The Purposeful Strategist

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Natasha Frangos, Managing Partner at HaysMac, one of London’s top 10 audit firms. Since becoming the first woman to lead the firm in its 100+ year history, Natasha has overseen more than 80% growth, opened a new office in Cape Town, and guided a bold rebrand that reflects the firm’s innovative and collaborative spirit.Natasha shares how her journey from trainee to Managing Partner has shaped her leadership philosophy, and why nurturing talent, embedding inclusion, and setting a clear vision are central to HaysMac’s long-term success. From strategy resets to succession planning, she offers an inside look at how the firm is aligning its people behind ambitious growth while staying true to its culture.In their conversation, they explore:• How open feedback and authentic communication build trust and collaboration.• Why a firm-wide strategy reset was critical to aligning partners and staff behind a shared vision.• How rebranding elevated HaysMac’s market position and better reflects its people.• The importance of nurturing home-grown talent and creating clear career pathways.• Why promotions should be based on readiness, not time served.• How diversity, equity, and inclusion are embedded into day-to-day practice.• How embracing “butterflies in your stomach” moments drives personal and professional growth.HaysMac: https://haysmac.com/MenKus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus is joined by Sarah Turner, co-founder and CEO of Angel Academe, the UK’s most active network of female angel investors. Sarah has long been focused on getting more women investing and channeling capital into female-founded tech startups. Now, she’s taken a bold next step—launching the UK’s first EIS fund for female founders.Reflecting on the realities of today’s economic climate and the barriers to inclusive investment, Sarah shares how Angel Academe is helping women overcome red tape, build confidence, and invest collectively in breakthrough innovation. She also explores what it will take to move beyond talk and achieve real behaviour change in the investment ecosystem.This conversation covers:·       Why launching an EIS fund could make early-stage investment more accessible for investors.·       The challenges of a tougher economic environment—and the opportunities it still presents.·       How a low-fee model and partnership with Syndicate Room lowers barriers for investors.·       The importance of community and collective intelligence in due diligence.·       Examples of innovation already backed, from fertility alternatives to motion capture tech.·       Why building a pipeline of future women investors matters as much as funding founders.·       The gap between data showing female founders’ impact and the action investors are taking. Angel Academe: https://www.angelacademe.com/MenKus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus is joined by Mark Horsley, Chief Executive Officer of Northern Gas Networks, which serves 6.8 million people across Northern England and has become a leader in the UK’s net-zero transition. Since his last appearance in 2021, Mark has been driving bold change—investing £25 million in partnership with JCB, and leading major collaborations such as East Coast Hydrogen, a collaboration between National Gas, NGN, and Cadent to connect hydrogen production and storage with industrial users in the region.Reflecting on the challenges and opportunities in the energy sector, Mark shares how NGN is navigating the controversy around hydrogen for heat, the government’s growing focus on electrification, and the need to diversify energy sources for security and resilience. At the same time, he highlights the cultural shifts inside NGN.This conversation covers:·       Why hydrogen remains central to industrial energy, even as electrification dominates government priorities.·       The importance of pragmatism in balancing net-zero ambitions with affordability for customers.·       How industry collaboration and leadership are critical in times of adversity.·       NGN’s approach to culture: accountability, citizenship, and listening to communities.·       Building resilience through supply chain development, job protection, and sector-wide cooperation.·       Why putting people first—customers, communities, and colleagues—is the foundation for lasting impact. Northern Gas Networks: https://www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk/MenKus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Sue Percy, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), a professional body at the heart of shaping the UK’s transport networks. From setting national standards to advocating for equitable, sustainable infrastructure, CIHT plays a crucial role in how people and goods move—safely, efficiently, and inclusively.Sue shares how her leadership blends long-term strategic vision with day-to-day pragmatism, ensuring that CIHT not only delivers on its purpose but also lives its values. She reflects on the sector’s progress since her last appearance, and how the Institution is helping members navigate complex shifts in skills, risk appetite, and public expectations.In their conversation, they explore:• Why transport is the “glue” of society—and why its value must be made more visible.• How CIHT has embedded climate action, equity, and inclusion into its core decision-making frameworks.• The evolving role of professional bodies in setting standards, shaping culture, and holding government accountable.• Challenges around the green skills gap—and how to make the sector more attractive and future-ready.• The opportunities and limits of AI as a tool for change in infrastructure planning and delivery.• What it takes to lead cultural change through “soft influence” and qualitative success.• How CIHT is expanding its international outlook and adapting to structural shifts like devolution.• The importance of knowing what aligns with your purpose—and learning to say no to everything else.CIHT: https://www.ciht.org.uk/MenKus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Rosie Djurovic, Head of AI at Brabners, a leading UK law firm. He met Rosie as part of our research on the ways law firms are deciding how to use AI. Since joining in 2024, Rosie has been shaping an ambitious AI strategy built on three core pillars: brand-led, client-centred, and AI-enabled.Brabners is taking a measured, people-focused approach to AI — starting from first principles to identify the real problems lawyers and clients face, then finding solutions that align with the firm’s broader goals. Sometimes those solutions involve AI, sometimes they don’t — but when they do, Rosie ensures they are implemented at the right time, in the right way, and with the right safeguards.In their conversation, they discuss:• Why solving the right problem sometimes means not using AI at all• Scaling up skills across the firm to use AI effectively and responsibly• Enhancing evaluation frameworks for AI tools before adoption• Exploring generative AI in client portals to improve transparency and service• Balancing internal innovation with growing client expectations• The risks of rushing untested AI products to market• Why Rosie believes AI’s transformation of law will be profound but not instantaneous• Keeping client benefit and team wellbeing equally at the heart of AI adoptionBrabners: https://www.brabners.com/MenKus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Ben Farrell MBE, Global Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), the world’s largest professional body for procurement and supply professionals, with over 70,000 members in 160 countries and 97 branches worldwide.CIPS plays a pivotal role in shaping resilient, ethical, and sustainable global supply chains — a profession now at the forefront due to shifting trade relationships and the weaponisation of supply chains. Ben shares how CIPS is helping countries thrive, raising standards, and closing global skills gaps while inspiring the next generation of procurement leaders.In their conversation, they discuss:·       Why procurement and supply have never been more vital to sustainability, national economies, and society·       Acting as a global voice for the profession and a thought leader in the field·       Moving industry debates toward long-term thinking and away from short-term fixes·       Building a “shared consciousness” across a diverse, international membership·       Helping countries and organisations understand skills gaps and set global standards·       Navigating the world’s deep dependence on China and its tightly wound supply networks·       How CIPS is evolving to meet future challenges and encourage more innovative thinking·       Showcasing meaningful career paths in procurement and supply to attract new talentCIPS: https://www.cips.org/MenKus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Doug Bannister, CEO of the Port of Dover, Europe’s busiest ferry port and a critical gateway for trade, travel, and tourism. Handling one-third of EU-UK commerce and facilitating £144 billion of trade annually, Dover is known for its unparalleled efficiency with inbound dwell times averaging just five minutes.Doug shares how his role as CEO blends operational excellence with long-term strategic vision, balancing the demands of national infrastructure, local communities, and global supply chains. From defining a clear purpose— ‘Empower Exchange’—to setting ambitious sustainability goals, he offers a candid look at how Dover is navigating a period of major transformation.In their conversation, they explore:·      How ‘Empower Exchange’ became the Port’s purpose and the foundation for its culture.·      Why looking beyond quarterly metrics enables bolder, ecosystem-wide decision-making.·      How building trust and transparency is essential in an organisation that operates in full public view.·      The Port’s Sustainability Agenda 2025 and its goal to become the UK’s first high-volume green shipping corridor.·      Balancing commercial growth with minimising impact on surrounding residents and businesses.·      Acting ahead of the curve on safety, security, and environmental standards.Port of Dover: https://www.portofdover.com/MenKus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Kate Grussing CBE, Founder and Managing Director of Sapphire Partners, a pioneering executive search firm reshaping how organisations find and support exceptional leaders. Since launching in 2005, Kate has been challenging the “usual candidate” mindset — broadening searches to uncover hard-to-find individuals who inspire others, act as role models, and create long-term value.In their conversation, they discuss:How identifying the traits of high-performing teams led Kate to see gaps in the executive search market.Broadening strategy beyond the firm’s original focus on flexible and project-based roles.Balancing focus with adaptability to meet client needs.Leading as a “salmon swimming upstream” in an industry slow to change.The lasting impact of COVID-19 on workplace flexibility and board recruitment.Why supporting leaders across their entire career journey matters.Aligning organisational strategy with purpose to achieve lasting impact.The potential for AI to help search firms focus on the most value-adding aspects of their work.Encouraging purpose and connection to industry or community, even after formal careers end.Sapphire Partners: https://www.sapphirepartners.co.uk/MenKus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus is joined by Eric Ressler, Founder and Creative Director of Cosmic, a U.S.-based creative studio helping mission-driven organisations design strategy, messaging, and digital experiences that spark meaningful change. Eric offers a sharp perspective on how social impact design is evolving—and what might come next.Reflecting on the challenges nonprofits face amid shrinking federal funding and digital saturation, Eric shares how Cosmic is helping organisations clarify their purpose, communicate with intention, and build coalitions that reduce duplication and deepen impact.This conversation covers:-              Why many purpose-led organisations struggle to define their “why”—and how that hurts strategy.-              The decision to stay small, integrated, and highly selective.-              How funding pressures are shifting work across the nonprofit, private, and public sectors.-              Pressures to rethink ‘Design Thinking’—and how to respond.-              Why disconnection may be the next frontier in digital culture.-              How to integrate technology without losing our sense of humanity.

Show notes here

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus is joined by Andrew Wordsworth, co-founder and CEO of Sustainable Ventures, a firm dedicated to building the UK’s most impactful climate tech ecosystem.Andrew shares how Sustainable Ventures has grown to support over 1,000 startups—expanding beyond London into Manchester, with plans for Glasgow—and how the firm continues to align deep purpose with commercial success.This conversation explores:·      Why Sustainable Venture took external investment, and how they’ve stayed mission-aligned.·      The opportunity in regional climate tech ecosystems and how to support founders where they are.·      How AI is being adopted internally and across the sector, from efficiency gains to accelerating impact.·      Why climate change should be seen as an economic opportunity, not a cost.·      The importance of holding onto a clear purpose as companies scale. Andrew offers a grounded, forward-looking perspective on scaling solutions to the climate crisis.Interested in Sustainable Venture’s workspaces? Check them out here: https://www.sustainableventures.co.uk/workspaces

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Matt Hotson, Group Chief Operating Officer at Mishcon de Reya, one of the UK’s most distinctive law firms. Known for its entrepreneurial spirit, top-tier disputes work, and sustained double-digit growth, Mishcon has built a reputation for marrying legal excellence with bold strategic thinking.Matt shares how his role as COO touches every part of the firm that isn’t directly about practising law and is essential to helping lawyers do their best work with clients. From codifying values and vision to structuring operations and measuring success, he offers a candid look at how Mishcon makes strategy real.In their conversation, they explore:-              How the firm keeps culture alive and evolving across 1,000 lawyers and support staff.-              Why writing down strategy, and debating it, has been central to Mishcon’s growth.-              How operations teams protect assets, enable client work, and fuel growth across the firm.-              Why executing a 70% decision well often beats waiting for 100% certainty.-              How AI and cross-disciplinary skills are reshaping what it means to be a modern law firm.-              The risks of doing nothing, and the hidden costs of inaction.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Devika Wood, CEO of Brain +, a certified health tech provider pioneering Ayla, a digital Cognitive Simulation Therapy (CST), the world-leading non-drug treatment for dementia. Together, they explore what it takes to scale a mission-led innovation in a high-regulation, emotionally charged sector – and how strategy, purpose, and commercial realities intersect.In their conversation, they discuss:·      Why CST’s inclusion in NICE guidelines opened the door to wide-scale adoption – and what challenges remain.·      How Devika and the Brain+ team are deploying CST through care homes, upskilling staff, and laying the groundwork for NHS integration.·      The struggles and rewards of staying mission-based as a publicly listed company.·      The emotional and ethical responsibilities of working in dementia care.·      The hard work of refining strategy, testing what language resonates, and building trust at every level.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus is joined by Asad Dhunna, founder and CEO of The Unmistakables, a consultancy on a mission to make organisations more inclusive from the inside out. Asad brings a clear-eyed view of how business, identity, and society are evolving.Drawing on insights from The Grow Up report, a recent UK-wide survey of over 2,000 people, Asad explores what inclusion really means today and how businesses can stay relevant as they grow. This conversation covers:-       Why diversity is too often reduced to race—and why that limits real progress.-       The tension leaders face between familiar talent and the need for fresh perspectives.-       The responsible use of AI in marketing starts with diverse inputs, not just outputs.-       What really is behind the push to return to the office.-       How the next generation is redefining wealth, work, and leadership.-       Why reputation is becoming a critical, and often overlooked, growth metric.Want to find out more about The Unmistakables?: https://www.theunmistakables.com/

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus sits down with Dean Proctor, CEO of 7IM – a UK-based investment management firm with nearly £30 billion in assets and a team of around 850 colleagues. Under Dean’s leadership, 7IM has grown significantly over the past six years through a blend of organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Throughout its  growth, the firm had remained grounded in its founding values and a deep commitment to client success.Dean shares how 7IM is working to scale with integrity—keeping purpose, people, and performance aligned as the firm evolves:·       How 7IM’s B2B2C and direct-to-consumer models inform and strengthen each other.·       Why reinforcing values through storytelling helps sustain a client-first culture at scale.·       The role of colleague-led initiatives in advancing sustainability and diversity.·       Trends driving wealth management consolidation, and why the UK needs younger, more diverse financial advisers.·       How AI and technology can lower barriers to financial advice to expand access.Listen in to hear how Dean and his team are building a culture of ‘succeeding together’—and what it takes to lead a growing business with purpose.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Fiona Dunsire, the Government Actuary and the first woman to head the Government Actuary’s Department since its establishment in 1917. Together, they discuss how leaders can learn and grow together in teams, all while ensuring an organisation maintains its core purpose. With her team at GAD, Fiona unlocks value in her behind-the-scenes work advising the current government on big and long-term financial risk decisions.In their conversation, they discuss:-       Adjusting to the public sector and gaining the trust of colleagues, as well as the core differences in measuring success between public and private organisations.-       Continuing to learn and grow in a leadership position. How do leaders work well together in a team setting to move an organisation forward?-       Becoming comfortable with change as a leader.-       The voluntary inclusion of team members in determining future strategy plans and the crucial role of team culture in achieving an organisation’s core purpose.-       Embracing AI opportunities to streamline workflow and limit risk without eliminating human review.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Gavin Slark, CEO of SIG – a leading European supplier of specialist insulation and sustainable building products. With operations across six countries, connecting over 75,000 customers with expert solutions, SIG is on a mission to become the best provider of specialist construction and insulation products in Europe. Gavin joined SIG in 2023, bringing decades of industry leadership experience and a clear ambition to guide SIG through its next phase of growth. Gavin shares his approach to strategy over a multinational business – guided by a philosophy to keep it simple. The discussion explores: ·      Why keeping strategy simple is key to having a higher chance of delivery – and ensuring everyone understands it·      The challenges around financial viability when decarbonising a large distribution organisation·      Why confidence and trust in the authenticity of your people are essential qualities of leadersHow SIG balances local insight with shared purpose and strategic goals as a multinational organisation

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus sits down with Florence Brocklesby, founder of Bellevue Law – a boutique firm specialising in employment law, dispute resolution, and private client services. Founded in 2014, Bellevue has grown into a 30-person team. It is B Corp certified, Good Business Charter accredited, and recognised as a Legal 500 Leading Firm. Florence launched the firm to create a flexible and values-driven workplace – one that could deliver exceptional results for clients while supporting a better quality of life for its lawyers.Florence shares how Bellevue’s people-first model has translated into long-term success for both the business and its clients:-       Why flexibility and high-quality client delivery can – and should – go hand in hand.-       The process of achieving B Corp and Good Business Charter certifications.-       How prioritising employee wellbeing leads to greater loyalty and performance.-       What law firms can do to contribute meaningfully to social and environmental impact.-       The importance of purpose-led hiring and staying true to your founding values.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Karl Jansen, Managing Partner of Freeths. Freeths is a full-service law firm which operates across 13 offices and is the largest law firm with B-Corp status in the UK. Karl has been with the firm almost 35 years and has been central to the firm’s development – not just in financial performance, but in culture and reputation. In this episode, Karl shares how culture, purpose, and the philosophy of ‘doing things with people, not to them’ has shaped Freeth’s successful strategic decisions. The discussion explores:·      Freeths’ approach to sustainable growth and why culture has remained central throughout·      How the firm is shaping its next five-year strategy in response to a changing world·      The role of innovation and AI in Freeths’ future plans – and how they’re engaging clients in the process·      Why Freeths prioritises alignment over scale when it comes to growth opportunities·      The firm’s involvement in the Post Office scandal and what it reveals about their values in action

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks again with Dr Mohammad Al-Ubaydli, CEO of Patients Know Best (PKB). Mohammad returns to the podcast to discuss the incredible progress PKB has made since his first appearance in 2024. With over 5 million registered patients and international growth, PKB continues to transform healthcare by giving patients control of their own health data. Mohammad shares the importance of trust, collaboration, and transparency in scaling a purpose-driven company, and why doing good for patients must always come first.The discussion explores:·      How PKB scaled from 3.8 million to 5 million registered patients and secured £6 million in funding·      The importance of patient-controlled health records and how PKB is driving this change in healthcare systems·      The role of collaboration in accelerating patient outcomes and health data accessibility·      The importance of continuous conversations around purpose to ensure it remains front and centre·      His newest book, Personal Health Records for Governments, offering insights into how governments can overcome the challenges of delivering essential services and technology like PKB [more information here]·      Visit [PKB website] to find out more