Leading With Purpose: Introducing Our Executive Education Program
July 2025
As the call for responsible leadership grows louder, our Leading With Purpose course is equipping business and investment leaders with more than inspiration. It’s offering a clear, actionable model for embedding purpose at the heart of performance. That was the takeaway from a recent info session introducing the Autumn 2025 cohort of our flagship executive education course brought to you by Mutual Value Labs, an Economics of Mutuality Alliance partner.
A Framework for Turning Conviction Into Action
The session brought together faculty and alumni to reflect on the course’s impact and growing relevance. We heard from Charles Wookey, former CEO of A Blueprint for Better Business, Carla Henry, Program Director and Transformation Consultant, Sebati Iyengar, program alumnus and People and Organization Director at Royal Canin, Gianna Goulding, Learning Lead at Mutual Value Labs, and Liam Sharkey, Director of Growth at Mutual Value Labs.
“Businesses are being asked big questions - by employees, customers, and society at large,” said Liam Sharkey. “What is the right level of profit? Where are we best positioned to have a positive impact? Leading With Purpose helps leaders not just ask these questions, but answer them with clarity and confidence.”
Practical Tools With Strategic Impact
Sebati Iyenga, who enrolled on the course after joining Royal Canin, shared how it helped her translate values into business decisions. “There’s a lot of input around purpose and how crafting a true purpose — both personal and organisational — can make a huge difference,” she said. “I use what I learned to shape strategic direction at Royal Canin, and it’s directly influencing how we build capabilities in our teams.”
Her reflections highlighted the program’s distinctive blend of moral intent and business pragmatism. “If we could build skills and capabilities fast enough, we would never need restructuring. It’s about adapting while staying anchored in purpose.”
Charles Wookey emphasised that this kind of learning is no longer optional — it’s essential for leaders navigating today’s complex business landscape. “There’s real pushback now against the idea of purpose-driven business,” he said, referencing growing skepticism in political and media circles. “But the need is more acute than ever. Leading With Purpose helps you think deeply about why your business exists and equips you with tools to deliver profitable, purpose-led transformation.”
Peer Support and Inner Confidence
The course doesn’t shy away from complexity. “Many leaders know why they want to drive change,” said Gianna Goulding. “Our goal is to help them discover how — with frameworks, peer support, and world-class faculty that balance theory and lived experience.”
Carla Henry, who completed the program before going on to become one of the course directors, underlined the personal impact: “It gave me the clarity and confidence to keep going. I realised I’m not alone in wanting to lead differently — and that community is incredibly empowering.”
Designed for senior executives, impact investors, and strategy leaders, the nine-week virtual course runs from October 1 to December 3, 2025. It combines live Zoom sessions with self-paced study, small tutor groups, and real-world case studies drawn from a decade of work across businesses like Mars, Leroy Merlin, Asahi Group, and NatWest.
The next generation of business leaders isn’t just asking whether purpose belongs in business — they’re asking how to embed it without compromising performance. As Wookey put it, “This is not about CSR on steroids. It’s about building core business models that serve people, planet, and profit.”
Applications Now Open
With applications open until August 27 and early bird pricing available until July 23, the Autumn 2025 cohort is shaping up to be a powerful community of change-makers ready to meet the moment — together.
