Why business resilience is the new social impact, with Nyika Brain

If you are looking for a bit of purpose-led leadership inspiration and personal development – take a listen. Sustainability and social impact leader Nyika Brain, joins the Social Impact Pioneers podcast to share her experiences in global supply chains, delivering impact through business and explains why resilience is the new social impact and could be the way to navigate CSR and ESG challenges. Born in Malawi and shaped by her experiences across the Global South, Nyika offers a unique, real-world perspective on how business can — and must — be a force for good. From leading ESG at MM Flowers (a major supplier to UK retailers like M&S) to strategic roles at the bank Barclays and the supermarket Waitrose, she brings deep insights into how to embed impact into core business strategy. Nyika is a trustee of The One Foundation and John Lewis Partnership Foundation, and a key voice in the Business Fights Poverty Global Expert Network. Her philosophy? “Social risk is business risk. Managing this risk builds resilience – it’s fundamental to core business and social impact.” In this episode, we explore: 🔹 Why resilience is the most important lens for social impact in 2025 🔹 What businesses often get wrong about supply chain risk — and how to fix it 🔹 The power of genuine partnerships, good governance, and listening to communities 🔹 How to lead through complexity, build coalitions, and make long-term impact stick 🔹 Why personal resilience is essential for every social impact leader Whether you're in ESG, procurement, philanthropy, or just figuring out how to lead with purpose — this episode is packed with practical advice and hard-won wisdom. Nyika’s grounded, global voice is one every purpose-driven professional needs to hear right now. Links: Business Fights Poverty and Five Bridges to take social impact forward: https://businessfightspoverty.org/five-bridges-to-2045-how-business-can-deliver-a-fairer-more-resilient-world/ Business-NGO Partnerships for Social Impact, With Diageo and Care - https://businessfightspoverty.org/business-ngo-partnerships-for-social-impact-with-diageo-and-care/ Business Fights Poverty AI powered social impact data finder: https://businessfightspoverty.org/insight-navigator/