In this episode of The Ripple Impact, Laura Barber is joined by Chris Hulatt, co-founder of Octopus Group and Octopus Energy, to explore what it really takes to scale a business without losing your values.

From starting out at 23 with little money and a big belief, to building a $9bn group rooted in customer trust, culture and long-term thinking, Chris shares honest lessons on leadership, brand building and why values are not a marketing exercise, they are a growth strategy.

This is a conversation for founders, leaders and marketers who believe growth should feel human.

🎧 Subscribe now for new episodes weekly.

🌊 If you’re building a brand and want clarity, connection and long-term impact, you can work with Laura through The Ripple Impact.

Laura Barber profile

The Ripple Impact

#TheRippleImpact #WaveMakers #Marketing #Branding #Leadership #CustomerFirst #LongTermThinking

Building a community is not about speed. It is about intention. Small moments. Quiet leadership. Big ripple effects.

In this episode of The Ripple Impact, Laura Barber is joined by Joe Glover, Founder of The Marketing Meetup, for an honest conversation about community, confidence, and what human marketing really looks like in practice. We unpack the human story behind building one of the most trusted marketingcommunities in the world.

Joe shares why most communities fail when they are built around short-term ROI, why marketers are feeling uncertain despite being highly capable, and why confidence, care, and psychological safety matter more than ever.

We explore:• The emotional reality behind modern marketing• Why being seen is one of the most powerful things you can give someone• How community grows when people feel safe to speak and belong• Why networking should leave people feeling more confident, not drained• And what it means to build something meaningful over the long term

A warm, honest conversation for founders, marketers and leaders who believe growth should feel human.

🎙 Podcast now LIVE. New Ripple Impact episodes weekly.

🎧 SUBSCRIBE NOW for weekly conversations on brand, leadership and human storytelling.💬 And if you want support building a brand rooted in human connection, come and work with me at The Ripple Impact. Find us at:

Host Laura Barber

The Ripple Impact

#TheRippleImpact #WaveMakers #Marketing #Branding #CommunityBuilding #Leadership #HumanMarketing

2026 is not about louder marketing. It is about clearer brands.

In this New Year’s Eve special of The Ripple Impact, host and founder Laura Barber shares what she genuinely believes will define brand building in 2026. From emotion moving back to the centre, to community becoming a true growth engine, to founders stepping into their human voice.

This episode is a reflective pause between years and a practical guide for what to build next. Laura also shares what is coming for The Ripple Impact in 2026, including new conversations, tools, workshops and the launch of The Ripple Method.

If 2025 was about reflection, let 2026 be about building clarity, confidence and brands with soul. Come and work with us in 2026 to unlock your stories!

Follow and subscribe for more conversations that bring humanity back to brand building.

Laura Barber profile

The Ripple Impact

YouTube channel

#TheRippleImpact #WaveMakers #Marketing#Branding #BrandBuilding #FounderLife #Leadership

In this Christmas Eve special, Laura Barber founder of The Ripple Impact reflects on the powerful themes that emerged from a full year of Wave Maker conversations. From courage and belonging to curiosity, creativity and connection, these five ripples reveal what truly drives brand growth and meaningful leadership.

Laura also gives a preview of what to expect in 2026 and how human storytelling will shape the next era of brand building.

Perfect for founders, marketers and leaders who want to build brands with soul.

If you want to build a brand with soul, clarity and emotional resonance, this episode will set the tone for your next chapter.

Listen, subscribe and join us in shaping a more human world of brands.

Find us here:

Laura Barber profile

The Ripple Impact

Youtube channel

#TheRippleImpact #WaveMakers #Marketing #Branding #Storytelling #Leadership #BrandGrowth

What does it take to land a senior role in a market where jobs can attract 1500 to 2000 applications?

In this live episode of The Ripple Impact, with host Laura Barber, we're joined by Suzie Walker, founder of Suzie Walker Executive Search and Amazon bestselling author of The Successful Candidate. We talk about the new reality for senior leaders in marketing and digital, why many roles are never advertised publicly, and how to build a clear value proposition that gets you shortlisted.

Suzie also shares what organisations are demanding right now: commercial impact, transformation skills, leadership through change, and a strong understanding of AI in marketing. Plus, why interim work can be a smart move and why your situation in this market is not a reflection of your worth.

🌊 If you’re looking to elevate the human storytelling of your brand, get in touch with us at The Ripple Impact.

Laura Barber profile

The Ripple Impact

YouTube Channel

#TheRippleImpact #WaveMakers #Marketing#Branding #Careers #JobSearch #CMO

Marketing is changing faster than ever and this conversation will change how you see your role in shaping it.

In this powerful episode of The Ripple Impact, I sit down with Nandini Nandakumar, Global Marketing Director for Smirnoff at Diageo. With more than 12 years shaping global brands across India, Ireland and the US, Nandini has led some of the most culturally resonant and digitally native transformations at Diageo.

We go deep into the moments that shaped her career, the resilience behind her leadership story and the bold truth every marketer needs to hear:

🔥 Marketing is not just comms.🔥 Marketing is not just performance.🔥 Marketing is impact on people and the P&L.

We explore:

1. Nandini’s journey from South India to global marketing

2. Why marketing is art and science

3. How to reach consumers at scale

4. The power of selfless listening

5. Making a global brand feel local

6. The identity crisis in marketing

7. Why marketers must define the future of the function8. How to splash the waves bigger

If you want to build a brand that is felt, not just seen, this episode is for you.

🎧 Want to work with us at The Ripple Impact? We help founders and leaders build brands with soul through human storytelling.
Get in touch to explore how we can help your business grow.

Laura Barber profile

The Ripple Impact profile

YouTube channel

#TheRippleImpact #WaveMakers #Marketing #Branding #GlobalMarketing #Leadership #ConsumerInsights

This episode is a masterclass in ambition, leadership and culture.
Dr Matilda Andersson joins Laura Barber, founder of The Ripple Impact, to explore how early challenges with dyslexia became a source of strength, how diving taught her discipline and feedback, and how she went on to shape teams and agencies across the creative industries.

We unpack:

* Why feedback is the heartbeat of high performance

* The culture foundations every agency needs to scale

* How ambition (and sometimes fire) fuels extraordinary careers

* What happens when leaders avoid difficult conversations

* How Ambition, Culture and Tough Lessons Shape Great Leaders

* Why serendipity shapes our biggest career shifts

* The importance of audacious goals

Takeaways

· Agencies must evolve to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.

· A strong agency culture is crucial for scaling and success.

· Setting ambitious goals can drive significant achievements.

· Feedback is essential for growth and improvement.

· Agencies play a vital role in nurturing new talent.

· The future of agencies involves blending diverse skills for client success.

· Resilience and adaptability are key to agency longevity.

· Personal challenges can become strengths in leadership roles.

· The agency model remains powerful despite industry changes.

· Collaboration and shared expertise benefit clients and agencies alike.

If you want to build a brand with soul, grow as a leader or scale your agency, you will love this one.

🌊 Ready to elevate your brand storytelling and strategy? Come and work with us at The Ripple Impact.

#TheRippleImpact #WaveMakers #Marketing #Branding #LeadershipDevelopment #AgencyCulture #InspirationForLeaders

Curiosity is a choice. Empathy is an action. Growth happens when we step into the unfamiliar on purpose.

In this episode, organisational psychologist and global people leader Kim Happich joins The Ripple Impact founder and host, Laura Barber to explore the leadership power of curiosity, cultural humility and choosing courage over comfort.

We go deep into:

* Why true leadership starts with empathy and positive intent

* What travelling and working globally teaches us about humanity

* How to grow by participating, not observing

* The ripple impact of culture, identity and discomfort

If you are building a business, leading a team or becoming the person, you want to be, this conversation will move you.

Ready to take this further? If you want to build a brand with more soul, clarity and human connection, reach out to The Ripple Impact. We help founders and leaders uncover the stories, insights and meaning that set their brands apart. Tune in, then come and see how we can support you.

#TheRippleImpact #WaveMakers #Leadership #Culture #Curiosity #PeopleAndCulture #WorkplaceCulture #HumanResources