Good Business Podcast
The Good Business podcast series goes beyond the bottom line and examines the ethical, social and environment responsibilities of businesses.
Our podcast host is Dr Laura Steele, Lecturer in Business and Society and QBS Director of Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability.
Throughout the series Laura is joined by a number of expert guests, from academic experts to ethical business professionals, to discuss issues pressing on the business world today.
Episode 1 - Ethics, Human Rights and Sustainability at M&S
The first episode features a discussion on human rights with Glenn Bradley, Chair of the Northern Ireland Business & Human Rights Forum; and sustainability with Louise Nicholls, Corporate Head of Human Rights, Food Sustainability and Food Packaging at Marks and Spencer.
Episode 2 - How to build a social enterprise featuring Madlug
What is a social enterprise and what value do they add to society? How can you build a successful social enterprise and what challenges might you encounter along the way? In the second episode we explore these questions and more with Dave Linton, founder of the award winning social enterprise Madlug, and Dr Karen Bonner, Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at the School.
Episode 3 - Sustainability in TV production
When you settle down to watch your favourite boxset or the latest must-see TV drama, have you ever wondered about the environmental impact of getting it to the screen? In the third episode of the QBS Good Business Podcast we explore this issue with Jeremy Mathieu, International Manager at Albert and Sustainability Advisor at the BBC.
Episode 4 - Data ethics: is it all in the detail?
How concerned should we really be about how our personal data is collected and used by organisations? Are there circumstances where it can actually be beneficial to us? Dr Laura Steele explores these questions and more with Kathryn Torney, journalist and editor of the multi-award winning news and analysis website The Detail, and Dr Byron Graham, Lecturer in Business Analytics and Programme Director of the new MSc in Business Analytics at Queen’s Business School.
Episode 5 - The role of HR in promoting gender equality in the workplace
In this special episode for International Women’s Day, Dr Laura Steele discusses the role of Human Resources in promoting gender equality in the workplace with Jill Minne, Strategic HR Director for the Northern Ireland Civil Service, and Dr Denise Currie, Senior Lecturer and Programme Director of the MSc in Human Resource Management at Queen’s Business School.
Episode 6 - Photography ethics and social enterprise
Photographic technology has advanced at an astonishing rate, and individuals and organisations have been left grappling with a host of accompanying ethical concerns. In this episode of the QBS Good Business Podcast, Dr Laura Steele is joined by Savannah Dodd, academic, social entrepreneur, and founder of the Photography Ethics Centre to discuss these issues and more.
Episode 7 - Food sustainability and waste
Each year it is estimated that a staggering one third of the food produced globally goes to waste. At the same time, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation states that around 10.7% of the global population are suffering from chronic undernourishment. In this episode of the QBS Good Business Podcast, Dr Laura Steele is joined by Kerry Melville of the Belfast Food Network, and Jilly Dougan, author, activist, and entrepreneur for a wide-ranging discussion around these issues.
Episode 8 - Closing the disability employment gap
There is a clearly reported ‘disability employment gap’. Unfortunately, the challenges don’t end once someone with a disability secures as job as evidence suggests that they are over-represented in low skilled jobs, more likely to work in jobs for which they are overqualified, and have reduced access to career progression opportunities. But why should businesses be concerned about closing the gap? In this episode, Laura Steele is joined by Sean Fitzsimons, Employment Advocacy Coordinator at Disability Action, to discuss.
Episode 9 - Renewable energy and entrepreneurship
The International Panel on Climate Change has set an ambitious target of ensuring that 85% of electricity is derived from renewable sources by 2050. But, with a global economy that still largely runs on carbon-based sources, what would that mean for both businesses, as well as individuals? In this episode, Dr Laura Steele is joined by David Surplus, Director of the B9 Energy Group who, in 2015, was awarded an OBE for his pioneering work within the field of renewable energy, to discuss entrepreneurship, climate change, and ‘good energy’.
Episode 10 - Mental health, wellbeing, and work
The average person will spend approximately 90,000 hours at work over the course of their lifetime. However, research indicates that workers are reporting increasing levels of stress and job-related burnout. How can organisations best support their staff and what can we as individuals do to protect our own mental health? In this episode, we are joined by leading experts on mental health and work to discuss cutting edge research, practical tips, and innovative new tools that can help us improve and protect our mental health.
Episode 11 - How do you make a 'good' cup of tea?
What makes a ‘good’ cup of tea in terms of ethics, social responsibility, and sustainability? There have long been concerns around these issues within the tea industry, with reports of very poor pay, child labour, and appalling working conditions leaving many consumers with a bitter aftertaste. In this episode, founder of Suki Tea, Annie Irwin, joins Dr Laura Steele to discuss how to make a ‘better brew’ that respects both people and planet.