Purpose
Dive in and enjoy some of our favourite talks from the Meaning back catalogue
Nilofer Merchant
Onlyness in action
Nilofer Merchant is a champion for the untapped potential lying wasted in organisations around the world. She believes passionately in the power each and every one of us has to help solve the challenges of our time. And she brought her own unique gifts to Meaning 2019 as our guide and host for a day of inspiration and discovery.
Jennifer Brandel
People powered journalism
In an ever-changing world, journalism as we know it is struggling to survive. At Meaning, entrepreneur and journalist Jennifer Brandel made a compelling case for a new approach to media creativity using an innovative model for audience-first journalism.
Armin Steuernagel
Rethinking Ownership
Armin is an investor on a mission: a mission to help companies protect themselves from the clutches of vulture capital. At Meaning he introduced us to the concept of steward ownership as a way to nurture a business’s growth without risking the integrity of its founding purpose.
Maff Potts
The Power of Friends & Purpose
Maff Potts believes the key to a happier and healthier society is friendship. That’s why he founded the Association of Camerados. And he came to Meaning to tell the very personal story and invite us all to become Camerados too.
Andrew Simms
Rapid transitions
Andrew is an author and campaigner with the powerful ability to not only communicate the scale of the challenges we face, but to embolden us to take the actions needed to urgently tackle climate breakdown.
Poppy Jaman
Mental Health First Aid England
In a world where our working culture often takes a toll on the mental health of entrepreneurs and employees alike, Poppy Jaman shares the concept of mental health first aid, and what we can all do to take better care of each other.
Amy Whitaker
Inventing Point B
Bridging the divide between the worlds of art and business, Amy asks us to think differently. She challenges us to approach big challenges with the mindset and methodology of artists, embracing the creativity the emerges from uncertainty.
Atif Choudhury
Zaytoun
Atif is an entrepreneur who believes business and politics can, and should, mix. Using commerce as a tool to spread justice and fairness, Zaytoun is enabling isolated farmers in the occupied Palestinian territories to find an international market for their produce.
Marjolein Lips-Wiersma
The struggle for meaning
Marjolein’s passion is understanding how academic research translates into practice, so that collectively people can create paid and unpaid meaningful work. At Meaning 2018 she helped us to see the difference between meaning and purpose.
Helen Taylor
Forest Green Rovers FC
Helen Taylor is ambassador for the world’s greenest football club. Working within an established and traditional culture, Helen shows what happens when organisations can find the bravery to take a stand for what they believe.
Mark Stevenson
Opening remarks
Mark brought his energetic approach to the whole of Meaning 2017 as our guest director and host. In his opening talk he sets out his hopes for a day full of conviction, optimism, purpose and connection.
Vickie Hawkins
Neutrality, impartiality & independence
Thriving in conditions of extreme disruption and uncertainty, Médecins Sans Frontières is truly remarkable. Vickie Hawkins shares with us an insight into MSF’s role in the world.
Ynzo van Zanten
Chocolate with purpose
Ynzo tells the remarkable story of Tony’s Chocolonely, founded to radically change the way we think about chocolate and the people whose labour brings it to our shelves.
Mark Stevenson
The 8 principles of successful optimists
Mark is the visionary evangelist for the future who brought his energetic approach to the whole of Meaning 2017. In this his closing talk he guides us through the 8 principles of successful optimists.
Juliet Davenport
How to run an innovative business that does good
Juliet’s business Good Energy is subverting the conventional giants of the energy sector. She describes her journey from physicist to activist entrepreneur.
Oliver Maxwell
Pleasure, partnerships and productivity
Oliver explains why he set up a beekeeping venture on the rooftops of Copenhagen, creating value, purpose, jobs – and delicious honey.
Hilary Jones
Ethical is the new normal
Hilary Jones lifts the lid on cosmetics company Lush, showing us how a firm ethical vision has shaped the development, practices and policies of this growing brand.
Iain Chambers
The story of Exeter Street Hall
Two years after appealing for help, Iain tells us how a community with drive and vision has come together to create something very special in Brighton.
David Hieatt
Purpose in action
David Hieatt believes in quality. With a single-minded focus, he has built companies, manufactured products, created employment and rebuilt the livelihood and well-being of a town.
Pam Warhurst
The power of small actions
Pam Warhurst likes to shake things up. She tells her story of seized opportunities, healthy communities and working quickly with great impact.
Margaret Elliot
Mutuality Forever
Margaret Elliot believes we should do the right thing by one another – not just in our daily actions, but in the way we create, own and run businesses.
Iain Chambers
Finding meaning in unexpected places
Brighton community leader Iain Chambers took a stand at Meaning 2012, feeling the goodwill in the room giving him inspiration on his quest to save a community venue.