Rules for good leadership

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work directly with a number of leaders. I define these as people who lead their own teams and organisations. What makes some of them good leaders? My answer is personal and subjective. Note the “some of them” reference. Being good at your profession does not necessarily … Read more

About Ben Matthews

Hello, I’m Ben Matthews Based in London Co-Founder and Director at Empower Brief summary of my story so far: Contact me Want to ask me something? Email me at [email protected] Book My book, Freelance in 30 Days, is out now

About

Hello, I’m Ben Matthews Based in London Co-Founder and Director at Empower Brief summary of my story so far: Contact me Want to ask me something? Email me at [email protected] Book My book, Freelance in 30 Days, is out now

What is life as a freelancer like?

What’s it like to live life as a freelancer? It’s liberating and exciting… scary and stressful. Earning a living as a freelancer isn’t easy, but with some forethought, planning, and a touch of luck, you can make it happen! Pretty soon you’ll be setting your own hours, and working in your underwear! Freelancers Are The … Read more

What should a 2013 not-for-profit look like?

The good people behind OpenTech 2013 posed a great question as one of their potential sessions for the event happening on 18th May in London: What should a 2013 not-for-profit look like? It caught my eye a few weeks ago and I’ve been pondering it ever since, not only because I’ve had experience in starting … Read more

Balancing the Positivity Around Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a well-known concept for most people, thanks to sites such as Kickstarter. Headlines of consumer products, such as the Pebble, to films, apps and games getting funded – with no apparent downsides – are everywhere. So when I was asked to write a piece on the "negative" side of crowdfunding, which would be … Read more

This Is An Insight: Social Media Week and Quiet Success

Social Media Week 2013 has kicked off in London this week. The team at Chinwag have put together a fantastic schedule of events for Social Media Week. The companies and attendees they’ve attracted are world class. They’ve done a brilliant job once again. But already there’s been a Tumblr set up calling people out on their mundane, … Read more

Nesta’s Innovation in Giving Fund Videos

I’ve recently been working on a funding application for Bright One and Bright Works to Nesta’s Innovation in Giving fund, which aims to invest in, support and grow innovative ideas that bring about a step-change in levels of giving and exchange and which have a credible route to being self-sustaining in the longer term. Part of the … Read more

Video: the next big communications tool

Videos can be a powerful communications tool which can convey the messages of your organisation in a dynamic, genuine and engaging way. Social causes can benefit from video in many ways, including volunteer recruitment. demonstrating social impact by showing happy volunteers and clients, and as a promotional tool to raise money. With the rise of … Read more

Watsi becomes Y Combinator’s First Nonprofit Investment

Watsi, “an online peer-to-peer crowdfunding platform that allows users to fund life-changing medical treatments for underserved people in developing countries”, has become the first nonprofit that the start-up incubator Y Combinator has chosen to invest in. Perhaps one of the reasons that Watsi are the first non-profit to become part of Y Combinator is because … Read more