Case Studies
Beth Bell
"I am more aware and welcoming of discomfort and more willing to pause and interrogate it in myself."
Name: Beth Bell
Position: Portfolio Manager
Company: The National Lottery Community Fund
Industry: Grant maker
Programme and year attended: 2019, the streetwise mba, London
Hometown (City, Country): Belfast, UK
"What is your purpose? And what is your gift?" As soon as I heard this from a fellow classmate, I thought: ‘I’m having that’. What an amazing way to think about ourselves and our development. And such a great way to encourage and empower our teams."
- What are you most passionate about?
People, people, people.
- What/who inspires you?
My mum, Joan Halsall, who was my original feminist hero. She had a life filled with challenges but she led with kindness, always. She taught me how to be decent and how to learn, alongside how to stand up for myself and others. She was wonderful, complicated, funny, enraging and daft. In short, she was human.
My sister Emily, who has spent every day of her life trying to make the world a better place.
And women all over the world who never ever give up fighting for themselves, their families and their communities.
- How has your life changed after Common Purpose?
I am more aware and welcoming of discomfort and more willing to pause and interrogate it in myself. I am more attuned to the moments in life where I feel uncomfortable, or just ‘off’ and giving myself space to understand those has deepened my understanding of myself and my blind spots.
People, people, people.
My mum, Joan Halsall, who was my original feminist hero. She had a life filled with challenges but she led with kindness, always. She taught me how to be decent and how to learn, alongside how to stand up for myself and others. She was wonderful, complicated, funny, enraging and daft. In short, she was human.
My sister Emily, who has spent every day of her life trying to make the world a better place.
And women all over the world who never ever give up fighting for themselves, their families and their communities.
I am more aware and welcoming of discomfort and more willing to pause and interrogate it in myself. I am more attuned to the moments in life where I feel uncomfortable, or just ‘off’ and giving myself space to understand those has deepened my understanding of myself and my blind spots.