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Do Good and Do Well

Do Good and Do Well

By: Sarah Fox
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 I'm Sarah Fox and this is Do Good and Do Well, a podcast for purpose driven leaders and founders exploring how you can make a positive contribution without burning out. Join me as I talk to people about ways we can do good in our work and businesses, about how we can lean into our values and what matters and take care of ourselves in the process.Sarah Fox 2020 - 2025 Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Challenging the Status Quo, One Marathon at a Time with Hannah Cox

    Challenging the Status Quo, One Marathon at a Time with Hannah Cox
    Oct 27 2025
    In this episode, I speak with Hannah Cox, a business owner, runner, and community builder who is about to embark on an extraordinary challenge: Project Salt Run. This involves running 100 marathons in 100 days across India, following the route of a forgotten 4,000-kilometre-long hedge, to raise £1 million for charity. This is a conversation about the difference between doing a good job and doing good work, turning obsession into purpose, and the power of refusing to accept the status quo. Hannah shares the story behind her businesses, Better Not Stop and the Better Business Network, and how her father's final words continue to shape the choices she makes today. We discuss building communities, facing uncomfortable conversations, and why she believes we are not powerless to create change. Key Takeaways Doing Good Work vs. Doing a Good Job: Hannah distinguishes between doing a good job (being reliable and hardworking) and doing good work, which involves aligning your professional life with your personal values, such as caring for people and the planet. For her, a successful business is not just financially profitable but is also making the world a better place. ‌ The Power of Asking for Help: Asking for help is not a sign of weakness but an act of vulnerability. Hannah learned from her mother that if you do not ask, you do not get, and the worst that can happen is someone says no, leaving you in the same position you were already in. ‌ Ideas Land When the Time is Right: Hannah was obsessed with the story of the Great Hedge of India for ten years before the idea for Project Salt Run fully formed. This shows that an idea might not work initially, but it can be revisited later when you have had new experiences that allow it to develop into what it needs to be. ‌ Refuse to Accept the Status Quo: The project is about challenging the idea that we are powerless to create change. Hannah discusses how significant societal shifts, like the introduction of the weekend, have happened because people refused to accept things as they were. ‌ Episode Highlights [04:36] Hannah discusses the career shift she made in her thirties, moving from wanting to do a good job to wanting to do good work that aligned with her values. ‌ [15:10] The origin of the Better Business Network, which started from a single LinkedIn post seeking a community of business owners who care about people and the planet. ‌ [29:21] Hannah introduces Project Salt Run, explaining her decade-long fascination with the Great Hedge of India and how it evolved into a plan to run 100 marathons in 100 days ‌ [53:15] Hannah's advice for people who want to make an impact but do not know where to start: ask yourself why you want to make a difference and ensure the reason makes sense to you About the Guest Hannah Cox is the founder of Better Not Stop and the Better Business Network, organisations dedicated to helping purpose-driven businesses grow their impact. Episode Links 1% for the Planet Website: https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/ Frank Water Website: https://www.frankwater.com/ ClientEarth Website: https://www.clientearth.org/ Big Change Website: https://www.bigchangecampaign.com/ Project Salt Run Website: https://projectsaltrun.com/ Follow on social media: LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok (@projectsaltrun) Better Business Network Hannah's business network for purpose-driven entrepreneurs Website: https://thebetterbusinessnetwork.co.uk/ betternotstop Hannah's sustainability consultancy and B Corp certification service Website: https://betternotstop.com/ B Lab Website: https://www.bcorporation.net/ Better Business Act Website: https://betterbusinessact.org/ Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert Buy on BookShop.org Year Compass Website: https://yearcompass.com/ Make Good Design Website: https://makegooddesign.co.uk/ Additional Resources The Great Hedge of India by Roy Moxham The book that inspired Hannah's journey Buy on Bookshop.org You can find me on Linked In, or sign up to my weekly newsletter Sarah Fox Newsletter where you'll find the best of me. I send emails on doing good and doing well and some behind-the-scenes stuff. Or if you're a coach and want tailored supervision and business development support, join this newsletter instead Still Coaching.
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • From Public Service to Professional Coach with Sandra Whiles

    From Public Service to Professional Coach with Sandra Whiles
    Sep 28 2025
    In this episode, Sarah is joined by Sandra Whiles, a coach, mentor, and author. Sandra shares her journey from a long and successful career in public service, including twelve years as a Chief Executive of a council, to becoming a professional coach. She discusses the motivations behind this significant career transition, the importance of leaving a role well, and how she found a new way to make a difference. Sandra also talks about the process of writing her new book on coaching, The Coaching Tools Compendium. Key Takeaways Understanding your core values, such as challenge and security, is crucial for navigating career crossroads and making decisions that feel aligned with who you are. A successful career transition involves practical planning. This can include getting qualified, seeking support from a coach or network, and giving yourself time and space to explore what comes next. When starting a new business, it is useful to focus on the activities that generate energy and connection, like meeting people, rather than getting distracted by perfecting things like a website early on. Building a support team is just as important in self-employment as it is in an organisation. Recognise what you are not good at, or get no energy from, and find others who can help. Episode Highlights 03:20: What first drew Sandra to a career in the public sector. 05:35: The realisation of the impact a leader can have on culture and people, and the desire to become a Chief Executive. 11:30: The external prompts and internal realisations that led to the decision to train as a professional coach. 27:00: Lessons learned from starting a business, including avoiding "comparisonitis" and the distraction of shiny objects. 38:10: The philosophy behind Sandra's book – moving beyond a simple list of tools to help coaches develop their own practice and confidence. About the Guest You can connect with Sandra via her website and on social media: Website: sandrawhilescoaching.comLinkedIn: Sandra Whiles Episode Links Peter Mosley's Books - details on his website - Pete MosleyBuy Sandra's new book: https://sandrawhilescoaching.com/the-book/ Use the code 2U2XJN I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahfoxcoach/). This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (lucylucraft.co.uk) If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!
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    51 mins
  • How 2025 started and what's next for the Do Good & Do Well Podcast

    How 2025 started and what's next for the Do Good & Do Well Podcast
    Aug 26 2025
    This month, I'm taking some time for deeper reflection, and I wanted to share some of that with you. This special episode is a collection of standout moments from this year's conversations, all woven around the central theme of purpose. You'll hear clips from all of my incredible 2025 guests, each sharing insights that made me pause and think. We explore why we do the work we do, what gets in the way, and what this idea of 'purpose' truly means. I've created this as a space for you to reflect, too. As you listen, I invite you to consider what resonates, what challenges you, and what small steps you might want to take next in your own journey. Key Takeaways Your Past Shapes Your Leadership: Our personal histories and childhood experiences create patterns that show up in our leadership. To lead effectively and authentically, we must do the work to understand our own "stuff" and how it impacts our teams and mission. It's not about becoming a different leader, but a better version of yourself. Purpose is an Evolution, Not a Destination: The values that drive you are not set in stone. As you grow and experience the world, your understanding deepens. A value of 'kindness' might evolve into 'fairness,' which might then become a commitment to 'justice' and 'liberation.' This non-linear journey is a natural and powerful part of living a purpose-driven life. Small Actions Create Big Ripples: You don't need to have all the answers or a grand plan to start making a difference. Change can begin with something as simple as changing your language to be more inclusive, starting a conversation with your community, or simply sharing your story. These small, deliberate acts have a ripple effect you may never fully see. Ground Yourself Before You Act: In moments of pressure, it's easy to fall into old habits like people-pleasing. Before making a decision, use a simple framework like the 'Five Cs' to check in with yourself: How Calm, Clear, Curious, Courageous, and Compassionate am I? This pause allows you to act from a place of intention rather than reaction. Episode Highlights 10:00 Astrid Korin introduces the Five Cs model—Calm, Clear, Curious, Courageous, and Compassionate—as a practical tool for leaders to ground themselves before making decisions. 18:23 Keri Jarvis shares the story of how her values evolved from 'freedom' to 'liberation' and how the despair following a general election catalysed the creation of the Southend Care Bank. 24:40 Siobhan Strode on the pivotal childhood experience that shaped her mission to combat apathy and ensure women's stories are heard and no longer silenced. 35:45 Accountant Kirsty Heywood-MacDonald describes the practical and empowering support her firm offers, including bespoke accommodation plans and mental health check-ins, to create a truly disability-inclusive service. About the Guests Leah Brown: Mediator and founder of The WayFinders Group https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahbrown-frsa/ Astrid Korin: Executive Leadership Coach. Connect with her on LinkedIn and at astridkorin.com. Katherine Powell: Coach, trainer and Founder of The Curious Coaching Company. https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-powell-ceo-coach-coach-training/ Keri Jarvis: Coach and Co-founder of the Southend Care Bank. https://www.instagram.com/keri_l_jarvis/ Siobhan Strode: Advocacy consultant, mentor and founder of This Sister Speaks. https://www.instagram.com/siobhan.strode/ Catherine Mack: Travel writer specialising in responsible tourism https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-mack/ and https://www.instagram.com/thenaturaladventure_/ Kirsty Heywood-MacDonald: Founder of the multi-award winning Heywood-MacDonald Accountancy Services Ltd. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstyheywoodmacdonald/ Episode Links Nora Bateson: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4562/9781913743857 Book: Real-Time Leadership by David Noble and Carol Kaufman.https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4562/9781647823931 I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please find me on Linked In. This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (lucylucraft.co.uk) If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!
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    41 mins
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