The Lens – UK Responsible Business Podcast

In this episode our host Oli Barrett introduces Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy and Deal Crafter at The Craftory, Olivia Cramer to discuss challenger brands, rebellious entrepreneurs, green energy and cause-driven business. 

The three discuss how businesses can and should better reflect their customer base, what the future of energy might look like on a global scale and how to invest in good causes without offsetting others. 

Oli asks our guests about their first foray into business, the challenges, the journey and what they’ve learned along the way. From the climate crisis to LGBTQ+ representation, this episode covers a lot. Of course, our host also asks our guests for their book recommendations for The Lens’ growing bookshelf, and who they’d most like to meet for coffee.

Olivia and Greg put their own questions to one another and share the advice they’d most like to have given themselves. Both at the forefront of business innovation, this part of our conversation makes for some insights worth taking note of. 

What might the future look like with green energy supplying every household? How can businesses acknowledge and reflect the diversity of consumers? And what is social impact investing? Find out in Season 3 Episode 2 of The Lens podcast. Let’s get to the conversation...

Greg is the Founder and CEO of Octopus Energy. He is also a Non-Executive director of Zopa, the world’s first peer-to-peer lender, and Consultant Connect, which brings expertise to primary care. He is also an investor in several technology startups. Previously Greg built C360, which was sold to the Tangent group. He also joined Procter & Gamble as a Brand Manager and also built HomeServe’s innovation business. Greg began working life as a video games programmer before going on to study economics at Cambridge University, graduating in 1994.

Olivia eschews convention in favour of solutions that stick, be that in her volunteer work with refugee children in Calais or when working with NGOs helping scale-ups in Beirut. Olivia has experience working with early and growth-stage ventures, and is a Deal Crafter Extraordinaire at The Craftory. Passionate about helping improve the world through social impact investing in FMCG, Olivia believes that small differences across large volumes can have outsized impacts.

Olivia's addition to The Lens Reading list is Trick Mirror by Gia Tolontino. Gia is a staff writer for the New Yorker and her book, a series of essays, focuses on the modern experience of being a woman and our relationship with the Internet.

Greg's pick for the bookshelf is More with Less, the biography of Paul McCready, world gliding champion. A book all about the efficiency of flight, zero energy, human-powered aircraft, olympians and design. Of the book, Greg says, "this summed up for me bringing together the limits of what’s possible in every way inhuman endeavour and achievement."

Powered by Fujitsu, supported by McCann and in partnership with One Young World, The Lens represents the breadth, diversity and priorities of the responsible business agenda. From gender equality to zero hours contracts, learning on the factory floor to activist businesses, The Lens covers a range of topics from a host of varying perspectives. 

Each episode brings together a business and future leader to foster disruptive conversations and fresh connections. Innovators and CEOs join Oli Barrett in the studio for a unique conversation covering their journeys, lessons learned, advice, insight and of course, the inspirational person they’d most like to meet for coffee. 

Business in the Community is The Prince's Responsible Business Network. We convene a unique network of purposeful leaders to share insight, expertise and create innovative programmes that deliver impact. Together our ambition is to make the UK the world leader at responsible business. 

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