The MAJOR Difference

MAJOR - with James Harrington

Welcome to THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE, a podcast by MAJOR, an agency specialising in Digital Engineering, Design, and Brand Experience. At MAJOR, our mission is simple yet powerful: "Making things better than they were before, Every Day!" Our aim is to spark thought-provoking conversations, share interesting viewpoints, and showcase innovative practices that are shaping the world of digital experiences. So, join us on this podcast as we explore the MAJOR DIFFERENCES that innovation, curiosity, and meaningful dialogue can make in the digital world.

Episodes

  1. Becoming NET POSITIVE: Pioneering Sustainable Business Growth with Sam Zindel

    10/25/2023

    Becoming NET POSITIVE: Pioneering Sustainable Business Growth with Sam Zindel

    In this episode, we sit down with Sam Zindel, Co-Managing Director of the award-winning digital growth agency, Propellernet, and founder of Low Carbon Leaders. As a devoted activist in climate-positive initiatives, Sam delves deep into how businesses can be both profitable and planet-friendly. Key Highlights: Evolution of Environmental Consciousness: Sam talks about his journey from being passively aware to actively contributing towards climate change solutions, driven by both fatherhood and a sense of long-term responsibility. Challenges for SMEs: Despite the algorithmic bubbles of LinkedIn showing businesses increasingly focusing on sustainability, the reality is that a minuscule 1-5% of SMEs are actively participating in sustainable practices. The Business Case for Sustainability: Sam shares actionable insights on how businesses can save money while improving sustainability, debunking the myth that eco-friendly measures are costly. Million Tree Pledge & Beyond: Apart from reducing carbon footprints, Sam and his team are also focusing on restoring nature and working on climate justice, recently launching the ambitious Million Tree Pledge. Funding Sustainable Initiatives: A look into the investment landscape for green initiatives, including emerging markets for carbon, biodiversity, and ecosystem credits. Shaping Consumer Behaviour: As the head of a marketing agency, Sam elucidates the power marketing has in shaping consumer choices towards sustainability, a capability he considers both a challenge and an opportunity. Long-term Business Strategy: Reinforced by his reading of Paul Polman's 'Net Positive', Sam firmly believes that sustainability is not just ethically sound but also a robust, long-term business strategy. The Path Forward: Sam concludes with a call to action—urging businesses to take whatever steps they can today, no matter how small, to contribute towards a more sustainable future. This episode is not just an eye-opener but a clarion call for businesses to integrate sustainability into their growth strategy. If you want your business to be relevant in the next five years, you cannot afford to miss this episode. Resources Mentioned Low Carbon Leaders - http://www.lowcarbonleaders.org/ Million Tree Pledge - https://www.milliontreepledge.org/ The Gold Standard Verification -https://www.goldstandard.org/ Sam’s penny-dropping moment - Hummingbird In Africa story - https://www.ted.com/talks/alice_wyatt_i_will_be_a_hummingbird/transcript Climate Change Business Transition to NET ZERO course - https://www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/education/learn-online Blue Earth Summit - https://blueearthsummit.com/ TEDx - https://www.ted.com/about/programs-initiatives/tedx-program Bcorp certification / bLab - https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/ Sussex Bay - Blue eco system restoration work - https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/helpourkelp Carbon Credits (Investing) - https://www.forestcarbon.co.uk/knowledge-base/carbon-credits-and-offsetting Carbon Trading - https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/what-are-carbon-markets-and-why-are-they-important (Book) Net Positive - https://netpositive.world/book/ (Book) Richard Walker - The Green Grocer - https://www.iceland.co.uk/p/the-green-grocer-book---richard-walker/87164.html 1% for the planet - https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/ Clean Growth - https://www.clean-growth.uk/ People, Planet, Pint - https://small99.co.uk/people-planet-pint-meetup/ Dad La Soul - https://www.dadlasoul.com/ COP UN Conference - https://www.chathamhouse.org/2023/09/what-cop28-and-why-it-important Propellernet Impact reports - https://www.propellernet.co.uk/reporting-impact/ Wholegrain Digital - https://www.wholegraindigital.com/ Krystal Hosting - https://krystal.uk/ Al Gore Speeches - TED Talk - https://www.ted.com/talks/al_gore_what_the_fossil_fuel_industry_doesn_t_want_you_to_know?language=en David Attenborough talk at COP26 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7EpiXViSIQ

    54 min
  2. Diversity Dialogue: Storytelling for Positive Impacts in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

    10/17/2023

    Diversity Dialogue: Storytelling for Positive Impacts in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

    James delves into the transformative power of storytelling as a potent tool for equality, diversity, and inclusion with Mo Kanjilal, a diversity and inclusion business transformer and the Co-creator of the multi-award-winning company Watch This Sp_ce. Mo is a living library of actionable advice that you won't want to miss! ⁠⁠Fully transcribed version here⁠ Key Takeaways: "You Can't Be What You Can't See": Mo emphasises the importance of having diverse role models in stories to inspire and encourage underrepresented groups. Beyond Protected Characteristics: While laws like the Equality Act 2010 offer some protection, Mo urges us to think about diversity in a broader spectrum, from personality types to political leanings. The Case of the Oversized iPhone: A telling anecdote on why diversity in design and innovation is not just an ethical imperative but a business necessity. Telling Stories, Authentically: Mo discusses the need for authenticity and respect in storytelling, particularly when stories involve individuals who are marginalised or vulnerable. Staying Current in Language: As language is always evolving, Mo highlights the importance of staying updated on respectful and appropriate terminology. Challenging Negative Narratives: Mo offers her insights on how storytelling can either reinforce or disrupt societal biases and what we can do to steer the narrative positively.For anyone interested in diversity and inclusion, or the art of storytelling itself, this episode is an absolute must-listen! Resources mentioned in episode: The Girls Network - #youcantbeatwhatyoucantsee Watch This Sp_ce Inclusion Journey Mapping (Paper) Boston Consulting Group Research - https://www.bcg.com/publications/2018/how-diverse-leadership-teams-boost-innovation (Book) The Shoulders We Stand On: How Black and Brown people fought for change in the United Kingdom - Preeti Dhillon Book Publisher for Watch This Sp_ce's upcoming book (Book) Rebel Ideas: The Power of Thinking Differently - Matthew Syed (Book) What's in a Name?: Friendship, Identity and History in Modern Multicultural Britain - Sheela Banerjee (Charity) The Clocktower Sanctuary Listen now to hear Mo navigate us through some incredibly important topics: The crucial role storytelling plays in reshaping the careers and lives of underrepresented groups. The impact of diverse role models The intricacies of diversity covering aspects from race to personality types. The urgency to democratise storytelling platforms and give voice to missing narratives, especially in sectors like education and publishing. The necessity for respectful and authentic storytelling, backed by real-life examples. The evolving landscape of language and acronyms in diversity and inclusion. The double-edged sword of storytelling—how it can perpetuate stereotypes and biases. ⁠Fully transcribed version here⁠

    32 min
  3. Eco-Economics: Crafting a Sustainable Business Future with Dr Adam Jones

    10/10/2023

    Eco-Economics: Crafting a Sustainable Business Future with Dr Adam Jones

    In the latest episode of "The MAJOR Difference," Dr. Adam Jones, a principal lecturer of strategy and marketing at the University of Brighton, discusses the importance of sustainability in business and the need for a holistic approach that considers the planet, people, and profit. Dr. Jones shares insights from his research on consumer behavioural change, especially in relation to the environmental crisis. He also highlights the government-funded "Help to Grow" scheme, which aims to make businesses more resilient and sustainable. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Jones stresses the significance of community-led initiatives, the challenges of achieving sustainable change, and the importance of rethinking our consumption patterns. Full transcript here Links to resources mentioned in the episode: Help To Grow Programme - https://smallbusinesscharter.org/help-to-grow-management Help to Grow, Brighton Uni - https://www.brighton.ac.uk/business-services/help-to-grow.aspx Doughnut Economics - Doughnut Economics by Kate Rains. Doughnut Economics Book - https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Kate-Raworth/Doughnut-Economics--Seven-Ways-to-Think-Like-a-21st-Century-Economist/21739630 Brighton Chamber - https://www.brightonchamber.co.uk/ Sustainability problems of Coffee supply chains - https://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2022/09/29/the-sustainability-problems-percolating-in-the-coffee-supply-chain/ 10 Big Findings from the 2023 IPCC Report on Climate Change - https://www.wri.org/insights/2023-ipcc-ar6-synthesis-report-climate-change-findings Please remember to subscribe and like wherever you get your podcasts, and share with your peers if you think they'll find it useful or interesting.

    28 min
  4. Unlocking the Power of Community for Positive Impact with Samantha Harland

    10/03/2023

    Unlocking the Power of Community for Positive Impact with Samantha Harland

    In this enlightening episode of "The MAJOR Difference," we are joined by Samantha Harland, the Director of Innovation at Wired Sussex, a driving force in Sussex's tech and creative sectors. Samantha shares her extensive experience in community building, start-ups and networking, and her relentless pursuit for positive impacts in the communities and start-ups she works with. Show Highlights: Introduction to Samantha Harland's role at Wired Sussex and her journey through the Brighton start-up ecosystem, including her new position as the Chapter Co-Director for Startup Grind. Discussion on the Grow Digital initiative funded by the West Sussex County Council to accelerate digital understanding among businesses in the region. Exciting launch of the first ever Sussex Tech Week scheduled for June 2024, aiming to bring different communities together for a grand tech celebration. Delving into the essence of community, Samantha emphasises inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility as the cornerstones of a successful community. The invaluable role of physical spaces like co-working environments in fostering in-person communities and serendipitous interactions. A deep dive into the realm of networking, where Samantha shares insights on adopting a 'giving' mindset and the role of serendipity in forming meaningful connections. Samantha Harland's seasoned perspective provides a rich exploration into how communities and networking act as catalysts for innovation and growth. Her initiatives like Grow Digital and Sussex Tech Week are stellar examples of her commitment to fostering a thriving digital landscape in Sussex. Tune in to this episode to get inspired on how you can engage in community building and networking to drive positive impacts in your own circles. Links to resources mentioned in the episode: Grow Digital - https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/business-and-consumers/start-or-grow-your-business/business-west-sussex/business-support/grow-digital-west-sussex/ Sussex Tech Week - June 2024 - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/platinum-business-magazine_announcing-sussex-tech-week-2024-june-activity-7110579890269102080-33Hj/ Communities recommended by Sam: Wired Sussex - https://www.wiredsussex.com/ Found and flourish - https://www.foundflourish.co.uk/aboutus Startup Grind - https://www.startupgrind.com/ Silicon Brighton (who promote many micro tech communities - too many to list here!) - https://siliconbrighton.com/ Connected Brighton - https://www.connectedbrighton.com/ Brighton Chamber - https://www.brightonchamber.co.uk/ Thrive - https://www.thriveinbusiness.co.uk/ Joyfully Different  - https://joyfullydifferent.co/ Watch this space  - https://www.watchthisspace.uk/ Big Business Breakfast - https://www.bigbusinessbreakfastclub.co.uk/ Good Business Club - https://www.thegoodbusinessclub.com/ City Girl Network - https://citygirlnetwork.com/ County Business Clubs - https://www.countybusinessclubs.co.uk/ Network My Club - https://www.networkmyclub.co.uk/ Sussex Chamber - https://www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk/ The Farm - https://www.brightonfarm.com/ Gatwick Diamond - https://www.gatwickdiamondbusiness.com/ The Agency Collective - https://www.theagencycollective.co.uk/ Cowork spaces in Brighton & Hove with communities at their heart: The Projects - https://www.projectsclub.co.uk/ Platform 9 - https://platf9rm.com/ The Fusebox - https://thefuseboxbrighton.com/ Plus X innovation - https://www.plusxinnovation.com/ Runway East - https://runwayea.st/locations/brighton Barclays Eagle Lab - https://labs.uk.barclays/ Freedom works - https://www.freedomworks.space/ The Werks - https://www.werksgroup.org.uk/ The Skiff - https://theskiff.org/ Spaces - https://www.spacesworks.com/

    29 min
  5. Going ALL-IN on AI with Antony Mayfield

    09/25/2023

    Going ALL-IN on AI with Antony Mayfield

    Ready to go all-in on AI? Join host James Harrington and special guest Antony Mayfield, CEO of Brilliant Noise, as they break down the transformative power of artificial intelligence in the creative and business landscape. From revolutionising creative processes to geopolitical implications, this episode will guide you towards leveraging AI for success. Don't miss out—your future strategy depends on it. 🎤 Host: James Harrington 👥 Special Guest: Antony Mayfield, CEO at Brilliant Noise 🌱 Today's Topic: The debate for AI's positive impact Fresh from the DLD conference, Antony shares insights on how AI is revolutionising creative processes and strategy. He emphasises that AI is not a threat but a tool that enhances human creativity. Antony warns us to ignore AI at our peril and that strategists who know how to use AI will outperform those who don't. 🤖 What You'll Learn: How AI is revolutionising creative processes Why domain expertise is crucial for leveraging AI The geopolitical implications of AI technology The future of AI and its impact on strategy Key Takeaways: We won't be replaced by AI, but enhanced. It works best with human involvement. Fear is not a useful reaction. AI is a platform shift technology where a new technology comes out and it changes how you use all the other technology. There will be a 'technology overhang', which means that even if development stops on generative AI or artificial intelligence now, there are still 5-10 years of innovation and value from what we will do with it. Regulation will be incredibly difficult, but we need leaders and people to have the experience to understand its true potential impact. Notes: (Webinar) AI for leaders: webinar notes and links - https://brilliantnoise.notion.site/AI-for-leaders-webinar-notes-and-links-c0eea0428d3e473885931a6eae804734 (Antony's Substack) Antonym - https://antonym.substack.com/ (Brilliant Noise Substack) BN Edition -http://bnedition.substack.com/ (Video) Ludwig Ensthaler presentation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9OQSn2iwRk (Substack) Ethan Mollick newsletter - https://substack.com/@oneusefulthing (Learning) Strategy Finishing School - https://strategyfinishingschool.com/ (Conference) Digital Life Design - https://dld-conference.com/ (Book) The Coming Wave, by Mustafa Suleyman - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/90590134-the-coming-wave (Book) The Handover, by David Runciman - https://profilebooks.com/work/the-handover/ (Book) The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, by Shoshana Zuboff - https://profilebooks.com/work/the-age-of-surveillance-capitalism/ (AI Tool) Perplexity - https://www.perplexity.ai/ (AI Tool) Anthropic - https://www.anthropic.com/ (AI Tool) Poe - https://quorablog.quora.com/Poe-1 (LLM) Facebook's LLaMA model - https://research.facebook.com/publications/llama-open-and-efficient-foundation-language-models/

    55 min
  6. Sustainability in Web Development with Davs Howard, Technical Director at MAJOR

    09/19/2023

    Sustainability in Web Development with Davs Howard, Technical Director at MAJOR

    Welcome to the pilot episode of "The Major Difference," where we delve into the transformative power of innovation, curiosity and meaningful dialogue on our brand experiences. 🎤 Host: James Harrington 👥 Special Guest: Davs Howard, Technical Director at MAJOR 🌱 Today's Topic: Sustainability in Web Development 📃The full transcript can be found here Key Takeaways: The internet is responsible for roughly 4% of global emissions—surpassing the aviation industry. Sustainability in web development isn't a passing fad; it's an ethical obligation. Lean, efficient websites and eco-friendly hosting are pivotal steps toward reducing our digital carbon footprint. Resources mentioned in this episode: Website carbon calculator - ttps://www.websitecarbon.com/ Ecograder - https://ecograder.com/ Curiously Green newsletter - https://www.wholegraindigital.com/curiously-green/ Sustainable Web Design - sustainablewebdesign.org EFWA - https://ecofriendlyweb.org/ MAJOR newsletter - https://majordigital.com/newsletter Driving digital sustainability: The impact of small changes on the web - https://majordigital.com/knowledge/driving-digital-sustainability-the-impact-of-small-changes-on-the-web What is Jamstack? - https://majordigital.com/knowledge/what-is-jamstack

    30 min

  7. TRAILER

    Introducing The Major Difference: A Journey of Innovation and Impact

    Welcome to "The Major Difference," where curiosity meets innovation. In this trailer episode, host James Harrington invites listeners to embark on our journey exploring the transformative power of ideas and technology on the digital brand experiences we create. Whether you're an industry maverick, a passionate pioneer, or simply curious about the digital world, this podcast is your gateway to inspiring stories and meaningful dialogue. Join us as we uncover the major differences that creativity and collaboration can make. Subscribe now, and let's make things better, every day. Got BIG questions you'd like us to tackle? - Email them to martyn@majordigital.com, and stay tuned to hear our first guests answer them. Until next time, stay curious and keep making a difference.

    3 min

Trailer

About

Welcome to THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE, a podcast by MAJOR, an agency specialising in Digital Engineering, Design, and Brand Experience. At MAJOR, our mission is simple yet powerful: "Making things better than they were before, Every Day!" Our aim is to spark thought-provoking conversations, share interesting viewpoints, and showcase innovative practices that are shaping the world of digital experiences. So, join us on this podcast as we explore the MAJOR DIFFERENCES that innovation, curiosity, and meaningful dialogue can make in the digital world.

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  • Creator
    MAJOR - with James Harrington
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
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    Clean
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    © MAJOR - with James Harrington
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    The MAJOR Difference