(2021) Founding a Billion-Dollar Purpose-Led Business — Bryan de Lottinville, Founder of Benevity

Revisiting the Story of Benevity with Founder Bryan de LottinvilleIn this revisited episode of Purposely Podcast, Mark Longbottom returns to a 2021 conversation with Bryan de Lottinville, founder of Benevity.Bryan is a purpose-led founder whose work has had a significant influence on how companies think about employee engagement, giving, and corporate responsibility. In this conversation, Bryan reflects on the ideas that led to the creation of Benevity, the decisions that shaped its growth, and the belief that business can play a meaningful role in enabling social good.Benevity went on to scale globally and was ultimately sold for around a billion dollars, but this episode focuses less on the outcome and more on the thinking behind the journey — from reimagining corporate giving to building a platform designed around employee choice and participation.Bryan’s background and the origins of BenevityThe limitations of traditional corporate giving models, and why change was neededDesigning technology that enables and encourages employee participationLeading and scaling a purpose-driven businessMaintaining culture through growth, disruption, and CovidReflections on leadership, wellbeing, and long-term impactWhere purpose-led business is heading nextWhy purpose was always central to Benevity’s modelHow democratising giving changes behaviour and cultureThe realities of founder leadership at scaleLessons for leaders working at the intersection of business and impactBenevity has supported the Purposely Podcast as a sponsor for the past three years. Thank you to Bryan de Lottinville for the conversation and for his ongoing contribution to the corporate purpose movement.Follow Purposely Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform to stay connected with future episodes.

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we revisit insights from Simon Fulford, Executive Director of Parrott Creek Child & Family Services, based in Portland, Oregon.Simon explains why rebuilding self-esteem and identity sits at the heart of working with young people who have experienced trauma, and why care can’t stop at programmes and therapy alone. If the physical environment, daily routines, and adult behaviours send the opposite message, the work can be undermined.He shares how Parrott Creek takes a holistic approach. From unconditional positive regard and mindfulness, to staff self-awareness, food, learning, and intentionally beautiful spaces. All of it is designed to communicate one consistent message to young people: you are worthy, you belong, and you can grow.This is a practical reflection on how environment, care, and values need to align if we’re serious about helping young people heal and thrive.This episode of Purposely was brought to you by Benevity, the all-in-one software solution that benefits employees, customers, nonprofits and society, with thanks also to Trust Investments for their ongoing support.

Revisited Episode (Recorded April 2021)A Tribute to Lea MilliganThis revisited episode of Purposely is shared as a tribute to Lea Milligan, who passed away unexpectedly in April 2024.From Purposely host Mark LongbottomBefore returning to this conversation, I wanted to pause and honour someone truly special. I first met Lea in London in 2016 when he was working at Mercy Ships UK, and I was at the St James’s Place Foundation. He reached out in a fundraising role, but it quickly became clear that Lea was far more than that - a phenomenal relationship-builder, a deeply human leader, and someone you always enjoyed talking with. He was a natural connector of people, with an unwavering focus on mission and purpose.Lea would go on to become an impressive leader in the mental health sector, serving as CEO of MQ Mental Health Research. News of his passing came as a real shock, and with great sadness. Re-sharing this conversation feels like a meaningful way to honour his impact and leadership.In this episode, Lea shares:The mission of MQ Mental Health Research and why it was establishedWhy mental health research remains chronically underfunded compared to other health areasThe parallels between the journey of cancer research and where mental health research is todayThe role of stigma in slowing progress — and why research is the first step toward real system changeWhy research may not deliver quick returns, but offers extraordinary long-term impactThis conversation captures Lea’s clarity of thought, humility, and deep commitment to improving mental health outcomes globally.

This episode of Purposely was recorded live at a CEO roundtable in Auckland, bringing together leaders from across Aotearoa’s charity and for-purpose sector to explore one of the biggest questions facing organisations right now: how to use AI well, without losing the human heart of the work.Hosts Dr Kirsty Agar-Jacomb and Mark Longbottom is joined by Dr Megan Blakely from the University of Canterbury, whose research focuses on human-centred AI. Rather than talking about technology for its own sake, Megan challenges leaders to think about AI as a tool for augmentation, not automation, and to stay focused on people, trust, and wellbeing as adoption accelerates.The conversation moves beyond theory into the practical realities charity CEOs are facing. Megan discusses how AI is already showing up in areas like fundraising and health data, and why leadership matters more than ever when it comes to transparency, ethical decision-making, and psychological safety. She also unpacks the tension many organisations feel between legal compliance and ethical responsibility, and why meeting the rules is only the starting point.This live discussion is part of a series of impact lunches hosted by Mark Longbottom, designed to create space for honest, off-the-record conversations among charity leaders about emerging issues shaping the sector.A big thank you to Foundation North for hosting the roundtable and bringing together CEOs from across New Zealand’s charity community.Thanks also to Trust Investments and Benevity, the ongoing sponsors of the Purposely Podcast, for supporting conversations that sit at the intersection of purpose, leadership, and impact.

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we hear from Seumas Fantham, Executive Director of the Todd Foundation, on what happens when a funder realises their well-intentioned model is actually holding communities and charities back.Seumas explains how the foundation used to fund 60–70 groups a year, which meant most staff time went into processing the 89% who didn’t receive funding. It wasn’t strategic, and it unintentionally encouraged competition between community groups rather than collaboration.So they changed course.Instead of spreading funding thin, the foundation stepped back, listened, and focused on a smaller number of areas where they could genuinely shift outcomes. Staff spent a year talking to communities, understanding the landscape, and mapping where the real gaps were before committing any funding.One of those areas was youth employment. Seumas shares how they looked beyond “getting young people work-ready” and started asking a bigger question: How do we help employers become youth-ready too? By speaking with schools, employers, parents, youth organisations, training providers and more, they uncovered a fragmented system where no single group saw the whole picture. The foundation’s new approach aims to bring these parts together so young people are supported from leaving education right through to settling into a job.Purposely SHORT is brought to you by Benevity and Trust Investments.

In this episode of Purposely Podcast, Mark Longbottom talks with Georgina Camp, co-founder of Huber Social, and Michelle McCaskill, the organisation’s CEO in Aotearoa. Both are leading voices in the move toward social impact measurement that actually helps communities instead of adding more admin.Georgina starts by explaining Huber Social’s purpose: to help people live well, and to support organisations to understand what truly makes a difference. Instead of counting outputs or filling in forms for the sake of it, their work focuses on listening to people’s experiences and keeping wellbeing at the centre. Good measurement should guide decisions, shape funding, and change as communities change.Mark raises a familiar tension for charities: proving impact versus understanding it. Georgina and Michelle talk about how a well-designed measurement approach can reduce workload rather than increase it. They work with the people affected, the funders, and the teams delivering services to create frameworks that reflect what matters most, not just what is easy to collect.Huber Social’s framework blends how people feel about their lives with practical indicators like health, resilience, relationships, and access to resources. It is flexible, grounded, and often uncovers issues that sit outside an organisation’s direct control but still influence whether someone can thrive.Michelle shares what it is like to lead Huber Social in New Zealand. She talks about building a remote team and forming partnerships around the country. She also highlights the Hauraki Opportunity, a recent project involving several communities coming together to define wellbeing on their own terms. It is a good example of measurement turning into real action instead of just another report.Both guests describe a shift happening in the sector. There is less emphasis on admin ratios and more interest in whether organisations genuinely improve people’s lives. Funders are also becoming more open to supporting wider issues that appear in the data, even when they fall outside an original project scope.The episode finishes with Michelle’s personal journey into social impact. She moved from innovation-focused business roles into work driven by purpose and community. She encourages anyone who wants to learn more to reach out through Huber Social’s platforms and be part of the wider conversation about measuring what matters.

A really warm welcome to Purposely SHORT, - short as in not long - a weekly episode featuring one of our past guests and their expertise on a certain topic. The aim is to give you a useful insight that you can action, helping you to deliver on your charitable mission. Enjoy.Geneva Loftus, who works with funders and grassroots organisations around the world. Geneva breaks down one of the biggest shifts happening in philanthropy right now: moving decision-making power closer to communities.She explains why donors must let go of the instinct to design solutions themselves, even with the best intentions, and instead create space for local leaders to bring forward ideas grounded in lived experience. And when funders do that? The results can be extraordinary.Geneva shares one of her favourite examples: a young Sherpa leader in Nepal who rejected more school-building and instead proposed something funders would never have imagined, a mountain bike training facility to keep youth in school and create new income opportunities. A small, unrestricted grant set off a ripple of positive change that transformed the whole community, sparked local business investment, created leadership pathways for girls, and even launched an international race series… all for under USD $30,000.Takeaway: trust the people closest to the problem. Their ideas will surprise you. Every time.This episode of Purposely was brought to you by Benevity and Trust Investments NZ.

We’re revisiting one of the early Purposely episodes, a conversation with Steve Wickham, founder of The Giving Department (which is till going strong) and a long-time leader in philanthropy, corporate responsibility, and social impact.Steve has spent more than two decades helping companies and philanthropists connect their resources with the people and organisations that need them most. Before launching The Giving Department in 2010, he held senior roles at Macmillan Cancer Support and The King's Trust (then the Prince’s Trust), shaping programmes that enabled businesses and donors to support young people and communities across the UK.How he made the jump from major national charities to starting his own social-purpose business.Why he built The Giving Department as a for-profit impact company, and what that model makes possible.The early projects that put the business on the map, including corporate partnerships that changed how companies think about doing good.His belief that generosity starts with people, not campaigns and why personal connection still drives most giving.Lessons from his time at The King’s Trust and Macmillan, including what strong partnerships look like behind the scenes.The influence of his family, particularly his late father, on his approach to work, kindness, and community.The pressures charities face today and why some organisations will adapt while others won’t survive.Steve’s blend of experience, honesty, and practical insight still lands today. The conversation strips philanthropy back to what really matters: relationships, trust, and people showing up for each other.

In this episode of Purposely, we sit down with Carey Church, Managing Director of Moneyworks, for a conversation about what ethical financial advice looks like in practice. Carey has been quietly shaping this space in New Zealand for nearly three decades, focusing on understanding people’s lives and values before talking about their money. Her approach is practical, people-centred, and built on years of working closely with clients as their needs and expectations have changed.We talk about:How Carey built Moneyworks around holistic, values-aligned financial planningWhy ethical investing isn’t about purity, but about informed decisionsThe role of trust and mutual respect between adviser and clientThe practical process Moneyworks uses to personalise ethical investment portfoliosThe increasing importance of financial literacy and intergenerational planningWhy Moneyworks became a B Corp, and what it actually means in practiceHow Carey is approaching life and leadership in her 60s, including a four-day work week and tighter focus on what really mattersWhether you're curious about ethical investing or simply want to understand what good financial advice looks like, Carey offers a candid, grounded perspective shaped by real-world experience.

A really warm welcome to Purposely SHORT , short as in not long, a weekly episode featuring one of our past guests and their expertise on a certain topic. The aim is to give you a useful insight that you can action, helping you to deliver on your charitable mission. Enjoy.In this SHORT episode, we revisit insights from Mark Weatherall, CEO of Life Education Trust. Mark reflects on discovering his why , creating environments where people can be the best they can be, and how that purpose has shaped his leadership across sport, community organisations, and now the for-purpose sector.He shares the story of one of the toughest periods of his career: shifting a high-performance sporting culture from individualism to a team-centred, community-rooted model. It led to resistance, legal challenges, and moments of deep self-doubt - but ultimately transformed the sport and reinforced his belief in backing yourself when you know you're doing the right thing.Mark also speaks to the heart of his motivation: empowering young people, championing participation over medals, and ensuring sport, like charity, delivers broader life outcomes.This bite-sized episode is designed to give you a practical takeaway about purpose-driven leadership, resilience, and staying true to your values even under pressure.This episode of Purposely was brought to you by Benevity and Trust Investments .