Purposing

Given - Part of Anthesis•givenagency.com

Talent and customers choose companies with purpose over those who only prioritise profit. Businesses must step up or get left behind. But where to start? Purposing speaks with leaders from some of the world’s most recognised brands to discover how they built purpose into their businesses. Join CEO of Given Agency, Becky Willan and a host of guests as they demystify this misunderstood topic into clear, actionable advice you can use in your own business. Why did John Lewis Partnership modernise their purpose in the midst of a global pandemic? How did The Body Shop make their purpose matter to everyone in their business? What are Lloyds Banking Group doing to make decisions differently, to help Britain prosper? All this and more on this season of Purposing.

Last refreshed: February 9th, 2026 at 1:28 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

How to disrupt an industry through purpose with Hayley Still, CEO at Hydrogen Group

Recruitment is a commercially-driven industry where results and commissions keep the wheels turning. Few would expect purpose to be front and centre. But fundamentally, it’s an industry with people at its heart, and people are the drivers of purposeful change. So how can recruitment firms embed and activate purpose to transform their businesses? Today, host Becky Willan speaks to a leader who climbed her company ranks from Graduate Recruiter to CEO. Hayley Still ’s journey to the top of Hydrogen...

Jun 06, 2023•30 min

The good growth story - how purpose, sustainability and innovation have built the Graze brand

Pioneers of purposeful business have been around for decades. Graze is a recent addition rewriting the snacking playbook for healthy people and planet. But what if balancing the needs of society with what's good for profits was required by law for every business? On this episode of Purposing, Becky Willan speaks to healthy snack CEO, Joanna Allen . She joined British supermarket staple Graze in 2020, believing customers shouldn't compromise between taste and nutrition. With this purpose built in...

May 23, 2023•28 min

How purpose can unite teams and drive impact, with Cath Possamai, Talent Acquisition Director for Amazon in EMEA

Having a clear, actionable purpose that acts as a real North Star can help businesses attract and retain talent, build engaged workforces and drive innovation. But what if your starting point is diverse, disparate teams with completely different agendas? Today, host Becky Willan speaks to Cath Possamai , Talent Acquisition Director for Amazon in EMEA. Before arriving in tech, she led recruitment for the British Army as part of a struggling and much-scrutinised partnership with Capita. The two or...

May 10, 2023•32 min

How to unlock profit with purpose - what sustainability can do for your bottom line

Global supply chains and seasonal production gives fashion a big carbon footprint. We’ve heard a lot about this in fast fashion. But in the luxury space, the story is changing. Shoppers are conscious of where products come from, and how they impact the planet and people. But how can companies harness sustainability to drive purpose and growth? Today, host Becky Willan speaks to a Global Director of Sustainable Business reshaping purpose in fashion. Tom Berry has been at FARFETCH for 5 years - a ...

Apr 25, 2023•28 min

Trailer: Purposing Season 2

It might feel like purpose is under attack from the “anti-woke” brigade. But that isn’t stopping leading companies rewiring their businesses around a different set of priorities - making them more sustainable, more inclusive, and, ultimately, more purposeful. Becky Willan, CEO of brand purpose agency Given, is back with a brand new season of Purposing - the podcast that lifts the lid on how to run a truly purpose-driven business. Last season we spoke with leaders from organisations like IKEA, Th...

Apr 25, 2023•1 min

How purpose catalyses growth at the world's most successful furniture retailer, IKEA

In the last episode of the first season of the Purposing podcast, Given CEO Becky Willan speaks to Simon Henzell-Thomas , Global Director Climate, Ingka Group (IKEA). The two discuss how purpose can catalyse positive change inside and outside a global organisation, the challenge of sustainable growth, and busting myths about the retail giant. Simon explains how IKEA is shifting to sustainable materials and business models at a scale that’s unimaginable for most companies and lifts the lid on the...

Feb 01, 2023•28 min

Bringing environmental and social prosperity through purpose with Peter Simpson, CEO of Anglian Water

Rewiring a business around a new set of purpose-driven priorities is a huge undertaking. It can take several years and involve reassessing strategy, culture, innovation, and investment. Companies serious about purpose recognise that every decision either advances or detracts from the role they play in profitably solving problems for people and the planet. In her latest podcast episode, Given CEO Becky Willan spoke with Peter Simpson , CEO of Anglian Water and founding member and co-Chair of the ...

Jan 18, 2023•33 min

Using purpose to drive growth, challenge inequality & tackle the climate crisis

Even if you’re not familiar with Reckitt, you’ll probably have some of their products in your home, including iconic household brands like Dettol, Finish, Strepsils or Durex. The company exists to “protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner and healthier world.” As you’ll hear in today’s episode, they take this purpose seriously; and are working hard to embed it in every part of the Reckitt culture. The sixth episode of Purposing offers insight into the multinational compan...

Dec 07, 2022•37 min

Making sustainable business transformation the engine of your purpose, with Esther Verburg, Executive Vice President of Sustainable Business and Innovation at Tommy Hilfiger Global & PVH Europe

When global fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger combined sustainability, inclusion and innovation in one team with a mission to drive purposeful business transformation, it was essential to embrace new ways of working. In her latest podcast episode, Given CEO Becky Willan spoke with Esther Verburg , Executive Vice President of Sustainable Business and Innovation at Tommy Hilfiger Global & PVH Europe, about how their unique approach has transformed what success means for their iconic brand. Listen t...

Nov 23, 2022•31 min

Refreshing purpose in one of the original purpose-driven businesses with Nina Bhatia, Executive Director, Strategy & Commercial Development at John Lewis Partnership

During 2020’s Covid pandemic, high street retail faced a catastrophe. But the high street legend John Lewis Partnership saw it as an opportunity - to take the time to refresh their purpose and galvanise their 78.000 Partners. Today, Nina Bhatia , Executive Director, Strategy & Commercial Development at John Lewis Partnership, sits down with Given CEO and host Becky Willan to discuss how the Partnership’s Purpose became more vital than ever. Find out about the co-creative strategy used to upd...

Nov 09, 2022•29 min

Engaging leaders on purpose with Fiona Cannon

Building purpose into a business from the ground up is hard. No surprises there. But reinforcing a long-standing intention can be almost as tricky. This was the task Lloyds Banking Group undertook when they decided to double down on their ambition of ‘Helping Britain Prosper’. In this episode, host Becky Willan speaks with Lloyd Banking Group’s Sustainable Business Director Fiona Cannon about the challenge of embedding purpose in one of Britain’s largest banks. This episode will help ensure your...

Oct 26, 2022•26 min

Making Purpose Personal with The Body Shop’s Jenny Whitehorn

It's one thing for C-suite executives to get excited about purpose. But what’s the point if that’s not reflected across the entire workforce? When the original activist beauty brand The Body Shop rewrote its purpose, the first question was: how do we get the message from the boardroom to the shop floor and help everyone understand, own and act on our purpose? Today, host Becky Willan sits down with The Body Shop’s Head Franchise Director for Latin America Jenny Whitehorn . We find out how they w...

Oct 12, 2022•25 min

Why purpose driven businesses need to be more collaborative companies

Anyone interested in solving the world’s biggest social and environmental challenges will tell you that it can only be done through collaboration. No single business, NGO or government can do it alone. But that’s easier said than done. Charity Business In The Community (BITC) exists to help change that - by bringing organisations together to create a fairer and more sustainable world. Today, host Becky Willan sits down with Amanda MacKenzie OBE , BITC’s CEO. Becky discovers how BITC facilitated ...

Sep 28, 2022•26 min

Trailer: Purposing

Does your company's approach help solve the world’s problems? If not, it might be time to take action for the future of your business and the planet. Join CEO of Given Agency, Becky Willan and guests from some of the world's biggest brands to discover what it takes to become a truly purposeful business. New episodes air every second Wednesday.

Sep 28, 2022•2 min

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