In this episode of the Equal Futures podcast, Lea Jovy (Founder & CEO of Mission Equality CIC) and Valentina Thörner (Head of Operations at Mission Equality CIC) discuss the evolution of remote work, the importance of relationships in a remote setting, and how intentional culture can enhance wellbeing.

They explore the dynamics of trust and flexibility within teams, the challenges of navigating freedom and responsibility, and the significance of policies in fostering a cohesive work environment. The conversation also delves into broader societal themes, questioning how we can design a more equal world and what the future of work might look like in terms of human connection and purpose.

If you're curious about the perspectives we share when it comes to building our own remote company, Mission Equality CIC, differently, this episode is for you,.

Why do so many progressive organisations - those that talk about equality, decolonisation and doing things differently - still end up recreating the same toxic workplace dynamics they set out to dismantle?

In this episode, Lea Jovy pulls back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood levers of systemic change: organisational culture. Drawing on years of work with leadership teams across the UK, US and Europe, she exposes how even the most values-driven organisations can drift into misalignment - and what it really takes to live your values, not just list them.

From the hidden friction between personal and organisational values, to the recruitment-retention trap of “progressive” workplaces, Lea unpacks the deeper systemic and psychological forces shaping culture inside modern organisations.

If you’ve ever wondered why your team feels off, why your impact has stalled, or why “radical transparency” can backfire, this is your wake-up call.

Listen to learn:

• Why culture happens whether you design it or not

• How individual misalignment quietly undermines collective change

• The invisible cycle of hiring idealists and burning them out

• What real values alignment looks like—and how to operationalise it

This episode is a must-listen for founders, leaders, and change-makers serious about building organisations that actually embody equality, not just aspire to it.

We talk about “owning” everything - homes, companies, even our children’s futures - as if ownership were the default 'natural'.

But what if this very idea is the root of our disconnection from each other, and from the planet itself?

In this episode, Lea Jovy dismantles one of capitalism’s most sacred constructs: ownership. From colonial history to corporate boardrooms, she traces how ownership has shaped our systems, language and relationships - and argues for a radical shift toward guardianship and stewardship instead.

Through the lens of the individual, the collective and the systemic, Lea explores how this shift could redefine how we parent, lead, build organisations and live on the Earth itself.

Listen to learn:

• Why “ownership” is a colonial construct - and why it still rules us.

• The illusion of security and control it creates.

• How language like “my house,” “my team,” or “my child” reinforces hierarchy.

• What stewardship offers as a more equal, sustainable alternative.

A provocative reframe for anyone serious about reimagining life beyond capitalism.