The Narwhal
“Our work with Within People was transformative and came at a crucial time. Not only did they bring brilliant insights to the process of defining our vision, purpose and values, but they helped us bring this work to life by embedding it in everything we do — from onboarding to the editorial process to performance and growth.”
Bringing a bold ambition to life
STRATEGIC GROWTH - Award-winning stories shaped by purpose and values
VALUES INTEGRATION - Values embedded in hiring, onboarding, and editorial processes
TEAM GROWTH - Team grown by 222% from 2021 to 2025
The Challenge
The Narwhal had achieved what many independent media organizations strive for: national awards, strong funding, meaningful partnerships, and a growing audience. As success accelerated, founders Emma Gilchrist and Carol Linnitt realised the org lacked the structure and clarity needed to sustain growth, distribute leadership, and protect the unique culture they had built.
The Within Way®: Embedding values
Through coaching and generative workshops, we helped The Narwhal reconnect to what they stand for and bring clarity to their growth. Together, we articulated a clear purpose, authentic values, and a bold vision to guide their future. What was once unspoken became a living framework to drive decision-making, hiring, editorial guidance, and culture as they scaled.
The Impact
Hear Emma Gilchrist share the story of The Narwhal on Reimagining Work from Within ->
The work reshaped how The Narwhal grows and operates, embedding values into everything from editorial decisions to leadership development. With clarity came confidence — their journalism sharpened, their team deepened its connection to the impact they create, and a now award-winning story became the most-cited example among job applicants as a reason to join the organization.