Everards MD Stephen Gould is officially one of the UK’s kindest business leaders!

Everards of Leicestershire‘s managing director Stephen Gould is officially one of the kindest leaders in the UK! He was recognised in a list of ’50 Kind Leaders’ announced on World Kindness Day (November 13). 

The list was created by the Women of the Future Programme to recognise the contribution kind leaders give to business, the economy and society.

This recognition reflects Great Food Club’s experience of Everards’ managing director, who has supported and championed our project since we launched in 2010. Great Food Club founder Matt Wright said: “It’s brilliant to see Stephen appear in this list. The list itself is a great idea – kindness is an underrated virtue in business. Everards certainly benefits from the ethos Stephen brings. We should be celebrating business people who are kind and show integrity.”

Stephen Gould said: “It’s humbling to be recognised in this way and to know someone took the time to nominate me.  I consider kindness to be an important quality and I have been fortunate over many years to be guided and supported by kind leaders. A common theme in each one was that they gave their time freely and were patient!”

He continued: “Young people in particular watch leaders very closely and expect to be inspired by them.  Within Everards, such inspiration is provided by the Everard family, led by Richard, our chairman, where leadership creates an environment of custodianship, care and a desire for each individual to be happy and fulfilled.”

Stephen joined Everards of Leicestershire – an independent family business – in 2003 and was appointed managing director in 2005. The judges commented: “He has embraced the culture and history of Everards and with a clear, societal-led purpose. Stephen and his team continue to innovate, invest and perform, always anchored by Everards’ mission to build relationships with business owners and communities. Stephen’s leadership is centred around inclusive societal purpose for business growth.”

Asked why kindness is essential to a leader, Stephen replied: “A leader is part of a broader community, both within the organisation and beyond. Learning and growing in every sense requires everyone to be connected: to listen, share, build confidence and create sustainable teamwork. A kind, inclusive approach offers everyone the opportunity to contribute to developing innovative and vibrant communities. A business needs a clear purpose underpinned by a strong set of values to succeed. Kindness binds these together.”

The Kindness & Leadership 50 Leading Lights campaign was launched by the Women of the Future programme in 2018, celebrating 50 phenomenal, kind leaders working in the UK today. Their goal was to radically challenge the leadership conversation, which has traditionally overlooked the power of kindness in leadership.

Congratulations to Stephen and all those recognised in the list.