Revisiting the Story of Benevity with Founder Bryan de Lottinville
In this revisited episode of Purposely Podcast, Mark Longbottom returns to a 2021 conversation with Bryan de Lottinville, founder of Benevity.
Bryan is a purpose-led founder whose work has had a significant influence on how companies think about employee engagement, giving, and corporate responsibility. In this conversation, Bryan reflects on the ideas that led to the creation of Benevity, the decisions that shaped its growth, and the belief that business can play a meaningful role in enabling social good.
Benevity went on to scale globally and was ultimately sold for around a billion dollars, but this episode focuses less on the outcome and more on the thinking behind the journey — from reimagining corporate giving to building a platform designed around employee choice and participation.
Bryan’s background and the origins of Benevity
The limitations of traditional corporate giving models, and why change was needed
Designing technology that enables and encourages employee participation
Leading and scaling a purpose-driven business
Maintaining culture through growth, disruption, and Covid
Reflections on leadership, wellbeing, and long-term impact
Where purpose-led business is heading next
Why purpose was always central to Benevity’s model
How democratising giving changes behaviour and culture
The realities of founder leadership at scale
Lessons for leaders working at the intersection of business and impact
Benevity has supported the Purposely Podcast as a sponsor for the past three years. Thank you to Bryan de Lottinville for the conversation and for his ongoing contribution to the corporate purpose movement.
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