Founder Voices (Episode 6): Patrick Dunne OBE — Leading with Purpose and Global Impact
At Cottage Factory, Founder Voices is where stories of ambition, impact, and resilience come to life.
In Episode 6, Clement Akran sits down with Patrick Dunne—seasoned board advisor, governance expert, and author of Boards. With decades of experience guiding organisations across business, education, philanthropy, and social enterprise, Patrick brings a rare depth of insight into what truly makes organisations effective.
In this compelling conversation, he shares practical lessons from years in boardrooms, demystifies governance and leadership, and explores how boards can be a force for impact—not just oversight. From startup advisory to scaling social good, Patrick’s perspective challenges conventional thinking and highlights the value of clarity, curiosity, and courage in decision-making.
This episode was recorded on Wednesday, 2 July 2025.
🎧 Listen to the full episode to hear about:
Why governance is about culture and clarity—not just compliance
How boards can become strategic assets for founders and mission-led organisations
Common traps early-stage ventures fall into (and how to avoid them)
What makes a great board member—and how to build a diverse, effective board
Real-world advice for anyone navigating leadership, accountability, and impact
📘 Whether you're a startup founder, trustee, or changemaker building something bold, Patrick’s wisdom will sharpen your thinking and equip you to lead with confidence and care.
A video version of the podcast:
Founder Voices: A Platform Amplifying Underserved Entrepreneurs
Sponsorship Opportunity | 2025–2026
About Founder Voices
Founder Voices is a podcast and storytelling platform powered by Cottage Factory, spotlighting grassroots founders, builders, and changemakers often overlooked by mainstream media.
Through honest, reflective conversations, we explore their journeys, challenges, and bold visions — helping early-stage ventures feel seen, supported, and inspired.
💬 “Real, relatable and necessary. This is the kind of content our ecosystem needs more of.” – Listener feedback
Our Audience
Early-stage founders, social entrepreneurs, and creatives
Ecosystem enablers – accelerators, funders, community builders
Values-driven professionals – purpose-led innovators, mentors, and investors
Listeners across the UK, West Africa, and the diaspora
📈 Audience growing steadily through word of mouth, events, and targeted campaigns
Why Sponsor Founder Voices?
Align your brand with a values-driven platform that champions inclusion, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Sponsorship Benefits:
🎧 In-Episode Mentions – “This episode is brought to you by…”
📰 Logo placement on visuals, episode graphics, and Cottage Factory newsletter
📲 Social media tags on multi-channel promotion (LinkedIn, IG, Twitter)
👥 Invites to Founder Voices Live – upcoming event series with panel discussions, networking, and local founder showcases
🗣️ Featured guest opportunity (select partners)
📦 Sponsorship Tiers
Tier Investment Benefits:
Supporter £250/month Mention in 1 episode, logo on 1 graphic, 2 social posts
Partner £750/month 2+ episodes, logo + link, event invite, optional guest spot
Series Sponsor £2,000 Full season branding (6 episodes), co-branded graphics, premium placement across all assets
Custom packages and local authority partnerships available on request
What’s Next?
We’re growing the platform and looking for aligned sponsors to help us scale storytelling that matters.
To partner with us or request further information send an email today to: cakran@cottagefactory.co.uk
