Awful Is Opportunity - Ben James, Investment Director

Speak With Courage!

The UK is wobbling! Says Ben James But ‘awful is also opportunity’ 💪 I sat down with Ben, Investment Director at Baillie Gifford, a drama school buddy of 20 years ago, for my HippiHut Podcast this week - a long overdue catch up! Our discussion touched on key topics relevant to the current business landscape.
Here are some takeaways:
1. **Awful is Opportunity:** Challenges present opportunities for innovation and growth.
2. **Servant Leadership:** Ben an ex-military officer turned investment Director at Baillie Gifford in Edinburgh, embodies servant leadership. (He did back at drama school as well! - no star tantrums from him 😂) How can we integrate this servant leadership style to enhance organisational culture and performance?**War,
3. **Polarisation's Pitfalls:** Recognising that polarisation can hinder progress, how can we foster unity and collaboration within our teams and industries?
4. Peace, and Prosperity:** Amidst the wobbles in the UK economy, being cautiously optimistic is a strategic stance.
5. **Circular Economy Innovation:** Ben's enthusiasm for the circular economy highlights the potential for sustainable business practices. How can we incorporate circular economy principles into our strategies for a more resilient future? I was particularly interested to talk about this due to my own vision to build on 50 years of sustainability practice at our North House Croft in Shetland.
6. **The Ripple Effect of Acts of Kindness:** Both myself and Ben advocate for kindness. How can simple acts of kindness create positive ripples within our organisations and communities?