Leaders with Purpose

Why is climate action still seen as a luxury when it affects people’s homes, livelihoods and futures? In this special episode of Leaders with Purpose, recorded live at the International Fundraising Congress (IFC), manifesto’s CEO Lou Lai speaks with Perihan Abou El Ela, Regional Partnerships Director at Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa. Perihan shares the challenges of fundraising for climate justice in a time of conflict, economic pressures and limited funding. She explores who holds power in philanthropy, why the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is so often overlooked, and what it takes to get resources into the hands of local communities. From young women speaking up for their communities to the responsibility of funders to look beyond familiar causes and countries, this conversation offers plenty to consider for charity leaders, fundraisers and anyone working towards lasting change. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Leaders with Purpose at IFC 00:25 Meet Perihan and Greenpeace MENA 01:30 The challenges facing climate fundraising 04:44 Why climate isn’t always seen as a priority 06:21 Power, independence and decolonising funding 09:46 Supporting grassroots communities 11:15 Seeing the impact of community-led action 14:01 Greenpeace’s values in practice 16:49 Staying hopeful as a fundraiser 17:45 A call for funders to think differently Subscribe to Manifesto’s Leaders with Purpose for more conversations with the people driving change across the charity and nonprofit sector. The International Fundraising Congress (IFC) is the Resource Alliance's annual global gathering, where the world's fundraisers and changemakers get clear, take action, together. IFC 2027 takes place 19 to 22 October 2027 in the Netherlands.  Tickets are on sale now, with £400 off a full-price ticket for those who book early.  Find out more and book at https://tinyurl.com/IFC-manifesto Subscribe to Leaders with Purpose for more conversations with leaders creating positive change. 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: Perihan Abou El Ela: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perihanabouelela/ Lou Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/ manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

How can charities create lasting change when funding is falling and demand keeps growing? In this special episode of Leaders with Purpose, recorded live at the International Fundraising Congress (IFC), Lou Lai sits down with Willeke van Rijn, CEO of the Resource Alliance, to explore why collaboration is essential to the future of civil society. Drawing on a global community of over 30,000 fundraisers, campaigners and changemakers, Willeke shares how organisations can work towards a shared purpose, build stronger supporter communities and give emerging leaders the trust to act. From why “80% is good enough” to the power of calling people in, this conversation explores what courageous leadership looks like when the pressure is on. 00:00 Welcome to Leaders with Purpose at IFC 00:39 Why is civil society shrinking? 02:25 Collaboration and putting purpose first 04:52 What collective action looks like in practice 06:19 Trust, emerging leaders and progress over perfection 08:55 Calling people in and building bridges 10:18 Courage and the power of community 13:50 Stories of people creating change 16:36 Narrative, misinformation and collective voice 18:34 The changing landscape of resource mobilisation 20:34 What’s next for the Resource Alliance? 25:14 Why attend IFC in 2027? The International Fundraising Congress (IFC) is the Resource Alliance's annual global gathering, where the world's fundraisers and changemakers get clear, take action, together. IFC 2027 takes place 19 to 22 October 2027 in the Netherlands.  Tickets are on sale now, with £400 off a full-price ticket for those who book early.  Find out more and book at https://www.resource-alliance.org/event/ifc-2027/ Subscribe to Leaders with Purpose for more conversations with leaders creating positive change. 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: Willeke van Rijn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willeke-van-rijn-8150215/ Lou Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/ manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

How can charities build stronger corporate partnerships?  Start with a clear ask and an understanding of what matters to the business you’re approaching. In this mini episode of Leaders with Purpose, Debbie Wall, ESG Director at Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, shares what makes a charity partnership pitch stand out, drawing on her experience on both sides of the conversation. From researching the person behind the business to showing how a partnership benefits both organisations, Debbie offers practical advice for charity leaders and fundraisers looking to open doors. In this episode: 00:00 What makes a great partnership pitch? 00:15 Researching people and company culture 01:49 Where charity and corporate approaches fall short 03:21 Making a clear ask and showing commercial value 04:18 What Sage’s Growth Project teaches us about mutual benefit 04:55 Why strong partnerships take time Subscribe to Leaders with Purpose for more conversations on leadership and creating meaningful change. 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: Debbie Wall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiewall70/?isSelfProfile=false Lou Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/ manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

What happens when one of the most high-profile teams in motorsport decides to use its platform for good? In this episode, we're joined by Debbie Wall, ESG Director at the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, to talk about breaking the rules to get ahead of the game in ESG and philanthropy. Debbie takes us behind the scenes of building an ESG function from scratch inside a Formula One team, and explains why ESG matters not just ethically but commercially. She shares how sport can be a powerful platform for positive change, and what modern, purpose-led partnerships look like in practice. If you've ever wondered how to approach or pitch to a major organisation like Aston Martin F1, Debbie offers candid advice on what makes a partnership stand out. She also discusses the team's inclusion and diversity work and how they're opening doors for people who might never have seen themselves in motorsport. To close, Debbie shares practical tips for anyone looking to build a career in ESG, sustainability or purpose-driven work. Chapters 00:00 Introducing Debbie Wall 00:53 A zigzag career through marketing, philanthropy and Formula One 04:48 Building ESG at Aston Martin F1 10:38 Creating opportunities through mentoring and partnerships 14:28 Using Formula One’s platform to drive change 17:06 Mission 44 and challenging established ways of working 20:54 Building teams with different strengths 23:53 Mentorship and knowing when to move on 27:39 Bringing the right partners together 29:32 Building stronger charity and corporate partnerships 33:33 Supporting women in motorsport and leadership 37:25 Finding community in Formula One 39:32 Helping young people find a route into the industry 43:05 Advice for the next generation of leaders 48:19 What’s next for Debbie and Aston Martin F1? 50:26 Closing reflections The episode explores contemporary approaches to philanthropy, corporate partnerships and ESG strategy, and is a must-listen for anyone interested in how business, sport and social impact can drive each other forward. 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: Debbie Wall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiewall70/?isSelfProfile=false Lou Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/ manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

How honest should leaders be when they’re struggling? In this extra mini episode of Leaders with Purpose, Ben Kay, Chief Experience Officer at the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), joins Lou to discuss vulnerability in leadership, his experience of burnout and why speaking openly about mental health is essential. Ben shares how difficult periods have shaped the way he leads, why health must remain a priority and how finding purpose has brought greater meaning to his work. Topics covered include: 00:00 Navigating uncertainty as a leader 00:56 Being open about vulnerability and burnout 02:38 Why it’s important to say when you’re not fine 04:25 Putting health first within an organisation 05:02 Finding personal purpose through your work 06:00 Creating a shared sense of purpose at BACP This honest conversation offers reassurance to leaders facing difficult periods and a reminder that asking for support can be an important step forward. Subscribe to Leaders with Purpose for more conversations about purposeful leadership, workplace culture and mental health. Listen 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 Ben Kay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benkay76/ Lou Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/ manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/