In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Jay Shen, Founder and CEO of Transreport, the purpose-driven technology company reshaping accessibility in travel. What began as a single conversation about inequality has grown into the Passenger Assistance app—now used across the UK rail network, recognised as one of the most accessible apps on iOS, and forming the foundation of Transreport’s rapid international expansion.

Jay shares how Transreport’s mission—to remove barriers and make travel work for everyone—drives both the company’s product design and its culture. He reflects on the importance of involving people with lived experience at every stage, why accessibility can’t be an afterthought, and how balancing innovation with thoughtful design creates technology that genuinely improves lives. From navigating the complexities of 24 UK rail systems to adapting the platform for Japan, Jay offers an inside look at building a scalable, global model for inclusive travel.

In their conversation, they explore:
• The origin story behind Transreport and the inequality that sparked its creation.
• How a hybrid B2C/B2B model maximises customer experience and operational value.
• Why lived-experience users play a central role in product development.
• The trade-offs between speed of innovation and accessible design.
• How Transreport adapted its platform for Japan’s transport systems and communities.
• The potential for AI to transform accessibility and rethink how disabled people interact with technology.
• Why mission-aligned investors matter for long-term stability and purpose.
• How prioritising accessibility ultimately creates better experiences for all passengers.

Interested in learning more?

Transreport: https://transreport.co.uk/

Menkus and Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

Supported by Norman Broadbent: https://www.normanbroadbent.com/

Belden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.

Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Daniel Hayter, Managing Director and Vice President for Europe at Axiom Law, the global pioneer of flexible, on-demand legal talent. With more than 3,500 legal departments supported worldwide—and over 1,500+ legal professionals in Europe alone—Axiom is reshaping how in-house teams resource, scale, and adopt new technologies.

Daniel shares how he’s helping steer Axiom through a rapidly evolving legal landscape shaped by economic pressures, technological disruption, and changing expectations from legal talent. He discusses Axiom’s four-pillar model, their ability to pilot and deploy AI tools at pace, and why flexibility is no longer “alternative” but increasingly the norm.

In their conversation, they explore:
• How Axiom’s strategy sits at the intersection of economic reality, technology disruption, and talent evolution.
• Why flexibility is becoming the default model for in-house legal teams—and what this means for the profession.
• The biggest misconceptions law leaders have about AI, and why organisational readiness matters more than tool selection.
• How Axiom uses rapid piloting, data, and client feedback to drive innovation and value.
• What it will take for legal leaders to seize the current moment of turbulence as an opportunity rather than a threat.

Axiom: https://www.axiomlaw.com/en-gb/

Menkus and Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

Supported by Norman Broadbent: https://www.normanbroadbent.com/

Belden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.

Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Jeremy Butler, Chief Executive Officer of King Edward VII’s Hospital—one of London’s most prestigious independent hospitals, known for its exceptional care and longstanding charitable mission supporting veterans. Since taking on the role in early 2025, Jeremy has led the hospital through a period of strategic renewal, balancing clinical excellence with sustainability and purpose as it enters a new phase under Bupa ownership.

Jeremy shares how the hospital is modernising its model while protecting what makes it distinctive: its ethos of compassion, equity, and service. He reflects on the challenges of sustaining a legacy institution in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape, and how clarity of purpose, consistent leadership, and trust form the foundation for meaningful transformation.

In their conversation, they explore:
• How to lead legacy organisations through change without losing their soul.
• Why clarity of purpose drives effective strategy and execution.
• How to align operational rigour with humanity and kindness in leadership.
• The importance of trust, mentorship, and consistency in building strong teams.
• How to ensure innovation solves real problems and delivers measurable value.
• Why supporting people to grow—both within and beyond the organisation—strengthens culture and impact.

King Edward VII’s Hospital: https://www.kingedwardvii.co.uk/

MenKus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

Supported by Norman Broadbent: https://www.normanbroadbent.com/

Belden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.

Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Anthony Osijo, CEO of Bboxx, a data-driven super platform that transforms access to essential services across Africa. From clean energy and cooking to e-mobility and smartphones, Bboxx connects millions of people to the infrastructure that powers opportunity and improves quality of life.

Since joining in 2022 to lead the company through a strategic reset, Anthony has guided Bboxx into a new phase of sustainable growth—expanding across multiple African markets, strengthening partnerships with governments and investors, and embedding advanced technology and AI into its operations. Drawing on over two decades in global finance, he shares how commercial discipline and purpose can work hand in hand to create scalable impact.

In their conversation, they explore:
• How Bboxx’s “super platform” model integrates technology, finance, and community partnerships.
• Why bridging the gap between impact, change, and financing is essential for lasting development.
• The importance of structuring purpose-driven ventures for financial sustainability.
• How subsidies and partnerships with governments in Nigeria and Rwanda are expanding access.
• The multiplier effects of energy access—from education to agriculture and healthcare.
• Why Anthony believes in creating “impact credits” for saving lives.
• How redefining what success looks like can unlock new models of growth and inclusion.

Find more about Bboxx here: https://www.bboxx.com/

MenKus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

Supported by Norman Broadbent: https://www.normanbroadbent.com/

Belden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.

Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus is joined by Simon Mitchell, CEO of KERB, a business redefining what it means to grow with purpose in the hospitality industry.

Simon shares how KERB has evolved from a London street food collective into a dynamic ecosystem of food halls, incubators, and partnerships across the UK, US, and Europe. KERB has opened new locations this year in Canada Water, Berlin, and Spitalfields, while strengthening its social impact—donating over £1 million to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds start their own food businesses.

This conversation explores:
• How KERB balances commercial success with social enterprise roots.
• The lessons from international expansion and why no two KERB sites are the same.
• How community and customer feedback guide their next phase of growth.
• Why authenticity and partnership—not solely ‘landlordship’—define KERB’s model.
• New frontiers for impact, from food waste and supply chains to sector-wide advocacy.

Simon offers a candid, forward-looking perspective on how to scale without losing the flavour, community, and fun that make KERB unique.

Learn more about KERB’s story and locations here: https://www.kerbfood.com/

Menkus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

Supported by Norman Broadbent: https://www.normanbroadbent.com/

Belden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a London-based advisory firm working with CEOs and senior teams to align strategy with purpose. Drawing on decades of experience in strategy consulting, leadership, and organisational transformation, he helps mid-sized firms—particularly law firms and membership bodies—tackle complex decisions and unlock long-term value.

Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast exploring how business leaders bring purpose into strategic action. His work is marked by intellectual clarity, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to practical results. A strategic thinker with wide intellectual range, blending business acumen with curiosity and cultural literacy. He brings a distinct mix of consultant, historian, and explorer of ideas.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Sarah Walton, Managing Partner of Weightmans LLP, one of the UK’s leading national law firms. With 1,700 colleagues across ten offices, Weightmans is on a journey from a UK Top 50 to a Top 30 firm—driven by its purpose to “see the possibility—for our clients and our colleagues.”

Sarah shares how she’s leading the firm through growth, innovation, and cultural change while keeping people and purpose at the heart of every decision. For example, they cover the launch of CyExcel, an innovative US-based cyber services business, and Weightmans’ embrace of AI and generative technologies. She discusses how Weightmans is evolving to meet client demand, expand internationally, and stay ahead in a rapidly changing legal landscape.

In their conversation, they explore:
• How “see the possibility” became the firm’s purpose and a guiding lens for strategy.
• Why culture and collaboration sit at the centre of Weightmans’ success.
• How they are using technology and AI to drive both internal efficiency and client innovation.
• The importance of strong leadership teams and long-term succession planning.
• What it means to lead with integrity, trust, and curiosity in today’s profession.

Weightmans’ website: https://www.weightmans.com/

Belden is the founder and Managing Director of MenKus & Associates, a consulting and CEO advisory firm that helps leaders fully activate their organisation’s potential to succeed. MenKus and Associates helps top teams develop purposeful strategies and then turn their intentions into action and results. Their approach is to be a strategic catalyst and thought partner, creating alignment, clarity and action.

Menkus & Associates website: https://www.menkus.com/

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus is joined by Richard Corderoy, CEO of The Oakland Group, a consultancy helping organisations achieve more with their data.

Since Richard’s last appearance in 2022, Oakland has achieved B Corp certification, joined the UK Government’s G-Cloud 13 framework, been named “Best Consultancy in the UK,” and been acquired by Softcat plc. Richard reflects on how the firm has navigated this transformation while keeping purpose and culture at the core.

This conversation explores:
• Why cultural alignment made the Softcat acquisition a natural fit.
• Why Oakland decided to move on from B Corp while still using its principles to shape Oakland’s decisions about clients, culture, and social issues.
• Why moments of challenge reveal more about leadership than smooth growth.
• The role of AI in consultancy and where human connection still creates value.
• What it takes to prepare the next generation of leaders.

Richard offers a candid, values-driven perspective on leading through change and staying true to purpose.

The Oakland Group: https://weareoakland.com/

Belden is the founder and Managing Director of MenKus & Associates, a consulting and CEO advisory firm that helps leaders fully activate their organisation’s potential to succeed. MenKus and Associates helps top teams develop purposeful strategies and then turn their intentions into action and results. Their approach is to be a strategic catalyst and thought partner, creating alignment, clarity and action.

Menkus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Simon Betty, Head of Europe at Northwest Healthcare REIT, and Paul Lambert, Founding Director of Living Work Consulting and author of Alive: Cultivating Living Organizations for Success in a Digital Age.

Together, they explore how healthcare real estate can move beyond bricks and mortar to become living systems that deliver better outcomes for patients, clinicians, and communities—while still meeting financial and stakeholder standards.

In their conversation, they discuss:
• How Northwest is shifting healthcare delivery from hospitals to community-based facilities that improve pathways and outcomes.
• Why gold-standard building design and a customer orientation are essential for value creation in real estate.
• Lessons Simon brings from retail real estate, where digital disruption reshaped what physical spaces must deliver.
• Paul’s perspective on culture, autonomy, and partnership as the real drivers of success in healthcare environments.
• The role of tenant partnerships, net promoter indicators, and system-wide collaboration in shaping a new paradigm for healthcare real estate.
• What future shifts in policy and funding could mean for how users experience healthcare across Europe.

Simon and Paul show how purpose, culture, and strategy can align to create healthcare spaces that truly heal—offering a glimpse into the next era of healthcare real estate.

Northwest Healthcare REIT: https://www.nwhreit.com/

Living Work Consulting: https://livingworkconsulting.com/

Belden is the founder and Managing Director of MenKus & Associates, a consulting and CEO advisory firm that helps leaders fully activate their organisation’s potential to succeed. MenKus and Associates helps top teams develop purposeful strategies and then turn their intentions into action and results. Their approach is to be a strategic catalyst and thought partner, creating alignment, clarity and action.

Menkus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/