Today on Take the Stage, and our special series Ladies Who Rock, we shine the spotlight on Clara de Bienassis, People & Well-being Director at Stone Soup Consulting, a global social impact consultancy rooted in empathy, diversity, and purpose-driven work.

Clara’s journey is anything but traditional—starting in investment banking and ultimately finding her calling in impact. In this episode, she shares how an early experience with microfinance in Ecuador reshaped her career, and why she believes business can—and should—be built around human connection.

Episode Highlights:

[02:11] Clara’s Career Journey

From Finance to Impact: Clara reflects on her early years in banking, how childhood experiences shaped her values, and the pivotal moment in Paris that introduced her to the world of NGOs and microfinance.

[03:24] Leaving Banking for Purpose

Clara opens up about feeling unfulfilled in banking and how a microfinance internship in Paris—and a volunteer stint in rural Ecuador—helped her realign her career around impact.

[06:51] Choosing Values-Aligned Work

Clara explains how she evaluates organizations to ensure alignment with her values, highlighting the importance of shared language, strategy, and intuition.

[07:34] Joining Stone Soup

Clara shares how she built her way into a leadership role at Stone Soup through relationship-building and aligned collaboration, eventually becoming a partner.

[08:32] Diversity as a Strength—and a Commitment

With a team spanning over 12 countries, Clara explains how true diversity—not just as a buzzword—drives richer problem-solving and innovative thinking at Stone Soup (even if it comes with challenges).

[09:56] Making the 4-Day Workweek Work

Clara walks through their trial of a 32-hour, 4-day week for core staff—same pay, same expectations—and how it’s improved well-being without sacrificing performance.

[12:36] Empathy and Vulnerability in Leadership

Clara connects empathy to company culture, leadership, and being woman-led—pointing out how listening, openness, and acceptance of failure drives Stone Soup’s internal success.

[15:57] Rethinking Remote Work

Clara reflects on the return-to-office trend and explains why flexibility is a non-negotiable for mission-driven consulting, especially when working globally.

[17:12] Connection in a Global Remote Team

From dedicated chat channels to “virtual coffees” to biennial retreats, Clara outlines the small-but-intentional practices that create connection across their distributed team.

[19:35] Advice for Values-Driven Leaders

Clara’s tip? Build strategy and values collaboratively—and make sure people join not just to work but to be part of something larger than themselves.

[20:45] The Meaning Behind 'Stone Soup'

Clara ends with the legend that inspired the firm’s name—a metaphor for collective contribution, shared resources, and creating something greater together.

📍 Stone Soup Capital: Website | LinkedIn

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