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Carolyn Butler-Madden

Australia - NSW
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Carolyn believes a healthy planet and shared prosperity depend on building purpose-driven business as a force for good. 

After a 30-year career in Ad Land - riding the highs and lows of agency life, including 17 years running her own agency - she's now thriving in her second act as a purpose activist. 

A leading authority and award-winning author on brand and organisational purpose, she has spent the past 10 years deeply immersed in this space. Her B Corp-certified consultancy, The Cause Effect, two books, and For Love & Money podcast are all dedicated to helping business leaders drive meaningful change. Her thought leadership has featured in Forbes Australia, CEO World Magazine, and more.

As a keynote speaker, Carolyn blends bold thinking and commercial realism with humour and humanity. She shares powerful stories of businesses changing the world - alongside her own extraordinary life experiences, including crossing war borders for love and once being mistakenly suspected as a drug lord.

Her mantra, "Profit with purpose," underpins her mission to inspire and empower leaders to build businesses that deliver impact, performance, and personal fulfilment.

Carolyn is based in Sydney.

Speaking topics

LEADING WITH PURPOSE
How to build a resilient, profitable and trusted business in a changing world

In a time of disruption and uncertainty, purpose is more than a guiding principle - it's a competitive advantage. Learn how to lead with purpose to drive resilience, trust, and sustainable growth while building a brand people genuinely care about.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Discover how a clear, authentic purpose builds loyalty, trust, an adaptability across stakeholders.
  • Learn how purpose-driven leadership unlocks new opportunities for innovation, growth, and strategic clarity.
  • Understand how to differentiate your brand beyond price and product functionality to build enduring stakeholder relationships.
  • Gain a practical framework to align leadership, culture, brand, and business strategy around a purpose that drives results.

IGNITING PURPOSE-DRIVEN TEAMS
Start with WHO to attract, retain, inspire and empower your people

In a world of talent shortages and disengagement, organisational purpose is your most powerful lever for culture and performance. This session shows how to connect your people to a shared identity and purpose - driving engagement, retention, and impact from the inside out.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Learn how to reduce turnover and energise teams by connecting work to a deeper sense of meaning and shared identity.
  • Discover the "Start with WHO" framework to foster belonging, alignment, and intrinsic motivation.
  • Explore how a purpose-led culture improves wellbeing, collaboration, and performance.
  • Take away actionable tools to embed purpose into daily operations, leadership behaviours, and internal communications.

NOTE: This keynote can be customised for leaders and/or teams themselves.

Testimonials

Carolyn delivered an outstanding presentation on purpose-led organisations at the IPA Member Summit, leaving a strong impact on everyone in attendance.
Chief Operating Officer, Independent Pharmacies of Australia (IPA)

Carolyn is the subject matter expert on purpose with profit. She's exceptional at outlining why companies should uncover their why and sharing what great looks like.
Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer, Blooms The Chemist

She was able to draw on her years of experience to produce a tailored, relevant and thought provoking presentation (to the Vodafone Foundation Board).
Head of Vodafone Foundation

Carolyn was terrific, completely engaging and committed to making a difference.
Associate Director Publicity & Promotions, Twentieth Century Entertainment

Carolyn Butler-Madden's keynote was amazing. I could have listen to her for hours.
Trainer at Pharmacy Assistants National Conference 2024

An enjoyable and memorable experience.
GM Culture, Inclusion, Capability & Change, TPG Telecom

Carolyn Butler-Madden speaker
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