What does it mean to be a changemaker?

Written by Paul Major on 29 Aug, 2023

At changemaker, we believe it’s necessary for us to grow as individuals, organisations and as a society, but boy, can it be difficult!  

changemaker was created because we had seen and experienced far too many change programmes that fell short of their desired outcomes, resulting in burnt out, disillusioned people and disappointed stakeholders.  

We couldn’t stand by and watch as organisations and individuals around us struggled to make change happen. We also passionately believed that real, sustainable change only happens when you focus on the people at the heart of your change. 

Whilst external influences like technology or markets may trigger or enable change, it’s people who determine how quickly change happens, whether it’s successful and whether it lasts. 

Building a network of change makers 

We set out to build a team that could make a real difference, helping our clients realise sustainable change based on our combined real-world experience gained over many years.  

We knew we had an amazing network of like-minded, trusted colleagues who had the skills, experience and desire to help others realise sustainable change. Our challenge was to bring these colleagues together and release their full potential. 

Our changemaker associate network was formed, and today provides us with a talent pool of over 200 seasoned professionals we can call upon. 

 The team has an awesome depth of expertise in all aspects of change, including: 

• Large-scale programme management 
• Building and running PMO’s 
• Organisational transformation and business psychology 
• Individual coaching and mentoring 
• Exploring and navigating new change strategies 
• Implementing new technologies and ways of working 
  

But most of all, our highly diverse team of associates all share a collective approach built on our core values: 

#1 Humanity 

Recognising and deeply valuing the importance of the human being in all we do. 

#2 Integrity 

Always saying what we believe you need to hear, not what you might want to hear. 

#3 Relationship 

Building enduring relationships based on mutuality of purpose and shared values. 

#4 Respect 

Understanding we are all different and that this diversity is a great strength of any team. 

What makes changemaker different? 

Building a “network of resources” doesn’t necessarily differentiate us from many consultancies or agencies that already exist. What makes us different is how we engage with our network, reinforced by our focus on placing people at the heart of everything we do. 

We set out to create a changemaker family, where we could share opportunities, work together to achieve common goals, and support each other to develop and grow.  

We wanted to ensure our associates maintained their independence whilst still being part of a larger team that would support, challenge, encourage and advise them - or just be a place to have some fun! 

Being part of the changemaker family comes in many different forms. It might be one of Dave’s infamous “coffee and cake” chats, joining one of our Teams calls where we bring an SME along to talk on a specific subject, or just joining one of our co-working days like the one we recently hosted in Maidenhead. 

These events create a sense of belonging and being part of something bigger than ourselves, and allow us to explore new ideas, build new relationships, and grow our network of trusted changemaker family members. 

Let’s grow together 

It’s been a great journey so far that has seen us do some amazing work with associates and clients. The way we work may not be right for everyone, but it is for us.  

If this sounds like something you would like to be involved with, or if you would like to hear more about how we can help you realise sustainable change, connect with any of the team via LinkedIn or send a message to info@changemaker.org.uk - we would love to chat!