Transforming businesses into B-Corps

1. Matt
Hocking
Making positive change
with sustainable Design

2. Everything we transform, transforms us back
We live in an age of rapid change and transformation. With these short interviews I would like to introduce you to
inspirational people who initiate, cultivate and experience positive transformation on different levels and in different
areas. Rich insights and lessons learned that you might take forward into your own journey.
6 Questions to
Matt Hocking

3. 1. Can you paint me a picture of how you bring change in the world? What do you personally see as your biggest
contribution?
Design is everywhere in our human-made world, and as creatives, our opportunity for long term
significant triple bottom line change is huge, catalytic. We can connect the dots between people and
planet. I saw there was a better way to design using the right materials with websites making sure every
pixel is carbon-neutral and all powered by renewable energy.
I set Leap up in 2004 as a tool for change since and a way to make a living while making a difference - I
was told by all it would fail, how could I only design in an environmentally friendly way and who would
want that service.... We began our 15th year in October 2019. Leap has a two-pronged approach, design
in the most sustainable ways our clients need to do the work they need. While challenging the design
sector that we have a creative responsibility and duty. Sharing constantly on how we do this to help them
design for change, good, better, future, now - choose a word:).
I feel myself/Leap has been one of a few early pioneers in design for change. Championing the B Corp
movement local to global as an individual, as a business, B Leader, B Corp Ambassador. It’s the future
economy, and it’s happening now.

4. 2. Many change pioneers and activists speak of external and internal transformation. When or how have you
noticed transformation within yourself, triggered by your work and actions?
Before I created Leap, I had become disillusioned with my career, it felt too easy, too profit-driven,
designing for the bin/landfill. Don’t get me wrong I had a good life, but it felt like something meaningful
was missing. At 29 I realised I was falling out of love with creating.
I took the role as The Eden Projects first graphic designer in 2000, an educational charity that connects
us and the living world, exploring how we can work towards a better future. At Eden, I realised I could
design differently. I wondered why I hadn’t before, it seemed so simple they never told me how to design
for them, at Eden there was no brief, just inspiration all around and aspirations to things better, so I did,
and my love and joy for career went supernova happy.
Design connects everything it is the conduit through which everything flows in our ‘made’ world, and I
had a part to play in realising its value, and that value in action came an enormous sense of wellbeing.
The transformation never stops; change is ever-present, always learning, reflecting, reinvesting. A
beautiful day can transform as much as wonderful client interaction, the natural curiosity of being a
designer or the sustainable optimism way I believe we should all invest our time. Collaboration and
interdependence are critical to the changes the world needs. Where I live, Cornwall, I feel so lucky where
I live.

5. 3. Which experiences or people have shaped your personal transformation (Who inspired or even mentored you)?
What would you share with others to help them shape their journey?
In 2006 I was invited to the Sinai Desert by an amazing heart-based individual called Danny. We’d been
designing together since I founded Leap, he asked me to spend time with the bedouin. I got to see the
impact of climate change in that dry arid beautiful wind-shaped landscape with those people on the
edge, and I knew the work I was doing was right.
Mark Shayler, I attended one of Marks presentation days after following reading Do Disrupt. Mark’s own
story made me realise some of my ‘imposter syndrome’ - ’self-doubt’ was stemmed from my own body
perception allowing me to work on myself…slowly… At the same time, I got invited by Danny to attend
iEvolve, which led to Jumpstart - dots were connected, I took action, and further change and ever
improvement happened. It never stops, though. That year, 2018, I took my second greatest Leap.
Leap becoming a B Corp in 2016 was a huge and proud change point joining a global community using
their businesses as a force for good. Be open, trust yourself, be present, be grateful, sometimes don’t
ask questions, take action;) Stay curious.

6. 4. What changes do you find particularly moving at this moment?
Community coming together, a growing realisation that we are only through collaboration can we solve
the issues of our time: helpfulness and thoughtfulness. There is an opportunity here for us all to pause,
reflect, reset, reinvest and imagine a better world where everyone values our natural capital and each
other. Slow down!
A healthy planet = a healthy population.

7. 5. How can you or one of your projects be supported?
If you do one thing not for me, for everyone, and for the planet switch to renewables (Tariff or
technology), for your home, your business, your website, it’s the single easiest thing to do in my opinion.
Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, FB under @leapness sometimes I might post something useful!
Come to www.goodfestcornwall.com when the time is right a 'Creatives on the beach' festival in Cornwall
exploring how to inspire sustainable change through purposeful ideas and actions.
...work with me at www.leap.eco
I keep saying I will create a book, I know the design/look of it but I can’t get the words out yet to go on
the pages. But I will, look out for one day.

8. 6. Who would you recommend that could offer transformational experiences and inspirational thoughts?
Ourself, be open, it’s okay not to be okay, explore you and be your best self.
Nature it’s constantly telling us things if we listen with all our senses, making, growing, fitness all help.
The Do Pause book.
Ferris Bueller, he said ‘life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop and look around once in a while you could
miss it’.
Meet / connect with https://www.dannyshmulevitch.com/ and I did this after doing iEvolve which Danny
asked me to go on, https://www.concordinstitute.com/ listen to anything by Brene Brown
https://youtu.be/1Evwgu369Jw

9. Here you find more resources about Matt
I can be booked on Calendly for free time to discuss pretty much anything.
https://calendly.com/matt-hocking-leap/60min
See our work here: https://leap.eco/work/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=44&v=1Evwgu369Jw&feature=emb_logo
About B Corps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZlscRF8rf8
www.leap.eco
https://www.instagram.com/leapness/
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/leapness/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/leap.-design-for-change/