When it comes to taking meaningful action on modern slavery and labour exploitation, leadership doesn’t always sit in the corner office.
It’s not about your title, your office, or how many people report to you.
It’s about the courage to act, the curiosity to ask better questions, and the commitment to change things, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Some of the most powerful leaders I’ve met in this space aren’t the CEOs or business owners. They’re people like you and me — people who believe workers in supply chains matter, who know exploitation has no place in the way we do business, and who step forward to do something about it in a meaningful way.
They also understand this: addressing modern slavery is not going away.
Governments around the world are introducing modern slavery legislation or human rights due diligence laws.
The investment community is demanding action.
Big business wants to protect its reputation—and as part of their supply chain, you have the power to strengthen it or weaken it.
Requirements to address modern slavery now appear in tenders, contracts, and supplier onboarding.
And the best leaders see not only the moral imperative, but also the competitive advantage of doing the right thing.
Let’s explore what it really looks like to have the courage to act on Modern Slavery in your supply chain.
What Leadership Looks Like in This Space
Leadership in addressing modern slavery begins with the person who says, “We need to act.”
It’s not about already having solved the problem or knowing all the answers - it’s about choosing Meaningful Action over inaction or mere compliance.
Too often, companies approach modern slavery by ticking a box, thinking a policy or modern slavery statement is enough. True leaders know that change requires connection, curiosity, commitment, courage and collaboration.
The leaders I’ve worked with over the years have a few things in common. They;
Feel connected to the issue and recognise a shared responsibility to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of workers in their supply chain
Are curious – they want to learn more, and more, and more.
Are committed – they want a plan: Where do we start? What’s involved? How do we get there?
Collaborate with experts to understand the best approach, build a clear strategy, and create a roadmap for tackling modern slavery. They see suppliers as critical partners and make collaboration a priority.
Are courageous – they put themselves out there, challenge the status quo, and speak up even when it’s uncomfortable, unpopular, or risky. They know silence protects the problem, not the people.
And finally, the take the time to build a business case to take to the leadership team, saying: We must act. First, because it’s the right thing to do. Second, because our clients are asking for it.
Let’s look at leadership a little more deeply through the lens of the 5 Principles of Meaningful Action.
Leading with the Five Principles of Meaningful Action
If we want make a difference, we must lead with the Five Principles of Meaningful Action.
1. Connection
Leadership starts with recognising our shared humanity.
Every material we specify, every product we order, every supplier we engage connects us to someone, somewhere, often a person we’ll never meet.
Leaders choose to care. They ask: Who made this? And at what cost?
2. Curiosity
Leaders lean in—they want to understand, and they’re not afraid to dig deeper. They ask with genuine interest and purpose:
Can you map and share all the suppliers involved in delivering this product or service?
Can you show workers were paid fairly, or at least the minimum wage?
How do you ensure workers’ health and safety is protected in this factory/site/workplace?
It’s not about having all the answers, it’s about committing to learn, to ask again, and to keep improving.
3. Commitment
Real change takes more than just a policy—it takes staying power.
Leaders commit for the long haul, guided by a clear strategy, roadmap, and plan to keep moving forward.
They ask the hard questions - Are we having impact? Are we doing enough? - and use the answers to guide improvements, sharpen their focus, and drive better results.
Leaders stay the course because meaningful change doesn’t happen overnight, it’s built step by step.
4. Courage
Sometimes leadership is quiet.
It’s the person in the meeting who says:
“I don’t think that’s good enough.”
“We can do better.”
It takes courage to challenge the status quo; not to be difficult, but because lives and dignity are at stake, and meaningful change starts when someone is brave enough to stand up.
5. Collaboration
No one can solve this alone.
Good leaders bring others with them, they seek out experts, industry professionals, and trusted advisors to guide their journey, creating space for honest conversations, building partnerships, and making suppliers active participants in the solution.
They know that real change happens when influence is shared, trust is built, and progress is measured together.
Real Leaders in Action
In my 17 years in the interiors industry, I’ve worked with, and witnessed, many remarkable leaders.
Titles don’t define them; they could be a Sustainability/ESG Manager, Operations Manager, or Marketing Manager. What unites them is their willingness to step outside their comfort zone, challenge the status quo, and ask their leadership team: “We need to do this. We need to do better.” They find ways to get people on board and turn intention into meaningful action.
These leaders believe in the cause. They act on it. They stay the course even when it’s uncomfortable. They focus on impact, asking where they have influence, how they can use it, and where opportunities lie, rather than seeking just to eliminate risk.
Leadership also comes from unexpected places.
I’ve seen young design and architecture graduates fresh out of university step into organisations and challenge senior management: “What are we doing to address sustainability? How can we do better?”
Their courage and curiosity drive meaningful conversations and spark change.
And, of course, leadership sometimes comes from the top. I’ve worked with managing directors deeply committed to addressing modern slavery beyond Tier 1 suppliers. They engage directly with suppliers, explain why this matters, and lead from the front, not just in policy, but in practice.
What Kind of Leader Do You Want to Be?
You don’t need to be a CEO to lead.
You don’t need a big title.
You just need to care enough to act—and be brave enough to speak up.
Whether you’re a designer, specifier, procurement lead, or product supplier, you have a voice, agency, and influence.
You can lead by asking the right questions—of your team, your management, or your suppliers—like: What is the company’s plan for addressing modern slavery, and is it truly meaningful?
In this space, leadership means choosing dignity over convenience, ethical choices over the lowest cost, and progress over perfection.
Be brave. Step forward, ask the questions that matter, challenge the status quo, and turn concern into action. This is where meaningful change starts.
Are you ready to lead meaningful change?
If you’re a leader who feels the connection, has the courage to step up, and is ready to make a real commitment to meaningful change, let’s talk.
Whether you need mentoring, practical tools to get started, a clear strategy and action plan to turn intent into impact, or a review of the work you’ve already implemented, I’ll work alongside you to make it happen — with purpose, focus, and impact.
You can get in touch with me and start the conversation here.