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David Gurteen is a writer, speaker, and conversational facilitator. We spoke in this session about what we understand of knowledge, and what’s flawed with it. The focus of his work is Conversational Leadership – a style of working where we appreciate the power of conversation and take a conversational approach to how we connect, relate, learn, and work with each other. This was certainly one of my best conversations. He is the creator of the Gurteen Knowledge Café – a conversational process to bring a group of people together to learn from each other, build relationships and make a better sense of a rapidly changing, complex, less predictable world. He has facilitated hundreds of Knowledge Cafés and workshops in over 30 countries worldwide over the past 20 years.   He is also the founder of the Gurteen Knowledge Community – a global network of over 20,000 people in 160 countries.   He is currently writing an online blook (a cross between a blog and a book) on Conversational Leadership.

My next guest Claudia worked in financial services for nearly a decade. Unfulfilled and miserable She decided to take some time off to work on an idea that had been niggling in the back of her head for a few years: The milkman re-imagined for beauty. We talked about: Simple change in your beauty routine can save thousands of kilos of plastic waste ending up in landfill Moving from a linear to circular business model while retaining convenience, price and quality Staying true to your mission despite the challenges of 2020 Circla contributes to 6 of the UN Development Goals but our main focus is Number 12 - Sustainable consumption and production In her words:  This was the start of my journey to starting Circla, born out of frustration on the amount of single-use plastic packaging in my beauty routine.  I raised pre-seed investment from Sustainable Ventures and in August last year quit my corporate job for good! The last year has been a rollercoaster, we have pivoted the business model twice due to Covid-19 and now finally about to roll out our new model across the whole of central London. I run the company by myself with help from friends and family. Refillable beauty, delivered to your doorstep. – CIRCLA  

Antara Chirpal is the founder of Maya Weaves. This is a social enterprise with an artisan cluster of more than 200 grassroot artisans for handmade fabrics, Teracotta and hand embroidery. The work unit is located in the interior of West Bengal. Maya weaves does handspun, handmade cotton, khadi, mul, linen, silk, Tussar and Jamdani stoles, sarees, and much more. Antara is an ex investment banker (with American Express Bank) turned social entrepreneur. She is championing the cause of responsible consumption and production. From the UNs 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Today she shares with us her experience in a world of grassroot artisans.

The Journey ahead – The lessons and the Opportunities. The biggest lesson to take from 2020 is we have the ability of foresight, yet we ignore the signals. We allow our drive for instant gratification to blind our vision ahead. And we don’t adequately prepare because we believe our money protect us. Yet many are beginning to realise that money for retirement is not necessarily the thing that will feed us, shelter us and keep us safe. Katherine Ann Byam (MBA, FCCA) is a business resilience strategist, consultant and career coach. She’s the founder of Dieple, Digitally Enabling People, A digital transformation consultancy firm based in the UK helping start-ups to scale up.   She supports leaders in tackling design challenges that create and sustain business and professional growth in an evolving global marketplace.  She hosts Where Ideas Launch - The podcast for the sustainable innovator and a career show on Youtube called Harnessing the Courage to Lead.  Kate spends her time between the coasts of south England and west France, enjoying writing as a creative outlet.

Today we interview Jennifer Loudon on how she’s digitally transforming water.   We talk about some of the difficulties surrounding water in our world, her intelligent water services business in the US and what we can all do too make a difference. Jennifer Loudon is an environmental scientist with 20 years of laboratory experience.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Sciences and a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences from Rutgers University in the United States, and has made a life out of being a water nerd.  For the past 11 years, Jennifer has been Laboratory Manager at Raritan Township Municipal Utilities Authority in New Jersey, U.S.A.  Recently, Jennifer founded Intelligent Water Services, a smart water startup that offers wastewater treatment utilities a streamlined way of managing their industrial users through the use of advanced technology.  Her husband and her rescue dog help keep her sane, and she can be seen dancing around the lab on extra stressful days.

Where Ideas Launch takes a trip down under to Australia as our guests explore sustainable work and supply chains. Fiona Mehmet from Brisbane is the founder of Allthingsfi a sustainable brand, marketplace and ethical business. Her mission is to end poverty and human trafficking through conscious fashion solutions and ethical decision making. Terri is an Australian Lawyer with a boutique commercial law firm based in Sydney. Her aim is to create more legally compliant and productive workplaces.

In this episode, we take you on a real journey from Idea to CEO, based on our own experiences and those of our clients. Neema Amin (MBA) – Escape Strategist, is a business coach supporting freelancers, consultants and micro businesses to obtain financial freedom and create a life and business they love. She has built several 6 figure businesses over more than a decade of Entrepreneurship. Katherine Ann Byam (MBA, FCCA) is a sustainability business strategist, consultant and career coach. She is the founder of Dieple, Digitally Enabling People, A digital transformation consultancy firm based in the UK helping start-ups to scale up, and coaching executive business leaders. Together they run a group and a purpose driven movement called collectively driven, a community for women to grow sustainable businesses and incomes for their families. They formed this collective as they wanted to make an impact using collaboration as the model. They believe in a system that serves everyone and not just a few. They believe in levelling up incomes so that we all can live an outstanding life.

I met Nicole during a women tech workshop, and later joined her Women in Stem Reimagined Course as a guest Speaker. I interviewed her as part of my courageous career show, and decided to share her advice on my podcast as well. We talked about: Important skills in organisations for the next 2 years. Tips for organisational transformation Vision for women in Technology for the future.    Dr. Nicole Tschierske is a scientist and positive psychology coach who helps women in science and tech use their head and heart to get seen and noticed in their company. She's an experienced change manager and coach, and we are going to be talking about her experiences and learnings on the change journey. Nicole lives in Hamburg, Germany, is a food chemist by training and holds a PhD in chemistry next to certifications in coaching, positive psychology, change management and advanced problem-solving. When she’s not buried in research papers and books on Positive Psychology and Positive Leadership you can find this scientist-turned-coach taking long hikes in the German countryside or mesmerised by Mary Poppins on the screen.

I discovered Mathilde on another show, and had to get to meet her, as her story and business was so inspiring to me. We talked about Fresh.Land and how the idea for her sustainable business came about. How she overcame challenges in the start up process Advice for others wanting to make a positive impact on the planet. Mathilde Jakobsen is CEO and Co-Founder of Fresh.Land, an award winning green tech startup with an innovative and disruptive model to the food industry. The company shortens the journey from farm to table by connecting farmers, logistic partners and consumers in one integrated digital platform, reducing the middle men, increasing farmer income, and reducing carbon by 88% Fresh.Land has been identified by Forbes as "truly pioneering" and "one of the most promising green start-ups in the EU", and awarded the "Climate Solver Prize" by WWF.

I met Anna during a women tech workshop back in June, and since then we’ve become friends and allies in a journey toward sustainable change. During our interview we discussed Her motivation to become an ally for social equality The key focus areas for sustainable development Lessons learned in creating partnerships between NGOs and the For Profit Sectors Anna Derinova-Hartmann is a passionate social impact and international development activist. She combines extensive experience in Program Management, Community Engagement, Corporate Social Responsibly and People Management. Her purpose is to challenge social inequality and institutional barriers by empowering vulnerable social groups and communities through innovation and meaningful connections. Anna is incredibly lucky to have been exposed to various working environments and experiences: NGO sector, global corporations, social impact and tech start-ups.

I discovered Tendayi Viki during a Strategyzer masterclass on building resilient companies. We talked about: What company cultures are more likely to ride the wave of disruption well. We discussed sustainability, growth and transformation What type of pirate we should be to make changes happen. Tendayi Viki is an author and corporate innovation expert. As Associate Partner at Strategyzer, he helps companies innovate for the future while managing their core business. He has written three books; Pirates In The Navy, The Corporate Startup and The Lean Product Lifecycle. He previously served as Director of Product Lifecycle at Pearson, where he co-developed an innovation framework that won the Best Innovation Program 2015 at the Corporate Entrepreneur Awards in New York. Tendayi has been shortlisted for the Thinkers50 Innovation Award and was named on the Thinkers50 2018 Radar List for emerging management thinkers to watch. He is also a regular contributor at Forbes.   

Dani Wallace Is a Public Speaking Coach, Incredible Singer, absolute survivor and a guest on my show. We talk about her journey to overcome adversity and build a successful business and life for herself and her children. I chose this topic, because many people need hope right now, and Dani delivers this in abundance. This is Part 2 About Dani Wallace As a former serial self-saboteur, having grown up on the council estates of Preston, Dani has survived the adversity of domestic violence, homelessness and single parenthood to become a leading voice in empowerment around the UK. Dani uses her knowledge of both traditional employment in the corporate sector and self-employment in the entertainment industry to deliver memorable, inspirational and thought-provoking talks. Through her world class courses, masterminds and VIP experiences Dani helps people all over the world create incredible talks that help them stand powerfully on stage, reaching more of their ideal audiences. Fearless leader of the I Am The Queen Bee Movement and creator of the Fly Anyway Foundation, Dani helps people the world over Show Up Wise Up and Rise and is a reminder to anyone who enters her orbit that they too, regardless of their journey can #FLYANYWAY!

Dani Wallace Is a Public Speaking Coach, Incredible Singer, absolute survivor and a guest on my show. We talk about her journey to overcome adversity and build a successful business and life for herself and her children. I chose this topic, because many people need hope right now, and Dani delivers this in abundance. This is part 1 About Dani Wallace As a former serial self-saboteur, having grown up on the council estates of Preston, Dani has survived the adversity of domestic violence, homelessness and single parenthood to become a leading voice in empowerment around the UK. Dani uses her knowledge of both traditional employment in the corporate sector and self-employment in the entertainment industry to deliver memorable, inspirational and thought-provoking talks. Through her world class courses, masterminds and VIP experiences Dani helps people all over the world create incredible talks that help them stand powerfully on stage, reaching more of their ideal audiences. Fearless leader of the I Am The Queen Bee Movement and creator of the Fly Anyway Foundation, Dani helps people the world over Show Up Wise Up and Rise and is a reminder to anyone who enters her orbit that they too, regardless of their journey can #FLYANYWAY!

I discovered Todd Henry during an online summit on Productivity, and I've followed his work ever since. We had a great chat recording Where Ideas Launch - The Podcast for the Unexpected Innovator, where we talked about the privilege of finding meaning when many are simply are trying to survive. Efficiency is overrated he said, and effectiveness contributes to real value in an organisation. Positioning himself as an “arms dealer for the creative revolution”, Todd Henry teaches leaders and organizations how to establish practices that lead to everyday brilliance. He is the author of four books (The Accidental Creative, Die Empty, Louder Than Words, and Herding Tigers) which have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and he speaks and consults across dozens of industries on creativity, leadership, and passion for work. He's got a new book on the way. The Motivation Code. Tune in to our podcast on your favourite player today.

I If there was ever a story that sums up Where Ideas Launch, it's the story of this CEO and Chief Kelper of Carbon Kapture. Howard’s background may surprise you, but this is a story of genius, demonstrating that there is possibility, once the question is good enough. In this episode we discuss A pivot from HR to decarbonising our atmosphere. How a sustainable business model was developed for his Kelp farming operation What you can do to get involved in a supporting your planet to survive and thrive.

I met Malika over a question. I was consumed by the idea that people who do really great things, do so because they ask great questions. Malika told me that as artists, this is exactly how we work. We seek to ask questions only the individual viewer or consumer can answer. if the question is answered, the piece loses interest for us. We discuss: How culture and diversity influences creativity and how combining mental and physical challenges open new possibilities.

From the Host: Katherine Ann Byam In February 2020, I attended an HBR networking event, where BCG offered insights to attendees about the pending recession. Little did we know that a month later we wouldn't just be in recession, but the world would come to a standstill in a battle against an invisible disruptor. In April, I met Lisa Johnson, a former city analyst turned entrepreneur, shouting to everyone who would listen that they need to build passive income streams into their business models. Introducing Lisa Johnson - this episode talks about: What is passive income, and common examples. Lisa's journey to grow her business from 30K in losses to over a million in revenue in 3 years. How she represents and advocates for diversity and inclusion and against bullying of any kind. About our guest Lisa Johnson Lisa is a 7 figure business coach specialising in helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses using passive income from memberships and courses. After a tough childhood spent in social housing, Lisa went on to have successful careers in law, banking and the entertainment industry. Her background in overcoming obstacles has helped mould her into a bold, straight talking coach, who is never afraid to be an authentic and outspoken truth teller. Lisa is a huge believer that everyone can become a success no matter their background and is known for her anti-bullying campaigning online. Lisa lives in Hertfordshire, UK with her Husband and 8 year old twin sons but coaches around the globe. To learn about passive income check out the free challenge she runs twice a year.  You can find lisa at  https://lisajohnsoncoaching.co.uk/ Where Ideas Launch - the Podcast for the Unexpected Innovator is hosted by Katherine Ann Byam and sponsored by Dieple Virtual Service Hub. DVSH is her consulting firm that supports modern day service based and manufacturing start ups to scale up with Strategy, Process Optimisation, and Advanced Analytics. Check us out on the following link https://www.dieple.com/vsh/

From the Host: Katherine Ann Byam I met Alex virtually in May 2020 through attending his virtual masterclass on building invincible companies. At the time, we were still figuring out how to run massive scale virtual workshops, yet Alex and his team executed this with ease. I was curious to learn what inspires the world's #4 Management Thinker. I had the honour of asking Alex these 3 questions: What’s your why – what question gets you out of bed every morning with a burning desire to solve it? We know in our world today we have a burning platform of sustainability. What do you currently see as the role of business in solving these problems? We know from your work that Innovation is heavily influenced by a company’s culture. What are the top 3 things that companies with a great innovation culture do to sustain that culture and expand their economic lives? About our Guest - Dr Alexander Osterwalder Dr. Alexander (Alex) Osterwalder is one of the world’s most influential innovation experts, a leading author, entrepreneur and in-demand speaker whose work has changed the way established companies do business and how new ventures get started. Ranked No. 4 of the top 50 management thinkers worldwide, Osterwalder is known for simplifying the strategy development process and turning complex concepts into digestible visual models. He invented the Business Model Canvas, Value Proposition Canvas, and Business Portfolio Map – practical tools that are trusted by millions of business practitioners from leading global companies. Strategyzer, Osterwalder’s company, provides online courses, applications, and technology-enabled services to help organizations effectively and systematically manage strategy, growth and transformation. His books include the international bestseller Business Model Generation , Value Proposition Design: How to Create Products and Services Customers Want, Testing Business Ideas and The Invincible Company published in Spring 2020. To learn more about Alex's work you can sign up for their newsletter via the following link https://www.strategyzer.com/ Where Ideas Launch - the Podcast for the Unexpected Innovator is hosted by Katherine Ann Byam and sponsored by Dieple Virtual Service Hub. DVSH is her consulting firm that supports modern day service based and manufacturing start ups to scale up with Strategy, Process Optimisation, and Advanced Analytics. Check it out on the following link https://www.dieple.com/vsh/

From the Host: Katherine Ann Byam Isabelle is an inspiration to her students past and present, as she does finance with style and flair. Her articles have been viewed more than 350000 times, a testament to the value she brings. This podcast explores: The financial impact of the pandemic on luxury brands bottom line. The trends in sustainable change and whats driving it. The upskilling needed by people adversely impacted by the pandemic. About our guest - Isabelle Chaboud Isabelle Chaboud is an Associate Professor in the Finance Law and Accounting department of Grenoble Ecole de Management. Since December 2018, she has been Programme Director for the MSc in Fashion Design & Luxury Management and since September 2019, responsible for the MBA Brand & Luxury Management specialisation. Her main areas of teaching are financial analysis (especially in the luxury sector), auditing and international accounting. She teaches or taught in Grenoble, London, Paris, Berlin, Marrakech, Moscow, Tbilisi (Georgia) and Singapore. Before joining Grenoble Ecole de Management in 2001, Isabelle worked for 7.5 years for PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Lyon, France where she was a financial audit manager. She had clients in various industries as well as in services. She was part of the European Internal Audit team of PwC and worked in Spain (Madrid) and Portugal (Lisbon). Isabelle is a French native but lived for more than three years in the United Kingdom, two years in Germany, one year in the United States, one year in Spain. She graduated from Grenoble Ecole de Management in 1992 and from the International Teachers Program (ITP) delivered by HEC Executive Education, Paris in June 2014. She regularly publishes intellectual contributions in different media. f you would like to learn more about this topic, please find her work in English below https://theconversation.com/how-the-covid-19-crisis-could-remodel-the-luxury-industry-138137 Where Ideas Launch - the Podcast for the Unexpected Innovator is hosted by Katherine Ann Byam and sponsored by Dieple Virtual Service Hub. DVSH is her consulting firm that supports modern day service based and manufacturing start ups to scale up with Strategy, Process Optimisation, and Advanced Analytics. Check it out on the following link https://www.dieple.com/vsh/    

From the Host: Katherine Ann Byam Exploring the question. What question do you want to solve? Everyone of us can be the change. In fact, everyone of us must. As business executives today, we are faced with multiple increasingly complex challenges for which we have no certainty in the right answers. These times call for courage to lead, the wisdom to guide transformations, and the insights to understand the impact of our choices and adjust the path as we go. This type of bravery requires remaining in love with the problem. The most important thing we can do is stay in the question. Change does not come by wishing it, nor by telling ourselves it will all get better soon. Change comes when people like you ask questions. Whether you sit on the board, on top of the most profitable technology platform, or you are a nomad backpacking across the wilderness, the answer to what troubles you lies in the questions you ask of it. Where Ideas Launch aims to answer the question, by asking deeper and better questions. It aims to prompt change not by staying in the analysis, but by originating a new genesis. This podcast aims to: Challenge the status quo: show you how to speak truth to power, in a way that sparks momentum for change. We will explore creativity from the eyes of educators, business people, entrepreneurs, and artists. We will examine sustainable clothing brands, sustainable business models, and other ways to support the UN sustainable development goals.   Join us every week to look at our shared future from a new perspective, so that we understand the questions, that give rise to better ones. to learn more about Katherine you can find all her resources and links here: https://linktr.ee/katherineannbyam   Where Ideas Launch - the Podcast for the Unexpected Innovator is hosted by Katherine Ann Byam and sponsored by Dieple Virtual Service Hub. DVSH is her consulting firm that supports modern day service based and manufacturing start ups to scale up with Strategy, Process Optimisation, and Advanced Analytics. Check us out on the following link https://www.dieple.com/vsh/