The Impact Equation (Rafi Addlestone and Adam Pike)

In this episode we welcome Kieron Boyle, a true leader in the impact economy. He’s now Chair of the impact investing institute, the UK's foremost authority on impact investing, and CEO of 100x, the world’s largest impact venture accelerator, dedicated to helping visionary entrepreneurs improve the lives of billions of people through innovative, scalable solutions.

Kieron has established numerous initiatives, including Big Society Capital, now Better Society Capital, and helped to bring the B-Corp move ment to the UK. These contributions have earned him recognition as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and an OBE for services to the sector. In a former life, Kieron held key positions at No.10 Downing Street and the UK Foreign Office. 

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In this episode we welcome Anu Bajaj, Chief Innovative Finance and Investment Officer of the EarthShot Prize, founded by Prince William in 2020 to search, spotlight and scale solutions that can help repair and regenerate the planet in this decisive decade. Prior to the EarthShot prize with a background in banking, Anu founded Baytree Ventures, a marketplace to help grow the market for impact investing in India and led the UK Department for International Development's global policy and interventions in the financial sector, from mobile banking to microfinance and development of capital markets.

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In this episode we welcome Tessa Clarke, Cofounder and CEO of Olio, a free app that connects users with unwanted food in their neighbourhood. Olio now has over 8 million users who have together shared over 200 million portions of food, achieved in large part due to the passion of 125,000 volunteers who are spreading the word in their local communities, and collecting and re-distributing unsold food from local businesses via the app. A farmer’s daughter from North Yorkshire, prior to founding Olio, Tessa’s career started at Boston Consulting Group, and has an MBA from Stanford Business School. 

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We welcome Jack Prevezer, Co-Founder and COO of Ezra Coaching, a leading global virtual coaching and learning provider changing the game in professional development. Ezra has been on an incredible growth journey since starting in 2019, and now operates across six continents, 87 countries and has delivered over 600,000 coaching sessions for employees of some of the biggest companies around the world, including the likes of Spotify, Microsoft, AstraZeneca and Kraft Heinz. This year, as part of their mission to improve lives in the workplace, Ezra announced a new, exciting partnership with NY Times bestseller and global leadership guru Simon Sinek, to give away free coaching to thousands of frontline workers in need across healthcare and the education sector. 

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Rafi and Adam are joined by Tzeporah Berman, a trailblazing environmental activist, who founded the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. Tzeporah was recently named by Time Magazine as one of the World’s 100 most influential climate leaders in business in 2024, alongside Bill Gates, Greg Jackson of Octopus, and Niels Christensen, CEO of Lego. Previously, Tzeporah co-directed the International Climate and Energy Program at Greenpeace and negotiated major policy victories like the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement and the Canadian Boreal Forest Initiative, which together protected over 40 million hectares of old-growth forests. Tzeporah’s journey began almost by accident in the early 1990s when she was arrested during a highly controversial logging blockade in Canada’s ancient rainforests. What has followed is a 30-year career of powerful environmental advocacy, now as International Program Director at Stand.earth and Chair of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative.  

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In this episode we welcome Dr. Hugh Montgomery, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine at University College London and Director of the Centre for Human Health and Performance. A distinguished scientist, clinician, and teacher, he has published nearly 600 research papers, discovered the first human fitness gene, and explored survival in extreme environments.

Beyond medicine, Hugh is a skydiver, ultramarathon runner, mountaineer, world record holder, and author. A prominent advocate for addressing climate change's health impacts, he co-chairs the Lancet Countdown on Climate Change and founded Real Zero to advance climate action in healthcare. Hugh has also contributed to vaccine development and advises on AI in biotech. Awarded an OBE, he continues to practice intensive care, embodying a rare combination of expertise and activism.

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In this episode we welcome Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, to our first live podcast. Mete was born in Northern Cyprus to asylum-seeking parents and moved to London as a child. Inspired to give marginalised groups a voice, aged just 20 he founded My Life My Say, a charity to amplify youth voices and engaging young people from underrepresented communities in decision-making. Mete’s campaigning led nearly half a million people to register to vote in the last general election and he received an MBE for services to young people. Mete entered politics aged just 21, as the youngest-ever elected councilor in the London Borough of Hackney, where he served as cabinet member for climate change, environment, and transportation. In July 2024, Mete was appointed Deputy Mayor of London, tasked with overseeing climate action for our city.

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In this episode our guest is Ioannis Ioannou, a tenured professor at London Business School and a globally recognised thought leader on the role of business in society.

Ioannis is a graduate of Yale and Harvard, with a Ph.D. in Business Economics from Harvard Business School and has been shaping the conversation around sustainability and corporate responsibility since joining LBS in 2009. His groundbreaking research has been featured in top academic journals, offering profound insights into how businesses can deliver for the greater good. Beyond the classroom, Ioannis advises global corporations on sustainability strategies and is a member of the World Economic Forum Experts Network. Don’t miss this thought-provoking discussion with one of the world’s leading voices on purpose-driven leadership and the future of capitalism.

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Ed Conway is one of the UK's leading journalists and broadcasters. He is the Economics and Data Editor at Sky News, a regular columnist for The Times, and a prolific blogger on Substack. He's also the recipient of the prestigious Wincott Foundation Journalist of the Year Award and the author of two bestselling books, including Material World, a critically acclaimed exploration of the materials and substances driving our economy and the green transition. 🌍 In this episode, Ed shares insights into the future of economics, the role of storytelling in journalism, and how we can make sense of complex issues. You don’t want to miss it! 🎧

#Podcast #Economics #EdConway #GreenTransition #Journalism #Innovation #Leadership #Sustainability

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This is the first pod in our "Scaling Social Unicorns" series, in partnership with 100x Impact Accelerator. In this episode, we welcome Neha Verma, cofounder and CEO of Intelehealth, a tele-medicine technology non-profit that delivers health services where there is no doctor. Intelehealth’s approach uses telemedicine and artificial intelligence to bridge critical healthcare gaps in rural and remote regions, connecting patients with qualified healthcare professionals who wouldn’t normally have access to high quality healthcare services. Neha earned an MS in Applied Health Sciences and a PhD in Health Informatics from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Neha writes about women in tech, product development, organizational strategy, social impact and nonprofits.

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In this episode, we welcome Lord Deben. Entering Parliament as an MP at just 30, he rose through the ranks to become a Minister under Mrs Thatcher and then Secretary of State for the Environment in John Major’s Government. In 1995 he introduced the landmark Environment Act and ended up being described by Friends of the Earth as "the best Environment Secretary we've ever had". Created a life peer in 2010, taking his title from his local river, he became Chairman of the UK’s Climate Change Committee in 2012. A position he held for over a decade. In that time, he supported the Government to pass a net zero emissions law, making the UK the first major economy to do so. Citing Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, her seminal 1962 book on the dangers of pollution, as a major influence on his leadership, he is a Catholic who sees his faith as tightly woven with his social calling.

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In this episode, we’re joined by Branwen Evans, a leader in housing and social policy. Branwen has held senior roles at the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Homes and Communities Agency, focusing on housing strategy and community development. Branwen is now at Places for People, one of the UK’s biggest social enterprises, managing over 245,000 homes and investing millions into building communities — Branwen’s work focuses on how Places for People can change lives every day, creating homes and thriving communities.

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In this episode we're joined by Josh MacAlister, recently elected as the Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington. Before entering politics, Josh dedicated his career to transforming children’s lives, first as a Teach First teacher and then founding the charity Frontline and leading the government’s independent review into the children's services sector. He’s also co-founded SHiFT, tackling youth violence, and chaired Foundations, the What Works Centre for Children and Families. This work was awarded with an OBE in the King’s 2023 New Year’s Honours. With deep experience in policy and frontline impact, we were really excited to dig into Josh’s perspectives on change, leadership, and the future of social care.

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Stephen Critchlow, founder of Evergreen Life, recently crowned as the UK’s fastest growing software firm in The Sunday Times Tech 100. Evergreen isn’t Stephen’s first rodeo. A pioneering entrepreneur, Stephen started out as a clinical pharmacist and his passion for health drove him to establish Ascribe, a company that revolutionised health IT in 75% of UK hospitals, later selling to EMIS Group. With Evergreen Life, he’s revolutionising patient empowerment by giving users control over their medical records, while also pioneering digital tools for wellness using AI and machine learning. An advocate for preventative healthcare, Stephen’s work is directly shaping the future of NHS care. Stephen is also a prominent social impact investor and philanthropist, supporting youth provision in this country as a founder patron for Onside Youth Zone and a Trustee and founder Patron of Grimsby Youth Zone, as well as overseas as a founder patron for the Cerebral Palsy Society of Kenya (CPSK).

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We’re joined by Richa Gupta, an educator-turned-social entrepreneur transforming education for vulnerable children. As Co-Founder & CEO of Labhya, Richa is leading a movement that impacts 2.4 million+ children in India through social-emotional learning programs. Richa's work has earned her Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, a spot as one of 17 global UN SDG leaders, and a seat on the UNICEF India board. She’s even caught the attention of Selena Gomez, who recently celebrated Labhya’s work!

In this episode, we dive into how Richa is reshaping education at scale, the power of social-emotional learning and what it takes to drive real, systemic change. With thanks to our friends at 100x Impact Accelerator who have partnered with us on this special series.

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We’re joined by Dan Garrett, Chief Growth Officer at Dignity Group, which recently acquired Farewill, the company Dan co-founded back in 2015 with a bold mission: to change the way the world deals with death. Under Dan’s leadership, Farewill became an award-winning provider of wills, probate, and funerals - raising over £1.1 billion in pledged legacy income for more than 1,000 charities across the UK. Now, through a powerful partnership with Dignity, Dan is scaling that vision further, transforming an industry that touches us all. In this episode, we explore how to tackle complex, deeply human problems with design-led thinking, why legacy matters more than we think, and what it takes to change society’s relationship with death.

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This episode's guest on The Impact Equation is a powerhouse: Dame Dr Helen Stephenson. As the former Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, Helen oversaw 169,000+ charities. She's held top roles across government; from shaping early years policy to championing civil society and innovation at the highest levels.

She’s also brought her magic to the National Lottery Community Fund, the Royal Academy of Dance, and somehow found time to earn a PhD in Philosophy too.

Helen was awarded a CBE in 2014 and made a Dame in the 2024 Birthday Honours for a career dedicated to purpose, public service, and doing things that matter.

Thoughtful, bold, and full of wisdom. Listen in as we dive into leadership, legacy, and what’s next for civil society.

#TheImpactEquation #PodcastDrop #Leadership #CharitySector #SocialImpact #WomenInPublicLife #NewEpisode

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We’re joined by Ian Shapiro, a true force in international development and CEO of Reall, an NGO revolutionising affordable housing across Africa and Asia.

Ian’s work at Reall isn’t just about buildings; it’s about dignity, jobs, clean water, sanitation, and long-term sustainability for millions of people. Before Reall, Ian’s impact spanned continents: He ran a youth organisation in Nepal, he shaped UK development programmes in India, he led DFID’s global strategy for private investment, and, he managed a £1 billion development fund. From government halls to grassroots partnerships, Ian’s seen what it really takes to drive lasting change. We talk: Why housing is the backbone of development and the power of public-private partnerships.

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