Michelle Writes for I Am Recruiting

9 April 2019

Having your own charitable foundation, it seems, is as much a part of being a 21st century business leader as TED talks and flashy product launches. Most of the multi-billionaire CEOs of Silicon Valley based their company origin stories around their motivation to ‘make the world a better place’. Once these beneficiaries of the digital revolution reach a certain level of ultra-wealth, many are keen to apply their innovative, ‘fix it’ problem-solving mindset and business acumen to achieving that goal in the charity sector. This solutions-focussed approach, known as ‘philanthrocapitalism’, can also bring with it the added bonus of greater influence on Government policy, as well as improving the public perception of these highly profitable companies and their CEOs. What are these high profiles initiatives, though, doing for – or indeed to – the charity sector as a whole?

Topics: 
Philanthropy

Michelle writes for Real Business

2 April 2019

We’re told as entrepreneurs that bigger is best, that we should concentrate on growth at all costs and that a key measure of success is turnover and the number of staff that we employ. But that approach can lead to misery, burn out and poor mental health. Here's my own story about growth, expectations, ego and the lessons I learned as a CEO of a growing business. 

Topics: 
entrepreneurs

Michelle comments for Arts Professional

19 March 2019

As low- or no-pay practices continue to dominate the arts and cultural sector, some enlightened employers are starting to reap the benefits of offering a fairer deal to all staff. Michelle Wright, a Trustee at Discover, has turned consultancy Cause4, where she is Chief Executive, into a Living Wage employer over the past few years: “To do that meant we had to take the decision to employ less people: we have a ‘small is beautiful’ approach,” she says.

Topics: 
Business planning

Trustee Leadership Programme Alumni Newsletter March 2019

19 March 2019

Click here to read the latest Trustee Leadership Programme Newsletter with all of the latest in Trustee news, course details and vacancies opening up across the UK!

Topics: 
Governance and Trustees

Michelle comments for RBS

15 March 2019

Social enterprises fulfil an ethical, moral or environmental purpose, but they’re also increasingly skilled at growing revenues and innovation.

According to the recent State of Social Enterprise Survey from Social Enterprise UK, the social enterprise sector employs one million people and adds over £24bn to the economy. Over the 12 months surveyed, 47% of social enterprises grew their turnover – compared with just 34% of SMEs.

Michelle writes for Arts Professional

8 March 2019

How can the ‘fix-it style' philanthropy of the mega-wealthy US tech entrepreneurs be applied to the arts in the UK? Michelle shares her thoughts.

Topics: 
Philanthropy

Michelle writes for My Entrepreneur Magazine

8 March 2019

Nothing stays the same and, like anything in our ever-changing world, charities and philanthropic initiatives are unrecognisable from their bucket-shaking predecessors.  The old days when a large organisation might hand over a cheque for a worthy cause are behind us and many corporations now prefer to establish a corporate foundation as a way to give back.

Topics: 
Philanthropy

Michelle comments for CircleSq.

22 February 2019

A charity’s Trustees have overall control of the charity and are responsible for making sure it’s doing what it was set up to do. Charities are often on the lookout for talented Trustees able to give them their time and expertise. It can be incredibly gratifying, but it is also hard work, emphasises Michelle Wright, the CEO of Cause4, an organisation that she set up to help charities to thrive.

Topics: 
Governance and Trustees

Michelle comments for RBS

21 February 2019

“When you say cost review at an SME people get frightened as they think it means job losses. But it can mean the opposite, reducing costs and freeing up cash for investment,”

Topics: 
Business planning

Trustee Leadership Programme Alumni Newsletter February 2019

14 February 2019

Happy Valentine's Day! Click here to check out our latest Trustee Leadership Programme Alumni Newsletter for all of the latest news, course details and Trustee vacancies coming up in a location near you!

Topics: 
Governance and Trustees

Michelle comments for Culture Vulture

8 February 2019

Michelle talks to Neil Mudd about new approaches to funding and the need for a different mind-set…

Topics: 
Fundraising strategy

Michelle comments for Forbes

1 February 2019

You're not a 'mumpreneur', just an entrepreneur.

The term has been used for over a decade to describe those who combine motherhood with running their own business. Here, we talk to female business owners to see what they really think of it.

Topics: 
entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship

Trustee Leadership Programme Alumni Newsletter January 2019

15 January 2019

The Trustee Leadership Programme is back, supporting potential Trustees in gaining the skills and confidence that they need to join a charity as a Board member.

Topics: 
Governance and Trustees

Michelle writes for trainingZONE

7 January 2019

When author, Tom Corley studied self-made millionaires, he discovered that the single biggest element that connected successful people was their commitment to reading. But how can these seemingly busy people find time to sit down and read? 

Topics: 
Entrepreneurship
eLearning

Michelle writes for WeAreTheCity

2 January 2019

SMEs can be bad for mental health

As an entrepreneur of a small growing business I often get asked how I find the energy to do what’s needed. It's not easy to answer and, like all SMEs, it’s more likely that mental health is the area that needs our focus.

Topics: 
Entrepreneurship