As a purpose-driven or purpose-curious leader, what would you do if your business sold a product line, such as tobacco, that is legal but proven to cause harm? Let's say you're a supermarket executive and your stores sell cigarettes. It's a small part of your overall...
Sex, Lies and Purpose Statements
If you're like me you lie awake at night wondering: What is the purpose of a corporate purpose statement? It's a bit like asking: Why does a company need a 'why'? Or where do butterflies go when it rains? The question might be cynical if not for the fact that PwC’s...
When an Organisation Blows Up its Purpose
If you've ever wondered "what's the commercial value of business purpose clarity?" then the PwC Australia case study playing out right now is one for the ages. In brief, the firm is accused - as advisers to government under non-disclosure agreements - of using...
How Walmart Links Purpose with Profitability
With more than half a trillion dollars in revenue, it's worth looking at Walmart's approach to linking purpose with profits, which is about going beyond 'doing good' for public relations reasons and embedding it in core business. Walmart's CEO, Doug McMillon, explains...
Many companies can’t explain their purpose
The current pandemic serves as a reminder that the fortunes of business and society are tightly linked and, with the phrase 'corporate purpose’ trending of late, it's worth defining what it is, what features it should have and which of Australia's top-50 companies...
Can purpose drive corporate profits, or is it a myth?
We hear a common refrain that companies must have ‘purpose’. It’s the silence that ensues when asking how this can be done while also growing the bottom line that is troubling. However there are companies gaining a competitive edge by addressing the right societal...
7 Big Trends that Coronavirus is Accelerating
In times of turmoil we must look through the noise and see the trends that will shape our future. Crises are not new, however this one is truly systemic and will be the defining global event for most generations alive today. Arundhati Roy furnishes us with:...
7 Big Social Trends that Coronavirus is Accelerating
[THIS BLOG HAS BEEN UPDATED & REPUBLISHED] In times of turmoil we have to look through the noise and identify the social trends that will significantly shape our future. Crises are not new, however this one is truly systemic and will be the defining global event...
We Need to Talk About Purpose
The coronavirus pandemic is a not-so-subtle reminder that healthy company profits are a byproduct of a healthy society, and vice versa, highlighting that purpose is no longer a decorative corporate artefact, it is the future of business. As I outline in Connecting...
Boosting Partnership Value for Corporate Foundations
Just about every large corporation has a foundation, however they don't always get the most value out of their charity partners, nor do the charity partners get the best out of them either, leading to dissatisfaction all round. Having facilitated several partner...
Is it possible to grow profits and do good at the same time?
Two years after Fortune Magazine launched its Change the World List a little known company featured at number 13. This small but growing Australian regional bank looked out of place because it was surrounded by global giants like Apple, Walmart, Toyota and Unilever....
Three Ways Employers Can Support Mental Health Challenges
According to SANE Australia, 45 per cent of people will be affected by mental health challenges during their working lives. This means it's very likely that you or someone you know will be struggling now or in the future. From an employer's perspective, Beyond Blue...












