Last week, we hosted our first in-person Philosophy Advisory Board meeting at the Conduit Club in Covent Garden, London. We formed the board to deepen our understanding of, and ability to support, our own and our clients’ key stakeholders, bringing together an inspiring group of external advisors. Each has committed to both supporting and constructively challenging the founders, Phil and Sophie, as we pursue our mission: enabling businesses to thrive by aligning with people and the planet, profitably.
The sustainability sector is as broad as it is deeply complex. The issues on which it touches – from climate justice to supply chain resilience, circular business models and human rights – require businesses to engage with systems that are constantly evolving. To build an ethical and diverse business, we are seeking ways to increase representation outside our employee base, that covered a broader range of insights and experiences.
Our Advisory Board plays a critical role in this effort. Its remit is threefold:
- Reflect best practice in governance, market positioning and the pursuit of impact
- Provide guidance on key strategic decisions related to our service offering, people and culture, and long-term direction
- Share insight into evolving stakeholder needs and expectations
Introducing our Advisory Board
Rachael Clay – Founder and Director of Ethicore. Rachael supports organisations to deliver sustainable social and environmental outcomes through insight, partnership, innovation and capacity building. She will bring a strong focus on impact-led decision making, particularly from a social perspective.
Gemma Chance – Marketing Director at Ohana Mua, Gemma is a strategic leader across commercial and non-profit sectors with deep expertise in brand, experience and purpose. She brings a strong understanding of embedding purpose into brand and stakeholder engagement, helping Philosophy’s clients navigate complexity and lead with integrity.
Miranda Peredo – International Business undergraduate at Oxford Brookes. Miranda has gained sustainability experience through PwC, Deloitte, the Global Youth Coalition, Oxford Net Zero training and the Lead for Sustainability Mentorship. As Philosophy’s first Youth Representative, she brings lived experience of growing up in a developing country facing many ecological challenges, as well as a valuable generational perspective and voice, to inform and challenge to our work.
Matt Walpole – Chief Executive of Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Matt has spent nearly two decades in international conservation, including senior roles at Fauna & Flora International and WWF International. He represents nature on our board and brings extensive experience in governance, strategy and chairing boards.
We’re genuinely thrilled with the calibre and diversity of the appointed advisors. Collectively, they have experience in nature conservation and environmental impact, marketing and brand, non-profit and social impact sector, and governance, alongside a wealth of unique perspectives.
Our kick-off meeting provided an opportunity for Phil and Sophie to explain their vision for Philosophy, the values we are baking in and embedding in our team as it grows, and our five-year ambitions both in terms of revenue and impact. We also discussed our approach to measuring that impact, a crucial aspect of running a business with purpose at its centre.
The session included a deeper exploration of two stakeholder groups: Global NGOs and the environmental sector. Understanding the challenges and opportunities those groups face helps us refine how Philosophy can best support clients as these needs continue to evolve. We also debated the role of “AI for good” in business, and how we continue to cautiously embrace it at Philosophy.
We highly value the varied perspectives shared by the group and are already building some of these key insights into our planning for the upcoming year.
You can read more about our Advisory Board here. And if you are considering establishing an Advisory Board and would find it helpful to discuss our experience, then do reach out!
About Philosophy
Acting as partners and trusted advisors, Philosophy works with organisations to help them understand and then take action on their most material social and environmental impacts. In order to do that effectively and provide our clients with highly informed insights, it’s imperative we keep closely abreast of the opinions, expectations and needs of various groups of stakeholders, and track those as they evolve and change.