Welcome to The Kindness Economy | Mary Portas | TEDxLondonWomen

How do you connect human kindness with commerce? Rising through the ranks of the retail sector in the late 1980s and 90s, Mary Portas learned to put profit first and people second. By the time she was 31, she was on the board of Harvey Nichols as their Creative Director. She had money, she had power and she had some very nice clothes. Mary played the alpha business game and whilst she was really good at it, something never felt quite right. It wasn’t until 2012, when her youngest son was born and her eldest son went off to university, that it hit Mary: the world of work wasn’t kind. And that needed to change. With the help of her team at her agency, Portas, Mary decided to put people first, and re-structured the agency around the values that would free everyone to be their most authentic selves at work. It was then she realised that kindness isn’t weak but strong: a foundation from which to grow a business that has truth, integrity, longevity and commerciality. As we move away from a time of rabid consumerism and ‘peak stuff,’ Mary believes we are entering a new type of economy. One built on kindness and a Triple Bottom Line: people, planet and profit - in that order. And business who organise themselves around this kinder way of behaving, will be the ones that win. A determined, passionate advocate of the social role of retail, Mary is at the forefront of making the nation better consumers and the country’s shops better businesses with her team at her agency Portas. Her latest project, Work Like A Woman, is a manifesto for change and the book and podcast of the same title are being used by businesses across the UK to create positive change within their organisations. In recent years, her work life and personal life have become increasingly intertwined, focusing on the things she cares most about: making our world a fairer, more kind place. One of Mary’s proudest achievements to date is her ‘Mary’s Living and Giving’ charity shops in partnership with Save the Children. There are 26 shops across the UK now and these have raised over £22 million for charity. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@johnthompson932]

Love it, done it , proved it - thank you Mary

[@stephanietaylor3979]

This is what we need to implement in order to rid the world of all of the toxic work environments that we've created. Burn out and work-related mental health problems would no longer be an issue.

[@suzym-h8409]

This was so powerful that I found myself weeping (With relief? Joy? Hope?) and I will share it far and wide. Thanks Mary, it wasn't what I was expecting from you.

[@lisaburnage]

Brilliant. Just Brilliant. You are a woman for the future Mary! We need more like you to lead the way. Loved "Work Like A Woman". 👏👏

[@katybaggott9362]

‘Restore, regenerate, respect’ and ‘kindness is not soft, it is STRONG!’ - amazing messages I’ll be spreading around the financial industry I’m currently part of!!!

[@thedustiev1]

Captivating from start to finish.... I've been a longtime fan. I've great respect for someone who has had it tough but worked their way to the top and never loses their values but integrates them into everything they do 👏

[@kayhealdhr]

Thank you, Mary, for helping put kindness 'central stage' - it's about time businesses recognised the importance of kindness, authenticity, collaboration and empathy in the world of work! Long overdue!

[@nicoleagostini9447]

Love her!!!!!!

[@curtwall7089]

Mary is a legend

[@jennisutherland577]

Faith in human kindness restored. The power of one becomes the power of many😘

[@raymondsinclair4]

More Mary portas , I loved her in the bakery episode lol

[@marciamendesacademy]

Mulher incrivel

[@helenburdett6570]

Well said 👍🌟🌈

[@forced-into-Google-Handle]

Well I always look for real examples and she mentioned letting the guy go on leave to a sick grandmother for a month. That was nice and something businesses should do. What worries me is how much can be FAKED. Already Wall Street has funds of companies that are ESG compliant (ecology, society governance)
So some entity has already approved scores of biz's. What criteria? An article mentioned that few of these companies have serious ecology policies
Huge problem I see as many naive ppl have already signed off on weak companies. For example many say Nike is good for it's BLM stands but they employ a cheap labor throughout Asia and overpriced their shoes for working people 😣! And how is Starbucks really considered ecological, when I was younger coffee didn't have plastic lids... There's no way to ensure their huge cups are recycled! Are distressed jeans made in ecological ways ?? Sure let's jump on the wagon of this movement... But verify that leadership actually upholds people's values 😄👍

[@puneetupadhyay19]

First view😀

[@hyena131]

Possibly more vile than sarah millican...

[@wibblywobblytimeywimey4669]

You seem very vile putting a horrible comment like that.

[@hunkhk]

whats your problem with either of these lovely ladies?