AI is moving fast across the charity sector but are leadership teams and boards keeping pace?

In this mini episode of Leaders With Purpose, Zoe Amar shares key insights from the latest Charity Digital Skills Report and her work with charity leaders and trustees across the UK. While many charities are making real progress with digital and AI adoption, Zoe highlights a growing gap between innovation on the ground and confidence at board and CEO level.

This episode explores what the data is really telling us about AI readiness in charities, why leadership capability matters more than ever, and how boards can engage with AI without needing to become technical experts.

You’ll hear about: • Why over three quarters of charities are now using AI and what that progress is built on • The leadership and governance skills gap holding some organisations back • How boards and leaders can approach AI as a strategic and organisational challenge, not a technical one • Creating a culture of curiosity, learning, and safe experimentation • Agility over fixed AI roadmaps in a fast-moving and uncertain landscape

This is a snapshot of a much deeper conversation about leadership, vulnerability, governance, and responsible AI adoption in complex and sensitive contexts.

Listen to the full episode of Leaders With Purpose for the complete conversation with Zoe Amar, where we go deeper into leadership culture, ethics, service design, and what it really takes to lead well in the age of AI.

Subscribe for more conversations on purpose-driven leadership, technology, and the future of the charity sector, and hit the notification bell to get notified whenever a new episode comes out. Connect with us:

Zoe Amar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeamar/

Rebecca Hull: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-hull-75a78b39/

Louise Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/

manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

Welcome to our first episode of 2026!

In this special episode of Leaders with Purpose, our hosts are joined by Zoe Amar - AI and digital transformation expert in the charity sector, founder of Zoe Amar Digital, and co-chair of the Charity AI Task Force.

Zoe shares her deeply human leadership journey, from early career pivots and moments of self-doubt to shaping how charities could approach AI, digital skills and responsible innovation today.

Together, they explore what it really means to lead through uncertainty, especially when the pace of digital change feels relentless.

This conversation goes far beyond technology. We talk about vulnerability in leadership, representation and belonging, and why curiosity, service design and ethical decision-making matter more than ever as AI reshapes organisations.

You’ll hear: → Why AI adoption is a leadership challenge, not a technical one → How leaders can build confidence while sitting with uncertainty → The future of governance, rethinking trusteeship and the skills needed for a successful future → What the Charity Digital Skills Report reveals about readiness, risk and opportunity → The case for service design, user needs and inclusion at the heart of innovation → And much more!

This episode is essential listening for charity leaders, trustees, policymakers and anyone grappling with how to lead responsibly in a rapidly changing and AI world. Listen now and join the conversation!

If this episode resonates, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who’s thinking deeply about leadership, purpose and the future of work.

Connect with us: Zoe Amar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeamar/ Rebecca Hull: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-hull-75a78b39/ Louise Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/ manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

If you’re looking to sharpen your leadership skills, we have a treat for you. We’ve collated a highlight reel of the best actionable advice from our recent Leader with Purpose guests (and some you haven't see yet, too) But we’re just getting started... We’ve got a massive lineup of speakers in the pipeline for the new year, including leaders from The Sweaty Betty Foundation, Legacy Futures, Tate and Designability.

Connect with this episode's guests: Daniela Flores: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniela-flores-mprca-a12869/ Dr David Hunt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-david-hunt/ Louise Lane: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lane-2765222a/ Martine Parnell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martineparnell/ Claire Routley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-routley-9a8b737/ Zoe Amar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeamar/ Lou Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/ Rebecca Hull: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-hull-75a78b39/ manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

What does it really mean to lead with purpose when the world feels unstable, expectations are rising, and trust is fragile?

In this episode of Leaders with Purpose, Daniela Flores joins the conversation to share what she’s seeing first-hand as organisations struggle to turn purpose from a statement into a lived experience.

Drawing on her work with global businesses, Daniela reveals why so many leaders say the right things, yet fall short when it comes to consistency, trust, and follow-through.

Together, they discuss: - Why purpose can’t live in marketing alone - How leadership behaviour shapes culture - And why psychological safety has become one of the most important responsibilities leaders hold today

Daniela also shares practical insight into how leaders can navigate pressure without trying to have an opinion on everything, and how clarity, alignment, and consistency create a sense of safety for teams even when answers are incomplete.

This episode is for leaders who want to act with integrity, bring their people with them, and build cultures that can withstand uncertainty.

Connect with us:

Daniela Flores: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniela-flores-mprca-a12869/

Lou Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/

Rebecca Hull: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-hull-75a78b39/

Purpose Union: https://www.purposeunion.com/

Manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

In this episode of Leaders With Purpose, we sit down with Daniela Flores, co-founder of Purpose Union. This social purpose strategy firm helps major organisations, including BLab, NatWest, SKY, RFU, Unilever and Wellcome, tackle some of today’s most complex societal challenges. Instead of circling the usual “purpose talk,” Daniela takes us inside the real pressures modern leaders face:

• When should I speak?
• What if we get cancelled for choosing a side?
• How do we stay commercially strong and purpose-led?
• What does “being brave” actually look like when the risks feel huge?

Daniela shares how purpose-driven organisations can find a voice that isn’t reactive, isn’t performative, and isn’t shaped by fear. From navigating geopolitical flashpoints to addressing DEI commitments, she explains how leaders can choose their lane without trying to comment on every issue or collapsing under public expectations.

We also explore what purpose looks like in a “woke vs. anti-woke” climate, where companies are told to speak up and stay silent at the same time. Daniela offers a grounded way to decide what matters, when to show leadership, and how to hold your integrity even when the stakes feel high.

The conversation moves between leadership tensions, parenting while leading a business, the rise of ethical AI, mentoring the next generation, and finding stability in a world that rewards outrage. It’s honest, warm and full of insight for anyone navigating modern leadership.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a comment with your reflections, and share this with someone who’d love it.

Connect with us:

Rebecca Hull: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-hull-75a78b39/

Lou Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/

Daniela Flores: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniela-flores-mprca-a12869/

Purpose Union: https://www.purposeunion.com/

manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

In this mini episode of Leaders With Purpose, Rebecca Hull and Lou Lai revisit their conversation with Dr David Hunt, Director of Digital, Data and Technology at the Royal College of Anaesthetists, to dive into the foundations of digital transformation - the parts that don’t always make the headlines, but make all the difference.

David shares how to keep large-scale transformation projects on track: setting clear milestones, creating strong governance, and bringing people with you through every stage of change.

It’s a practical, honest look at what it really takes to make transformation work inside complex organisations.

We talk about:

- What digital transformation really means for purpose-led organisations - How governance and sign-off structures keep projects steady and fair - Managing resistance and building trust through communication - The vital role of project managers in keeping change moving - Why listening, empathy, and clarity matter more than any framework

This episode is a companion to “Dr David Hunt on leading digital transformation at the Royal College of Anaesthetists”, where David shares his broader leadership journey and lessons from leading change with purpose, so go check that out for a deeper dig into the topic.

Join the conversation and discover why the most unglamorous parts of digital transformation are often the ones that make lasting impact.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel and share it with someone steering change in their organisation - they’ll thank you for it!

Connect with us:

Rebecca Hull: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-hull-75a78b39/

Lou Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/

Dr David Hunt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-david-hunt/

Royal College of Anaesthetics: https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/

manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

What does real digital transformation look like when you strip away the jargon?

In this episode of Leaders With Purpose, Rebecca Hull and Lou Lai sit down with Dr David Hunt, Director of Digital, Data and Technology at the Royal College of Anaesthetists, to talk about what it really takes to drive change that lasts - and why getting the basics right is anything but boring.

David shares the story of his unexpected career path - from studying maths and running a charity in rural China to leading multi-million-pound transformation programmes in UK charities.

It’s a conversation about courage, curiosity, and learning to lead through others.

Together, they dig into:

- What digital transformation really means (and why it’s not just a new website) - Why foundations and governance matter more than “shiny tech” - How to bring people with you through complex change - Creating psychological safety and space for honest conversations - The opportunities and limits of AI in the charity and health sectors - How to balance ambition with accessibility and inclusion - Why curiosity, humour, and continuous learning are the quiet superpowers of good leadership

It’s a grounded and hopeful look at leading digital change with purpose - from someone who’s lived the highs, lows, and spreadsheet-deep realities of transformation.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel and share it with someone steering change in their organisation - they’ll thank you for it!

Connect with us:

Rebecca Hull: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-hull-75a78b39/

Lou Lai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lai-3958962a/

Dr David Hunt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-david-hunt/

Royal College of Anaesthetics: https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/

manifesto: https://manifesto.co.uk/

What does it really take to nurture innovation inside one of the UK’s most iconic institutions?

In this mini episode, our hosts sit down with Martine Parnell, Director of Digital & Marketing at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), to explore how psychological safety, experimentation, and collaboration shape the way her teams work.

Martine shares how creating the right environment - where people feel safe to speak up, test ideas, and learn from mistakes - is essential to driving both creativity and impact.

Together, they explore:

• Why psychological safety fuels teamwork, retention, and innovation.
• How the RHS fosters a culture of continuous improvement and open learning.
• The power of blending multidisciplinary teams - from scientists to horticulturalists.
• Insights into the RHS’s digital transformation, including the creation of RHS Grow, an app that empowers gardeners with AI-driven advice and helps map cultivated plants across the UK.
• How data from digital platforms is shaping sustainability, scientific research, and the future of UK gardens.

This conversation is a reminder that cultivating innovation isn’t about chasing perfection, it’s about creating the space for curiosity, iteration, and collaboration to flourish.

Turn the notification bell on to hear more unfiltered stories from leaders across non-profits, higher education, culture, and social impact.