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. 2d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Jun 3

    How Designability is creating inclusive products that remove barriers for disabled people

    In this episode of Leaders With Purpose, Rebecca Hull and Lou Lai sit down with Jim Bowes, CEO of Designability Jim shares his journey from building a digital agency to leading a charity that designs inclusive products for disabled people. The conversation explores purpose-led leadership, moving into the charity sector, building trust as a new CEO and focusing limited resources where they can have the biggest impact. Jim also talks about the importance of inclusive design, why good design should work for more people and how Designability is helping remove barriers from everyday life through products, research and collaboration. Introduction to Jim Bowes and Designability 00:00 Jim’s journey from Manifesto founder to charity CEO 01:18 Finding purpose after leaving an agency 05:37Moving from agency life into charity leadership 08:09 Building credibility in an established organisation 09:51 Strategic discovery and focusing resources for impact 11:30 Balancing ambition, capacity and priorities 13:51 The complexity of leading in the charity sector 15:24 Building relationships through organisational change 16:32 Values, behaviours and culture 19:18 Co-design, collaboration and working in the open 22:31 Theory of change and systemic impact 24:07 Designability’s role in direct impact and wider influence 24:41 Partnerships and accessible transport 26:33 Building CEO networks and spotting opportunities 28:17 Inclusive design and real-world needs 30:01 Accessible vehicle design and cognitive overload 31:05 Why inclusive design is good design 33:27 Fundraising, storytelling and demonstrating impact 35:10 The CEO and trustee relationship 37:58 Governance, value-add and trustee roles 42:50 Future charity leaders and the skills boards should look for 45:04 Managing energy as a leader 48:07 What’s next for Jim Bowes and Designability 51:25 Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping purposeful organisations. 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 Designability is creating inclusive products that remove barriers for disabled people

  7. May 20

    How Tate uses data, digital insight & storytelling to drive strategy

    Jude Comyn has spent the last nine years helping Tate better understand its audiences. Not just through data, but through insight that can actually shape decisions. In this mini episode, Jude talks about what it really takes to turn data into impact: finding the “golden nugget,” building simple frameworks, telling a clear story and making insight useful for people who do not have time to dig through dashboards or long reports. We also get into how Tate is bringing digital insight into the mix, from understanding exhibition conversion funnels to joining up audience research, analytics, marketing and product data. For any organisation trying to become more insight-led, Jude’s advice is refreshingly practical:  “Keep it simple, focus on what is achievable with the resources you have and build from there.” Chapters: Tate’s audience-focused culture 00:00 Turning data into insight, strategy and frameworks 01:42 Finding the “golden nugget” for senior stakeholders 02:38 One-minute, five-minute and deep-dive insight storytelling 03:20 Building models and making insight explicit 04:15 Bringing digital insight into the wider audience picture 04:22 Joining the dots across analytics, research and digital data 05:00 Digital marketing, search, SEO and the end-to-end journey 05:42 Using conversion funnels to improve exhibition performance 06:24 Why insight needs to be embedded across the organisation 06:50 Advice for building a realistic data and insight strategy 07:40 Keeping it simple and building insight capability step by step 08:20 Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping purposeful organisations. 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:  Judith Comyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judith-comyn-11630115/ 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 Tate uses data, digital insight & storytelling to drive strategy

  8. May 6

    How Tate uses audience insight to lead with purpose and impact

    What does it mean to lead with purpose inside a values-led organisation? In this episode of Leaders With Purpose, Manifesto’s Rebecca Hull and Lou Lai are joined by Judith Comyn, Head of Audience Insight at Tate, for a conversation about leveraging data, creativity, leadership and organisational values to drive meaningful change.  Jude shares how her career moved from commercial market research into the not-for-profit and cultural sectors, and how the “silver threads” throughout her journey led her towards a career rooted in social mission. Together, they explore how Tate uses audience insight to better understand, connect with and serve the public and why data only delivers true value when it is successfully transformed into insight, strategy, and collective action. In this episode: Jude’s career journey into audience insight Moving towards more purpose-led work Career breaks, parenthood and the “soggy middle” Building audience insight capability at Tate Turning data into insight, strategy and action Digital insight, search and the audience journey Co-creation and the power of the “third space” Living organisational values day to day Advice for women navigating career, childcare and leadership The impact of AI on search and the cultural sector This episode covers Tate’s values of being bold, open, kind and rigorous, the importance of storytelling in data and the growing impact of AI on search and cultural organisations. Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping purposeful organisations. 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: Judith Comyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judith-comyn-11630115/ 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 Tate uses audience insight to lead with purpose and 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
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Leaders with Purpose

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