Why Inspiring Leadership matters more than ever

“The need for values-driven leadership is urgent. Employees seek happiness and fulfilment, and business leaders hold the key.”

As winter gives way to spring, it’s always a good time to take a step back and reflect. Are we still on the right path? Should we stop what we’re doing? Where can we improve? These are questions I ask myself often. With so many podcasts out there, is The Inspiring Leadership Podcast still relevant?

The answer, I believe, is yes. Now more than ever.

The power of leading by example

For me, the purpose of this podcast has always been to learn from the best. Albert Schweitzer, the humanitarian and philosopher, once said, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.”

We learn from the experiences of those who have gone before us, their successes and their failures. Innovation is wonderful, but sometimes, the best way forward is to look back and learn. A client of mine calls his R&D department “Rob and Duplicate.” Why reinvent pastry when you can use your grandmother’s recipe?

After plenty of walks in the woods and deep discussions with my sons, I’ve concluded that good leadership is more important than ever. The world is complex, and complexity requires better leadership.

Business as a force for good

Leadership is everything. History shows us that business leaders can drive social change. The Quakers of the early 1800s built businesses that operated ethically, addressing social equality not just in their workplaces but in their communities. After World War II, business leaders again stepped up, embracing social purpose.

Then came the era of Milton Friedman, Margaret Thatcher, and Ronald Reagan, which put profit above all else. Greed took centre stage, and money became, as they say, the root of all evil. But things are shifting once again. Purpose-driven businesses, like those in the B Corp movement, are leading the way. Today’s younger generations aren’t motivated by consumerism but by values, real values that bring meaning and happiness to life.

Technology has advanced at an incredible pace, yet human nature has not evolved nearly as much. That is both exciting and terrifying. The need for values-driven leadership is urgent. Employees seek happiness and fulfilment, and business leaders hold the key.

A call to other leaders

Despite years of government intervention, social inequality remains a major issue. Political leaders come and go, often entangled in bureaucracy and short-term thinking. Meanwhile, inequality grows.

That’s why business leaders must step up again. They have the vision, the ability, and the influence to create real change. Business success and social progress are not mutually exclusive—on the contrary, they go hand in hand.

As a business leader, how do you want to be remembered? For making money, or for the legacy you leave behind. Do you want your employees to see you as efficient, or as someone who made a real difference? Do you want your children to remember you for your title, or for how you used your position to create change?

So, instead of pretending we are solving inequality, let’s focus on creating real opportunities. Not just talking about it, but making it happen.

Leading by example

Every leader has the ability to create opportunities. SMEs account for 99.9% of businesses in the UK, employing half the workforce. That is a powerful force for good.

Philanthropy is not enough. Running marathons or painting community centres may boost morale, but true leadership demands more. It demands integrating social good into the very fabric of business.

At gunnercooke, we aim to involve 75% of our people in foundation-led activities. We support nearly 200 charities, and as the business grows, so does our social mission.

True leadership comes from the top. Social impact shouldn’t be a side project delegated to a CSR team in a remote office, it should be a CEO’s priority. If leaders truly want to create a legacy, at least half of their week should be dedicated to social opportunity. Imagine what could be achieved if more leaders did this!

And here’s the secret: when you get the behaviours right, when people love working for you because of your purpose, your business thrives. Profit follows purpose.

The CEO as the conductor

A great CEO is like a conductor, guiding the orchestra. It is often said that a strong CEO can do their job in two to three days a week. The real job is recognising what truly matters and directing the business accordingly.

We can look to great leaders of the past, George Cadbury, Edward Filene, J.N. Tata, Wallace Donham. Their legacy wasn’t just about making money. It was about shaping society for the better.

The values of a business are its glue. They define its decisions, culture, and energy. Who would want to leave a company that makes them feel good about the impact they are making?

Family businesses understand this well. The next generation of Cookes is already making its way into our business, and their role is to protect and grow the culture, not sell out for short-term gain.

Doing what’s right

Historian Michael Schuman wrote that Confucius expected people to do the right thing simply because it was right, not because they would be rewarded later. Doing the right thing improves not just your business, but your legacy, your life, and the lives of those around you.

gunnercooke started with a vision, to give lawyers control over their own lives and as we’ve grown, we’ve kept our values at the centre. We own a farm focused on biodiversity, a bookshop dedicated to combatting social isolation, we support almost 200 charities, and we are building our own university to create opportunities for those less privileged.

A local and global responsibility

Globalisation has benefits, but it has also weakened local communities. Social media and the decline of bookshops and pubs have made our communities more distant and less connected.

That’s why we’ve invested in bookshops, to bring people together, combat loneliness, and foster compassion.

Every business exists within a community, and within a square mile of any office, you will find every social challenge imaginable, disability, poverty, mental health struggles, loneliness. Do we ignore it and wait for the government to act? Or do we, as business leaders, take responsibility?

A CEO does not need a public vote. A CEO can act. A CEO can change lives.

Define your legacy

Am I comfortable earning money and retiring quietly? Or do I want to leave a legacy of change? The choice is clear. We must act. We have the power, the influence, and the responsibility.

This isn’t about judgement. It’s about doing what’s right. It’s about what our people want, what our families would be proud of, and what gets us up in the morning. If you’re a leader, you have the ability to influence. If you’re not a leader, you can influence one.

We may not solve inequality overnight. But we can create opportunity. And we must, all of us, together. Because we live in an unfair world, but that doesn’t mean we have to accept it. No reason at all.

On the latest episode of The Inspiring Leadership Podcast, hosted by gunnercooke Founder Darryl Cooke, he discusses why, now more than ever, Inspiring Leadership is vital for the world to be a better place.

Click here to listen in full or visit Spotify or Apple Podcasts. 

Darryl continues to welcome inspiring leaders who are making a difference in their business or community to join him for future episodes. Get in touch here to recommend a guest. 

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