How Purposeful Living Can Keep Your Business ALIVE w/ Kevin Withane | Lost and Searching EP7

Written By Seven Jacobs

Have you ever felt like you're just existing, rather than living? New business leaders fall into so many TRAPS, from why they get up to do what they do, to how they do what they do. Today, we explore both.

Kevin Withane is the founder of Ikigai Legal, a consultancy that produces legal and strategy services to startups, scaleups, SMEs, and VC; helping them from idea, through growth, to exit. Kevin is also the Founder and CEO of Diversity X, a community that supports underestimated founders with anything they need, wherever they are and works to create opportunities for them to access capital. He’s also on a mission to create the next 10 thousand angels made up of predominately women and people of colour.

Here are some of my reflections on the episode:

Purpose-Driven Leadership

Kevin emphasizes that purpose-driven leadership isn’t just about having a mission statement—it's about making sure every decision aligns with the values you care about most. For entrepreneurs, especially those in their early stages, purpose can act as a guiding star, helping them navigate the highs and lows of business growth. Kevin's work through Diversity X shows how businesses that embrace purpose are more resilient, a theme also explored in many of our leadership discussions on Seven Jacobs Resources.

Walking the Talk

One of the standout points in this episode is Kevin’s belief in "walking the talk." He explains how leaders need to lead by example, especially when it comes to creating diverse and inclusive work environments. It’s not enough to simply advocate for diversity—leaders must be intentional in their actions to foster an environment where everyone feels valued. Kevin shares his own journey of creating Diversity X to help underestimated founders, demonstrating how purpose can inspire positive change across industries.

Balancing Profit with Purpose

A crucial takeaway from Kevin’s insights is that purpose and profit aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, when a business’s actions align with its purpose, it creates a more authentic connection with customers and employees alike. Kevin challenges the notion that businesses must sacrifice profitability for purpose, showing that these two can coexist and, in many cases, enhance each other. If you're interested in exploring how to balance values and business growth, check out more of our leadership content here.

The Importance of Family and Personal Balance

Kevin also touches on the importance of balancing work and personal life, especially for leaders. Purpose isn’t just something you apply to your business—it’s a philosophy that should extend to all aspects of life, including your personal relationships. He discusses how leaders can achieve this balance by staying grounded in what truly matters to them, a key component to long-term success and fulfillment.

Final Thoughts: Kevin Withane’s conversation offers invaluable insights into how purposeful living can transform both leadership and business. By aligning values with actions, leaders can build businesses that are not only profitable but also sustainable and impactful. To dive deeper into Kevin's wisdom and learn more about living and leading with purpose, tune in to the full episode!

GUEST LINKS

  • DIVERSITY-X - Kevin's community for underestimated founders: https://www.diversityx.vc/

  • IKIGAI LEGAL - Kevin's Legal Support For SMEs: https://www.Ikigailegal.com

  • LINKEDIN: http://linkedin.com/in/kevinwithane

HOST LINKS

SHOW LINKS

Seven Jacobs
Previous

Common Leadership is FAILING Us - An Introduction The Show w/ Seven Jacobs | Lost and Searching EP8
Next

The Story New Business Leaders NEED To Hear w/ Tom Adeyoola | Lost and Searching EP6