Jeremy Schwartz: Lead with a Clear Purpose
These days, it seems like most companies are talking about their \u201cpurpose.\u2019 Those that aren\u2019t are searching for one. But how does purpose get defined? Who defines it? And how can a company make sure its purpose isn\u2019t just \u201cwords on a wall\u201d? Jeremy Schwartz has some thoughts on the matter. He\u2019s the former CEO at The Body Shop and the former joint CEO at Pandora. He\u2019s also held leadership roles at Coca-Cola, Sainsbury\u2019s, and L'Or\xe9al UK. Schwartz visits the podcast to share his perspective on how, when properly crafted around customers, purpose provides a reference point that can springboard new ideas and innovation. He says companies should ditch hollow \u201cmission,\u201d \u201cvalues,\u201d and \u201cvision\u201d statements and instead replace them with a clear, timeless, and actionable purpose.\n\nListen to this podcast episode to learn:\n\u2022 Why creating a purpose takes guts, courage, and, above all, the willingness to listen to \u2013 and learn from \u2013 customers\n\n\u2022 What all companies (especially FMCGs) can learn from the Silicon Valley tech giants about customer-centricity\n\n\u2022 How brands like Costa Coffee are getting purpose right\n\n\u2022 Why big companies can no longer afford to operate with a \u201cproduction mindset\u201d \n\n\u2022 The value of \u201cintrapreneurship\u201d and how it can accelerate growth at big companies competing with nimble disruptors\n\n\u2022 What Jeremy has learned from Tesco\u2019s Terry Leahy and Amazon\u2019s Jeff Bezos