A personal tipping point that sparked a business transformation
Why the businesses of tomorrow are the ones that dare to care.
In 2017, Jon Reed – then leading Paddy & Scott’s – hit what he calls “rock bottom”. At 26 stone, and deeply questioning the legacy he was building for his children, he made a radical decision.
Not just to change his health – but to change how he did business. He chose purpose. Not the buzzword. Not the CSR tick-box. But a way of operating that placed people, dignity, and community at the heart of everything.
From personal crisis to community catalyst
Today, Jon is a walking, talking challenge to how we define business success. As CEO of Paddy & Scott’s, he’s built a model where impact isn’t an afterthought – it’s the starting point.
His approach is clear-eyed and grounded: meaningful impact doesn’t begin with a slick campaign. It begins with mindset. It asks businesses to lead with care, measure what matters, and stop separating profit from purpose.
And what happens when you do? As Jon puts it: “Profit and purpose stop competing… and start compounding.”
Three takeaways for business leaders ready to do more than make money
1. Purpose isn’t PR – it’s strategy
Jon’s turnaround wasn’t about optics. It was about authenticity. He didn’t tack on a cause to boost brand image. He rebuilt the business around the idea that how you grow matters.
→ What this means for you: Review your business objectives through a human lens. What outcomes are you creating beyond revenue? Who benefits when your business does well?
2. Culture starts with courage
The biggest shift Jon made wasn’t external – it was internal. Choosing to lead with care, to be vulnerable, to model change… that takes guts.
→ What this means for you: If you’re in a leadership role, your team takes its cues from you. The stories you tell, the priorities you set, the behaviours you reward – all of these build culture. Make them count.
3. Communities are collaborators, not just customers
Through initiatives like fuelling ambition in coffee-growing communities, Paddy & Scott’s demonstrates what it looks like to treat global partners as equals, not footnotes.
→ What this means for you: Whether you’re serving a local town or a global audience, ask: how can our growth create shared value? Who are we lifting as we climb?
Why this matters now
In the Co.next community, we’re surrounded by businesses at different stages of growth – start-ups, scale-ups, and legacy brands. But one thing unites them all: a hunger to do things differently.
Jon’s story is a powerful reminder that transformation doesn’t require a massive budget or global reach. It requires clarity, courage, and commitment.
The businesses that thrive in the future won’t just be the fastest or the biggest. They’ll be the ones bold enough to ask, “What are we really here to do?” – and brave enough to answer it with action.
Join us on 30 January 2026 at The Playhouse Theatre for Co.nextalks – a TED-style morning event designed for Norfolk’s next generation of professionals.
Tickets just £10 / £15 — Book Yours
