The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast from Menkus & Associates in partnership with Norman Broadbent, shares conversations with CEOs on how they translate organisational purpose into bold strategy, real impact, and lasting results.
How do you lead a business that sits at the heart of trade, infrastructure, and the energy transition? In this episode, Stuart Wallace, Chief Executive of Forth Ports, shares his perspective on the vital role ports play in supporting supply chains, enabling economic growth, and facilitating the transition to a lower-carbon future.
Having spent nearly 25 years with the organisation across nine different roles, Stuart reflects on the experiences that have shaped his leadership approach and given him a deep understanding of the business from the ground up. He discusses the importance of long-term thinking in an industry where major infrastructure investments can take years to deliver value, and explains how Forth Ports positioned itself early to support the renewables sector—investing ahead of demand and helping establish key facilities at Dundee and Leith as hubs for offshore energy.
The conversation also explores the unique challenge of leading an organisation that is simultaneously a commercial enterprise, a statutory harbour authority, and a key part of the communities it serves. Stuart offers insight into balancing these responsibilities while maintaining a clear strategic focus, demonstrating how patient investment, operational excellence, and long-term vision can create lasting impact for both industry and society.