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Change Makers Podcast Guests in July: Bella Lack, Conservationist, and more

In July’s Change Makers episodes, Michael Hayman is joined by Dr Grace Lordan, Founding Director, The Inclusion Initiative, London School of Economics; Taban Shoresh, Founder, Lotus Flower; Bella Lack, Conservationist and Campaigner; and Duncan Goodhew MBE, Olympic Champion.

Dr Grace Lordan, Founding Director, The Inclusion Initiative, London School of Economics – Small steps: build the future you want 

Dr Grace Lordan’s research has been conducted throughout her career with a singular objective: to establish why some individuals succeed in life and others do not. She is an expert on the effects of bias discrimination and technology changes and sits on the UK Government Social Mobility Task Force and the Women in Finance Charter’s advisory board.

The Inclusion Initiative is a research centre established in 2020, aiming to bring behavioural science insights to firms to allow them to enhance the inclusion of all talent. It also provides studies, measurement frameworks and training to create more inclusive business leaders in the UK.

Last year, Grace published Think Big, Take Small Steps and Build the Future You Want, a practical framework for aspiring business leaders on how to use behavioural insights to achieve the future that they seek.

Listen here.

Taban Shoresh, Founder, Lotus Flower – Resilience: creating a better world

Taban Shoresh is founder of the Lotus Flower, the non-profit empowering vulnerable women and girls affected by conflict and humanitarian crises.

Taban’s own remarkable story started in Kurdistan, where her family were amongst the many persecuted by Saddam Hussein’s regime in the Kurdish genocide.

Her horrific ordeal saw Taban imprisoned at the age of just four and later, narrowly escaping a mass live burial.

Coming to the UK as a refugee in 1988, Taban built her life here, later moving into asset management. But in 2014, amidst the persecution of the Yazidis by Islamic State, she turned her attention to humanitarian aid and peace-building, supporting survivors of genocide, and women and girls displaced by conflict.

Listen here.

Bella Lack, Conservationist and Campaigner – Creating a snowstorm: tackling the climate crisis

Bella Lack is a conservationist, campaigner, writer, filmmaker, board director and foundation ambassador.

It’s an impressive CV for the most storied of careers, but in Bella’s case, she’s achieved it all before most people have even got going with their own careers. At only nineteen, Bella has carved out a name for herself as an inspirational and respected environmental campaigner.

Her first book, Children of the Anthropocene, tells stories from young people at the heart of the climate crisis, and received plaudits, including the former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, and the legendary environmentalist Jane Goodall, among many others. It’s been described by the Green Party MP Caroline Lucas as an inspirational manifesto for change, and the naturist Steve Backshall as a remarkable and important book, adding that Bella can change the world.

Listen here.

Duncan Goodhew MBE, Olympic Champion – Going for gold: how to work through your worst days 

It’s 10 years since the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. To celebrate, Change Makers is delighted to welcome one of our greatest ever Olympians, who many say is one of the trailblazers that paved the way for the world class athletes representing Team GB today.

Duncan scored gold in the 100 metre breaststroke in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, in a dramatic nail biting finish that went down to the wire. It marked a remarkable transformation for a young man who described himself as “drowning” during his time at school, struggling with the challenges of dyslexia.

In a story of resilience and ambition, Duncan overcame the odds to become one of the most recognisable British sporting figures of the past 50 years, and lives by the motto, you’re only as good as your worst day.

Listen here.

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Chapter 1 outlines the concept of mission and how the breakthrough brands of today have succeeded by building a mission that inspires belief, generates a following and instils a purpose beyond profit.