The Power of Mission and Values in Action

On Tuesday 11th of March, RSPCA Hull & East Riding delivered an engaging Talent+ session on Embedding Values in Leadership, led by CEO Fred Owen and Matthew Wright.

Talent+ is a professional and social network dedicated to empowering individuals across the Humber region by fostering personal growth, knowledge sharing, and meaningful connections. This session was a perfect example of its mission, providing practical insights for leaders looking to align their teams with a clear purpose.

The morning began with Fred Owen's opening remarks, where he shared valuable perspectives on workplace culture and leadership. Referencing the phrase “Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast”, he emphasised the idea that while strategy provides direction, it is culture that determines long-term success.

Following this, Matthew Wright led an interactive session exploring how decision-making, partnerships, and communication can be shaped by organisational values. Using RSPCA Hull & East Riding’s HEART values - Humanity, Excellence, Accountability, Responsiveness, and Teamwork - as a case study, he demonstrated how businesses can embed values into everyday operations rather than leaving them as words on a page.

The session was highly interactive, with attendees taking part in discussions and exercises designed to help them reflect on their own organisational values. Key themes included the importance of ensuring leadership decisions align with core values, the role of a clear vision in guiding teams, and practical strategies for overcoming barriers that prevent values from influencing workplace culture.

The event provided a space for meaningful conversations and tangible takeaways, leaving attendees with new perspectives and actionable tools. Talent+ will continue to offer development opportunities like this, helping professionals across the Humber region build purpose-driven leadership skills.