It took me a while to Start
Somewhereon my purpose journey.
Working on the launch of
Forevermark, the ethical diamond
brand was a turning point in my life,
whenI realised I wanted to create
powerful brands and movements for
positive change that addressed and
solved the world’s most pressing
issues. That led to a role
at The Body Shop, where
I worked on the Stop Sex
Trafficking of Children
and Young People
campaign. Then, I went
to Unilever, where I
looked after such brands
as Dove. Today, I have my
own consultancy, working
with companies wanting
to be purpose-led. I also (partnering
with truly amazing people) create
and/or catalyse positive global
movements for change, such as
stopping single-use plastic with A
Plastic Planet.
I am inspired on a daily basis by
the incredible people I am fortunate
enough to meet or come into contact
with– men and women, in person or
through social media, well-known,
like the amazing Greta Thunberg, orTHE YOUNG ONESA London summit is helping to shape future global leadersunknown, like my sponsored sister
Maboba, a survivor of war from
Afghanistan bravely rebuilding her
life. The common theme between
them is their passion, purpose,
courageand care for others. Qualities
I greatly admire. I look forward
to introducing you to some of
these special people in my Start
Somewhere podcast,
which will launch later
thisyear.
The one person who
has undoubtedly inspired
methe most is my mother,
who died just over
a year ago. She always
encouraged me to
be courageous and
inspired me with
her extraordinary
love, generosity,
warmth, kindness
and compassion.
She continues to
be my guiding
light, and I am
incredibly grateful to her.
Marie Clairehas been a trailblazer
in the purpose space for over 30
years. My role here, in the Start
Somewhere campaign, is to help giveyoulots of fresh ideas and inspiration
for making positive environmental
and social changes; for you to know
just how influential you are.
Small collective actions can become
very powerful global movements – The
BodyShop’s sex trafficking campaign
generated more than 7 million
signatures and effected real change
in trafficking legislation and the lives
of those trafficked in over 20 countries.
This is people power in practice.
Together, we, the Marie Claire
community, can make a very big,
positive difference in this world. Just
think, if all of us gave up single-use
coffee cups and switched to reusable
ones.As Anna Lappé, the writer and
activistreminds us, ‘Every time you
spendmoney, you’re casting a vote
forthe kind of world you want.’
We also wish to celebrate the
many of you who are already taking
a stand. So, if you are actively
campaigning for a cause – thank
you for doing this – we would like to
hear from you about what you are
doing. Please email me at
[email protected]
Head to marieclaire.co.uk for more
information about the campaign and
inspiring stories.YES, YOU CAN MAKEA DIFFERENCE
AtMarie Claire, we’ve always been committed to creating global change. Here,Sara Vaughan,
our first-ever chief purpose and sustainability advisor, explains her hopes for our Start Somewhere
campaign, and what inspired her to turn saving the planet into a careerSaraand
her mother
(right)OneYoung
World
Summit 2018
in CanadaWORDS BY MARIA COOLE, ALIX WALKER, MARISA BATES, NIAMH MCCOLLUM. PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES. APPOLINARY KALASH-NIKOVA/UNSPLASH, ENTERTAINMENT ONE, GETTY IMAGES, DAVID SILLITOE, GUARDIAN/EYEVINE, CLASSIFIED FILMS LTD
The saying ‘youth is wasted on the young’ feels hopelessly
redundant right now. Today, across the globe, young people’s
voices seem to be some of the loudest and most powerful
in the world. Sixteen-year-old Greta Thunberg is shaming
world leaders with impassioned speeches on their lack of
leadership in tackling the eco-crisis, American high-school
students are leading gun-control marches and, in the UK,
women like Amika George are campaigning against period
poverty – in between sitting their A-levels.
These are the voices that One Young World have been
giving a platform to for the past ten years. The annual
international conference, which is taking place in London at
the end of October, will bring together some of the boldest
young activists from around the world in panels andworkshops, sponsoring and
mentoring them, helping them to
become the next generation of
leaders. Joining the three-day event
are world leaders and activists
including Dame Jane Goodall, Richard
Branson and Doutzen Kroes. Previously,
guest speakers have included Meghan Markle,
Gordon Brown and Naomi Campbell.
One Young World’s endeavour to find and support these new
voices, and their fresh energy to look for solutions to the world’s
problems, began a decade ago. But as we watch the youth of
today to organise and mobilise in a world that feels particularly
chaotic, listening to them feels more urgent than ever.