why systems change depends on connection, not individual heroics. 09:34 Leading Differently Through Connection How recognising loneliness shifts how you make decisions, build relationships, and sustain your leadership. P.S. If you’re feeling the weight of ethical leadership — the isolation of making choices others don’t always understand — you don’t have to do it alone. At JERICA, we support leaders through mentoring, gatherings, and collaborative projects designed to keep you grounded in your values and connected to others on the same path.  Visit jericaglobal.com or book a discovery call to start the conversation. Credits: Music: Under the Willow Tree by Vita Irrita, used with full permission from the artists.Podcast created with the support of Conscious Marketing Movement.

    #13 Ethical Leadership | Why Ethical Leaders Feel Lonely (And How to Find Your People)

  8. Apr 8

    #12 Ethical Leadership | How Power Shapes Systems (And How Leaders Can Challenge It Ethically)

    What if the biggest barrier to ethical leadership isn’t what we see, but what we’re being distracted from? In this episode of Shifting to Ethical Systems, host Jules Harrison-Annear explores how power protects itself, especially within organisations and systems that aim to create positive change. Because power doesn’t always resist openly. It adapts. It redirects. It reshapes the narrative. And unless we learn to recognise these patterns, we risk reinforcing the very systems we’re trying to change. Through three reflections grounded in real-world leadership, this episode explores how power operates through distraction, language, and silence, and what ethical leaders can do differently. The tension at the heart of this episode is one many leaders feel but rarely name: If power is everywhere, how do we challenge it without becoming paralysed or part of the problem? This episode offers a grounded response. Awareness is not cynicism. It is the starting point for choice. And choice is where ethical leadership begins. If you’re leading within complex systems and want to better understand power dynamics, make more conscious decisions, and build truly ethical and inclusive practices, this episode is for you. Key quote: “Awareness isn’t the same as cynicism. Awareness is the first step toward choice. And choice is where ethical leadership begins.” Episode breakdown: 00:45 Power and Ethical Leadership Why ethical leadership requires understanding how power operates, especially when it’s hidden, normalised, or under threat. 01:30 The Tension: Awareness vs Paralysis Recognising power structures can feel overwhelming, but awareness creates choice, and choice is where ethical leadership begins. 03:08 Distraction as a Strategy How power redirects attention through emotionally charged but secondary issues to avoid addressing systemic harm. 05:15 Language Shapes Reality How “neutral” terms like efficiency and optimization can obscure real human and environmental impact. 07:19 Silence as Power Why what isn’t said matters just as much as what is, and how exclusion often happens quietly. 09:18 Shifting Everyday Leadership Choices How recognising power changes how you communicate, design strategies, engage stakeholders, and make decisions. 11:25 Making Power Visible Why ethical systems begin when we question power, who holds it, who benefits, and whether it creates a thriving future. P.S. If you’re navigating systems where power dynamics feel difficult to name or challenge, you don’t have to do it alone. Visit jericaglobal.com or book a discovery call to explore how we walk alongside leaders as critical friends, helping you make power visible and lead with clarity, courage, and care. Credits: Music: Under the Willow Tree by Vita Irrita, used with full permission from the artists.Podcast created with the support of Conscious Marketing Movement.

    #12 Ethical Leadership | How Power Shapes Systems (And How Leaders Can Challenge It Ethically)
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This is where leaders, businesses, and investors come together for change that truly matters. We share what we’re learning as critical friends — reflections, lessons, and practices for building systems that are ethical, inclusive, and regenerative. Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes it’s hopeful. Always it’s worth it! Tune in bi-weekly on Wednesday mornings (CET) for the latest learnings.

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