I have just returned from an inspiring week in London at the 2026 American Express Leadership Academy, delivered in partnership with Common Purpose.
It brought together 74 non-profit leaders from 19 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. That alone was pretty special. The room was full of people leading organisations and movements tackling health inequality, poverty, education, climate, social justice, community development and many other complex challenges.
What made the week so valuable was not just the content, although that was excellent. It was the space to step out of the day-to-day, think properly, listen deeply, and be challenged by people who understand what it means to lead with purpose when the world around us feels increasingly complex.
For me, it came at exactly the right time.
At Bridge2Aid, our work is all about partnership. We work with dental professionals, dental businesses, universities, Ministries of Health, local dental associations, community organisations and local health teams. Our mission is practical and focused: to improve access to oral health education, prevention and care in communities where that access is limited.
But like many charities, we are also constantly asking bigger questions.
- How do we grow our impact without losing what makes us effective?
- How do we build partnerships that are genuinely shared, not just well-intentioned?
- How do we use technology well without losing the human relationships at the heart of our work?
- How do we tell the story of need and impact in a way that is honest, respectful and compelling?
- And how do we keep learning, adapting and improving when the need is so great?
Those questions sat with me throughout the week.
Leadership with honesty and humility
The fireside chats were real highlights.
Christy Turlington Burns spoke about her journey as a global maternal health advocate and Founder and President of Every Mother Counts. What stood out for me was the clarity of purpose behind her work, but also the humility. She spoke about listening, learning and staying close to the communities at the centre of the mission.
Ruth Rogers, co-founder of The River Café, brought a very different but equally powerful perspective on leadership, culture and values. The reminder I took from her session was that excellence is not accidental. It is built through consistency, care, high standards and the environment you create for others.
Ronny Turiaf, NBA Champion and philanthropist, spoke with enormous warmth and energy. His reflections on resilience, empathy, teamwork and using your platform for good were a reminder that leadership is not just about position. It is about how you show up, what you do with your influence, and who you bring with you.
Each of them shared their leadership journey with honesty, humour and generosity. None of it felt polished in a distant way. It felt human. And that is often where the most useful learning sits.
The power and challenge of collaboration
One of the biggest themes for me was collaboration.
In the voluntary sector, we talk about collaboration a lot. But genuine collaboration is hard. It asks us to slow down, to share power, to be honest about what we can and cannot do, and to resist the temptation to protect our own organisational space too tightly.
That is not always easy when funding is competitive, teams are stretched and the need feels urgent.
But the week reinforced something I believe strongly: we cannot solve complex problems in isolation.
In oral health, this is especially true. Access to dental care is not just a clinical issue. It is connected to poverty, education, geography, workforce, public health, prevention, policy and community trust. That is why Bridge2Aid’s work depends on strong local ownership and partnership. We do not go into countries or communities to “deliver” a solution on our own. We work with the people and systems already there, adding value where we can and learning from local expertise.
The same applies to our relationships with dental businesses. The best partnerships are not just about sponsorship or logos. They are about shared purpose, practical contribution and long-term thinking. Dental businesses have skills, people, networks and influence that can make a real difference when channelled well.
One of my takeaways from the week is that we need to keep being braver and clearer about asking: what could we do together that none of us could do alone?
Staying laser-focused
I also felt really privileged to spend an afternoon with Pam Orchard, CEO of The Connection at St Martin’s. It was a brilliant opportunity to learn from an organisation doing extraordinary work with people experiencing homelessness in the heart of London. What struck me most was their focus. In a setting where there are so many needs, so many pressures and so many things they could try to do, they are incredibly clear about where they can make the greatest difference. Their support is practical, compassionate and laser-focused on helping people take the next step towards safety, stability and dignity. It was also a reminder that good leadership is often about knowing what not to do, as much as what to do.
AI, storytelling and staying human
A huge thank you to Microsoft’s Akansha Kochar for an excellent workshop on maximising AI in the voluntary sector.
It was practical, thoughtful and very relevant. Many charities are still working out how AI can help us without distracting us from our core mission. The session gave me useful ways to think about where AI can save time, improve insight, support communication and help teams make better use of limited capacity.
But it also raised important challenges.
AI is not a strategy. It is not a substitute for lived experience, local knowledge or human judgement. Used well, it can help us work more effectively. Used badly, it can distance us from the people we exist to serve.
For small charities in particular, the opportunity is exciting. But we need to approach it with curiosity and care. The question is not simply, “How can we use AI?” It is, “How can we use it responsibly to increase our impact, free up capacity and strengthen our relationships?”
I also really valued the storytelling workshop and coaching from Dr Leon Lloyd.
Storytelling is something we talk about often in the charity sector, but it is not always easy to do well. There is a responsibility that comes with telling stories about people, communities and need. We have to inspire action without simplifying people’s lives or reducing them to the challenges they face.
That is something I think about a lot at Bridge2Aid.
Our stories need to show the reality of oral health inequality, but also the dignity, strength and leadership of the communities and health workers we partner with. Good storytelling should not just make people feel sorry. It should help people understand, connect and act.
Dr Lloyd’s session was a powerful reminder that authentic storytelling is not about performance. It is about truth, clarity and connection.
What I am taking back to Bridge2Aid
I have come away with plenty of ideas, but also a few clear challenges to myself.
Firstly, to keep building partnerships that are genuinely mutual. That means listening well, being clear about where Bridge2Aid can add value, and making sure local ownership remains central to our work.
Secondly, to keep widening the circle. Some of the most energising conversations during the week came from people working in completely different sectors. It reminded me that we can learn a lot when we step outside our usual professional networks.
Thirdly, to make better use of technology without losing the human relationships that make our work meaningful. AI, data and digital tools can help us, but they should serve the mission, not become the mission.
Fourthly, to tell our story with more confidence. Oral health can still be overlooked in global health, yet poor oral health affects pain, nutrition, education, work, confidence and wider wellbeing. We need to keep making that case clearly, especially to partners who can help us grow the impact of our work.
And finally, to keep asking better questions. Not just “What can we do next?” but “What is needed?”, “Who needs to be involved?”, “What would make this sustainable?” and “Are we being ambitious enough?”
A week of connection and possibility
Above all, it was a privilege to learn alongside 74 exceptional leaders from across the third sector in EMEA.
The conversations were honest, generous and energising. There was a real sense that although our organisations are different, many of the leadership challenges are shared. We are all trying to do meaningful work in a world that needs more collaboration, more courage and more imagination.
I am leaving London with fresh perspectives, practical ideas, and a renewed appreciation for the power of purpose-driven leadership.
A huge thank you to American Express and Common Purpose for creating such a thoughtful and inspiring week. Thank you also to the speakers, facilitators, moderators and contributors who gave their time and insight so generously.
And to the cohort: thank you for the conversations, encouragement, challenge and laughter. I am excited to see where the connections made this week will lead.
For Bridge2Aid, the learning comes back with me. More partnership. More collaboration. More confident storytelling. More curiosity. And a renewed commitment to growing our impact in a way that is purposeful, practical and rooted in the communities we serve.
To finish with an excellent quote from one of my new friends! “Compassion leads …. courage follows”
