This article is a summary of the podcast conversation “25. Leading by Values for a Purposeful Workplace – with Bec Bowie”. Listen to the full episode on Spotify podcasts or Apple podcasts, and go here for the relevant links mentioned in the podcast. Read on for the summarised topics from the episode.

Leading by Values for a Purposeful Workplace

Beneath our everyday choices, there’s something quietly whirring away helping us make a decision— our values. Whether it’s choosing slow over fast, local over global or people over profit, our values shape the way we show up and speak to what really matters.

They influence what we say yes to, what we walk away from, and how we define good work for ourselves, our communities and our planet.

In this episode, I’d love you to meet Bec Bowie, former owner of the much loved Newcastle cafe, Estabar.

We’re talking about how values influence the way we shape both our lifestyles and our work to feel more purposeful. This conversation is a great reminder that when you lead with your values, then everything flows with more meaning — and more impact.

Overview of the Conversation

In small business, values like teamwork, community, and caring for the planet can be intentional, but can take longer to show up

“ [values] was actually what was driving the business and that’s what was driving our relationships with our community and with our guests and especially with my team.”

Shaping what you believe through the lessons that life and work teach you

“that was a great lesson because it really taught me the responsibility of having a genuine relationship with someone and that at times you have to make difficult decisions and difficult calls and it’s okay”

When health challenges help tweak your values, and influencing how Bec did business with suppliers.

“because that shifted the creativity… in that you had to think about, what have I got to work with and how am going to make that great rather than the sky’s the limit and what can I find?”

Value of authenticity

“I could see many times where you could cut a corner and get a cheaper ingredient and that might save you a little bit, but what you lost was a little bit of integrity and you lost a little bit of respect…I just couldn’t erode that confidence.”

From almond milk to salmon to avocados…how more sustainable food decisions can benefit café customers, suppliers, the team and the environment

“because we didn’t offer everything that people were used to seeing on cafe menus. [Customers] had to think about, well, why is that and what’s happening here? And then they could see that we had these values and that was an opportunity for them to either not care because they didn’t or to go, my goodness, I want to live this way or I am living this way and what a blessing to have a place that I can go to that’s already doing all that work for me”.

Value of local & seasonal produce
Examining the waste you produce and what to do about it

“having a look at the waste you generate as a really key thing for a person who wants to be environmentally responsible, who has that value of sustainability and contribution to the community to really consider”

Bec’s one simple tip is broken down into a few steps:-

✓ Write down the values that you live by or would aspire to live by.

✓ Pick 3-4 values that are most important in your life, and

✓ Write how you’re going to make that change happen.

✓ Nail those values and see how these infiltrated the rest of your life and see where else you can live more according your values.

This episode of The ReNewy Living Podcast was recorded on Awabakal country. I wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land and waters in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region of New South Wales.

I hope you’re feeling more confident about doing better for our people and planet by taking a start where you live approach to living sustainably. If this episode has spurred you into action, please feel free to share the episode with your friends. It would mean the world to me!

Listen into the stories and voices of this story here at Spotify podcasts and here at Apple Podcasts… And you can also sign up to my regular emails here… I look forward to sharing more stories with you next time.

Leading by Values for a Purposeful Workplace (S4 Ep25)

Links from the Podcast Episode (S4 Ep25)

Natural Gourmet Institute (New York): the leader in culinary arts and theory
Mandolé Orchard: a sustainable family farm with Australia’s only award winning dairy milk alternative
Toxic. The Rotting Underbelly of the Australian Salmon Industry by Richard Flanagan (#affiliate #qbdbooks)
Upstream. How to solve problems before they happen by Dan Heath (#affiliate #qbdbooks)
Recycle Smart: Tricky waste solved for personal, business and local councils
Box Divvy: providing quality food, paying farmers fairly and making fresh food available at extraordinary prices.
The Farmacy Organics: delivering organic produce to Central Coast and Newcastle
Estabar Cafe (Newcastle NSW): whole food with beach views