Leading with Purpose: Sustainability & Business Innovation | DisrupTV Ep. 261

In DisrupTV Episode 261, hosts R “Ray” Wang and Vala Afshar sit down with three trailblazers who fuse purpose and sustainability with strategic leadership:

  • Darryl Owen, CEO/Owner of Freestyle Divers and Senior Sponsorships & Partnerships Manager for Azraq, brings insights from grassroots conservation and storytelling.
  • Joel Makower, Chairman & Co-founder of GreenBiz Group, provides thought leadership on sustainability integration in business ecosystems.
  • Simon Mainwaring, Founder and CEO of We First and author of Lead With We: The Business Revolution That Will Save Our Future, explores collective leadership based on empathy and impact.

Key Takeaways

1. Purpose-Driven Storytelling with Impact

Darryl Owen highlights how storytelling rooted in authentic environmental conservation can foster deep connections and drive action. Purpose isn’t just messaging—it’s the anchor of engagement.

2. Embedding Sustainability into Business Strategy

Joel Makower underscores that sustainability must evolve from niche initiatives to central business strategy. His insights show how organizations can embed environmental and social responsibility into their core operations.

3. Collective Leadership through “We First” Thinking

Simon Mainwaring introduces the concept from his book Lead With We, advocating for leadership that centers on shared purpose, empathy, and community-driven success.

Notable Quotes

Simon Mainwaring: “Businesses that lead with “we” unlock trust, loyalty, and long-term impact.”

Joel Makower: “Sustainability should no longer be an add-on, but the foundation of business strategy.”

Darryl Owen: “When stories come from real communities, they don’t just inform—they move the needle.”

Final Thoughts

This dynamic episode reminds us that leadership in the modern era is about weaving purpose, sustainability, and empathy into every business decision. From Darryl’s evocative storytelling to Joel’s call for sustainability as strategy and Simon’s advocacy for inclusive leadership—successful organizations will be those that lead with “we,” driving resilience, trust, and meaningful change.

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