How to run a Business with a Conscience

Clare Radford is the founder of & Culture consulting. An experienced consultant, and Occupational Psychologist, Ex EY Lane4, with twenty years of experience in culture change, leadership development and talent management, focusing on large scale transformational projects.


18 months ago, she walked away from a safe job, a steady salary, and a career she'd carefully built to start a consultancy to work with businesses who value their people as much as their profit and to see if it was possible to run a consultancy with a conscience. She has been named a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2025.





Keywords


consultancy, culture change, leadership development, women in the workplace, human capital, AI in business, ethical business practices, return to work, learning experiences, entrepreneurship





Summary


In this episode of the C-suite framework podcast, Claire Radford shares her journey from a stable corporate career to founding her own consultancy focused on culture change and leadership development. With over 20 years of experience, Claire discusses the importance of valuing people in business, the challenges women face returning to work after maternity leave, and the need for human-centered leadership in an increasingly AI-driven world. She emphasises the significance of creating engaging learning experiences and the value of human capital in organisations. Claire also shares insights from her global experiences and the importance of ethical business practices.





Takeaways


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Claire Radford transitioned from a stable job to start her own consultancy.


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Her experiences in different cultures shaped her understanding of workplace dynamics.


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The importance of data collection in making informed career decisions.


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Creating memorable learning experiences is crucial in leadership development.


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Human-centered leadership is essential in today's work environment.


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AI should enhance human interaction, not replace it.


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Women returning to work face significant challenges that need addressing.


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Organizations often undervalue the implicit knowledge of their employees.


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Engagement in the workplace is linked to personal connections.


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Play and simulations can enhance learning and decision-making skills.






Sound bites


"If it's worth doing, it's worth paying for."





Chapters


00:00 Introduction to Claire Radford and Her Journey


02:46 Cultural Insights from Global Experience


05:46 The Courage to Start Anew


08:23 Navigating Ethical Business Practices


11:14 The Importance of Human-Centered Leadership


14:19 AI and the Human Element in Workplaces


16:59 Supporting Women Returning to Work


19:37 The Value of Human Capital


22:42 The Role of Play in Learning


25:24 Final Thoughts and Future Aspirations