The corporate attire, conferencing suites in chain hotels, and the “hustle and grind”-esque speeches about “lead generation” (I hate that term) are all things that I have always found uninspiring. However, hope was restored when the opportunity arose for me to attend the Purpose Conference this year and I wanted to share this experience with you.

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Why I wanted to attend Purpose 2023

Before I do this, I would like to share some background information as to why I wanted to attend in the first place. My passion for Purpose-Led businesses began in 2019 (3 years into my recruitment career), I met with Alchemy One, who was just….different. They told me all about their business and how it was started because they truly wanted to do things in a new way, they truly cared about climate change, their employee’s well-being and how they could make a tangible impact with the work they did, and the work they wouldn’t do. One of their pain points was finding talent that not only had the hard skills to do the work but genuinely shared their values and truly resonated with working for an organisation that balanced purpose with profit. That meeting sparked something within me that I have been building on ever since. Why was this so groundbreaking to me? Why can’t all businesses be like this? When working with these types of clients, work doesn’t feel like work to me. I genuinely love to identify and connect with marketers who are looking to make a difference with their skills, and who genuinely care about making the world a better place for all. This is not just from a sustainability perspective (though this is an extremely important element), it is about equality, social justice, transparency and authenticity.

It is often hard for some people to reconcile that an agency recruiter would be genuinely concerned with matters outside of KPIs, margins, targets, and general posturing, and I sense the unease when I tell people what I do for a living, it is like trying to convince someone you are an ethical Politician or Arms Dealer, but I genuinely care so much about the types of businesses I work with.

So, when the chance to work for TalentWeb, a B Corp Certified recruitment agency came up, I knew this was a match made in heaven. I am only just getting started, but I have so many opportunities to further immerse myself into working with organisations and individuals that truly use business as a force for good.

Purpose Conference was the gold standard in this regard, an interactive, immersive event that brought together humans from all walks of life and many industries, united by one core element, passion for purpose.

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Discovering a Different Kind of Conference Experience

Stepping into the conference venue, The Carriageworks, you could feel a positive atmosphere. Networking here wasn’t just about exchanging business cards; it featured genuine conversations where connections formed naturally. This atmosphere reflected a collective eagerness to learn and collaborate and most importantly, listen.

Throughout the day, impromptu conversations with professionals from other industries served as a reminder that valuable insights often come from different perspectives.The Purpose Conference went beyond the typical event experience; it created a sense of community among individuals dedicated to purpose-driven work.

The two-day event offered several key takeaways for me both personally and professionally: 

• Purpose as the New Normal: Rethinking the boundaries of “normal” and how some purpose-driven businesses have broken the mould and paved the way for purpose to become the mainstream.

• Nature’s Impact on Well-being: Discussions around the benefits of nature to inspire our creativity, get back to basics and reduce stress.

• The Power of Social Enterprises: I was deeply moved by the presentation from We are Warriors, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering Indigenous youth, this really highlighted the true impact of social enterprises in inspiring meaningful social change. This was extremely confronting and I took so much away from this.

• Climate Adaptation Realities: Digby Hall’s discussion on climate adaptation emphasised the urgency of sustainable practices and the pivotal role businesses can play in addressing climate change.

• “Rest as Resistance” – This workshop came at the right time for me, as someone who is constantly juggling many priorities and cannot rest, this highlighted how we can achieve more by slowing down.

I could go on, but to conclude, The Purpose Conference 2023 was more than a two-day event and extends far beyond the parameters of the venue. The connections made, the insights gathered, and the shared commitment to purposeful work underscored the importance of continuous learning and collaboration in our ever-evolving professional landscape. I cannot wait for next year’s event.

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Contact Us

If you would like more information on how TalentWeb can support your business with recruitment beyond merely matching skills, please do not hesitate to connect with me or email natalia.sawran@talentweb.com.au.

At TalentWeb we have a shared passion for ensuring organisations with notable missions have access to skilled people with shared values who can drive missions forward with true passion!