As Pace & Purpose reaches Episode 25, this special holiday edition brings together voices from across the podcast’s first season to pause, reflect, and celebrate the traditions that ground us.

Grab a cup of hot cocoa and curl up on the couch for an episode of warm-hearted nostalgia.

Since launching in July, the podcast has reached listeners in 38 countries and over 350 cities worldwide — and this episode is a thank-you to the global community that has grown alongside the show.

For this festive special, past guests were invited to share short reflections on three simple prompts:

• a holiday ritual that feels grounding
• a festive story — funny, chaotic, or heart-warming
• a tradition they hope to carry forward into the future

What emerges is a tapestry of memories, values, laughter, and intention — reminding us that traditions are a powerful way we mark time, connect across cultures, and find our rhythm at year-end.

🎙️ Featuring holiday reflections from:

• Lydia Merrett — UK-based artist exploring embodiment, movement, and women’s physicality through art
• Valerie Fox — Innovation coach, community builder, and creative leader
• Drew Duggan — Founder of DVLP Music, Sharing reflections on meaning, rhythm, and personal tradition
• Mark Busse — Communication strategist & designer. Offering perspective on leadership, reflection, and continuity
• Justin Fogarty — Co-Founder of Talk-A-Mile Reflecting on growth, intention, and future traditions
• Tony Margiotta — Veteran leader and community builder bridging discipline and purpose
• Dilys Maltby — Purpose-driven strategist on curiosity, learning, and intentional living

Whether you’re listening in the quiet of winter or the warmth of summer, this episode invites you to slow the pace, reflect on what matters, and carry forward the traditions that shape who you are becoming.

Blessings this holiday season. Keep refining your purpose, and finding your pace.

Thanks to all of the guests that have recorded on the Pace & Purpose Podcast this year. Your stories have motivated, inspired, informed and uplifted our listeners.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Music:

Jingle Bells (Spanish Guitar Version) - Andrés Cantú

Summary

In this episode of the Pace and Purpose podcast, host Kirstyn DeVries interviews Dilys Maltby, chair of Circus, a boutique management consultancy specializing in purpose and proposition.

Dilys shares her unconventional career journey, from her early indecision about her professional path to her eventual success in the branding and consultancy space.

She discusses the founding of Circus, emphasizing the importance of purpose-driven strategy in business.

The conversation also touches on the challenges of entrepreneurship, including navigating burnout and setbacks, and the value of collaboration and continuous learning in achieving success. In this conversation, Dilys Maltby shares her insights on resilience in business, the importance of mentorship, and the role of arts in education.

She tells her personal journey, the challenges of leadership transitions, and the significance of curiosity and continuous learning.

Dilys emphasizes the need for clarity in purpose and the value of imagination and discernment in both personal and professional realms.

Takeaways

• Dilys emphasizes the importance of having a rich network for career growth.
• Her early career was marked by a series of unexpected opportunities and risks.
• She learned the value of audience understanding through her media planning role.
• Drama training helped her take risks and seize opportunities.
• Dilys believes that purpose should drive business strategy, not just marketing.
• Circus was founded to provide strategic principles to clients, focusing on purpose.
• She values collaboration and co-working in her consultancy approach.
• Dilys reflects on the importance of continuous learning and curiosity.
• She acknowledges the challenges of navigating client relationships and expectations.
• Burnout and setbacks are common in entrepreneurship, and she shares her experiences. Good work leads to more good work.
• Resilience is a core skill for entrepreneurs.
• Understanding sacrifice is crucial in business.
• Practice and performance are essential for success.
• Mentorship plays a vital role in personal growth.
• Education and kindness are powerful tools.
• Learning to lose well is important.
• Imagination and discernment are key qualities.
• Access to the arts is fundamental for all children.
• Purpose should clarify the why and for whom.

Sound Bites

• "It was like an audition."
• "Purpose should drive the commercial proposition."
• "Good work begats good work."
• "Practice and performance are key."
• "You gather wisdom as you go."
• "You can do anything with education and kindness."
• "I was taught to lose well."
• "I'm fascinated by people's lives."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Background

02:14
Career Journey and Early Experiences

14:22
Founding Circus and Strategic Focus

17:06
A Day in the Life at Circus

19:27
Navigating Burnout and Setbacks

21:12
Navigating Business Challenges with Resilience

22:30
The Circus Double Double: Ideology, Sacrifice, and Discipline

24:12
The Importance of Practice and Performance

25:57
Influential Figures: Mentorship and Wisdom

28:27
Resilience and Gender Dynamics in the Workplace

30:01
Learning to Lose: The Art of Argumentation

31:12
Vision for the Future: Transitioning Leadership

32:37
The Role of Arts in Education: Advocating for STEAM

34:40
The Unseen Work: Curiosity and Continuous Learning

38:27
Defining Purpose: Clarity, Color, and Courage

In this episode of the Pace and Purpose podcast, Kirstyn DeVries reconnects with Clive, a seasoned entrepreneur and consultant.

Clive shares his journey from a creative career in television to establishing a global consultancy aimed at helping entrepreneurs realize their potential. The conversation delves into themes of collaboration, the importance of purpose, and the balance between personal well-being and professional success.

Clive emphasizes the significance of mentorship, the power of community, and the necessity of maintaining clarity in one's principles. He also discusses the transformative experiences that come from both breakdowns and breakthroughs, encouraging listeners to embrace their challenges as opportunities for growth.

Takeaways

• Clive's journey reflects the importance of following one's passion.
• Collaboration is essential for entrepreneurial success.
• Breakdowns often lead to breakthroughs in personal and professional life.
• Finding peace in nature can rejuvenate creativity.
• Daily habits and principles shape our success and well-being.
• Fear is a natural part of the entrepreneurial journey.
• Curiosity drives continuous learning and growth.
• Purpose should be bigger than personal gain.
• Mentorship plays a crucial role in personal development.

Sound Bites:

• "Exercise is my non-negotiable habit."
• "Ambition is driven by identity and goals."
• "Find your purpose that's bigger than you."

Chapters

01:05
Clive's Journey: From TV to Consultancy

03:14
The Birth of Global Citizen and Collaboration

11:12
Balancing Principles and Priorities

14:24
Daily Life: From Overwhelm to Joy

17:04
Breakdowns Leading to Breakthroughs

19:59
The Role of Fear and Collaboration in Business

22:36
Curiosity and Lifelong Learning

22:56
Rituals for Resilience

25:31
Navigating Overwhelm and Finding Balance

27:43
The Impact of Mentorship

30:16
Vision and Ambition: A Scary Journey

32:22
Curiosity and Integrity as Core Values

36:26
The Essence of Purpose

About Clive:

Clive was born into a third-generation farming family from South-West Western Australia. His entrepreneurial spirit ignited early, juggling four side hustles by the age of nine. This drive propelled him to write, produce, and direct his first television show at just 16 and launch Australia's record-breaking revenue-earning Comedy Channel as its Creative Director at 25.

He even became one of the youngest producers of The ARIA Awards (think Grammys), demonstrating his innate ability to lead and inspire high-performing teams. By 30, Clive had garnered 30 international awards. Serving as an advisor and board member for entities like Rare Birds, Start Up Business Kids, Global Citizen, and Welleco.

A serial entrepreneur, Clive has founded or co-founded ten organizations. His most notable success, TCO, achieved a 10x return in 4 years, upon its sale to WPP.

Beyond business, Clive is a dedicated philanthropist and compelling public speaker (SXSW, United Nations Foundation, Women In Tech Osaka, Unicef New York, The Marketing Academy ASIA PAC).

He is a founding partner of Global Citizen, the NGO juggernaut committed to ending extreme poverty which has redeployed $50bn USD.

Clive founded Compadres, a next-generation business growth practice, helping visionary entrepreneurs and leaders across diverse sectors, leading businesses with valuations around $500 million.

Chairman to Amplify (ASIA PAC), Global Advisor to Women in Tech (Paris), United Nations Foundation (Washington DC), and Non-Executive Director of Adoreum (UK).

Links:

Website: https://wearecompadres.com/

Instagram: @wearecompadres