WABChats Readables, Dom Hare
Our conversation with Dom Hare, CEO of Blenheim Palace, on the White & Black podcast, WABChats, offered a brilliant insight into his innovative, forward-looking leadership, which is driving the iconic estate forward. Dom’s journey with Blenheim and his approach to the CEO role, are marked by a clear commitment to innovation as a means of not just preserving heritage, but actively maximising Blenheim’s value in a modern context.
Dom’s vision for Blenheim, articulated in a powerful mission statement when he took up the role in 2017, goes beyond simply maintaining the estate.
It’s about sharing and protecting it for future generations, enhancing the lives of local people, and growing to become the lifeblood of the local economy. This wasn’t a response to a crisis, but a proactive strategy to unlock Blenheim’s full potential.
For business leaders seeking to maximise value, Dom’s approach can offer some valuable lessons:
Innovation as a Deliberate Business Function
Dom and the Blenheim leadership team’s approach to innovation is not a peripheral activity, but a core, resourced function within the Estate’s strategic vision. With a dedicated Head of Innovation and strong partnerships with Oxford’s Universities, they understand that in a rapidly evolving world, particularly for an institution managing a historical estate with diverse commercial operations, a proactive and structured approach to innovation is essential for long-term sustainability and value creation. This approach has been key to Blenheim’s ability to unlock new value streams for both the estate and its immediate community.
Aside from investing in dedicated innovation resources and leadership, and strategic research partnerships with Universities, one of Blenheim’s most recent innovation successes is its Smart Visitor Management System. The Smart Visitor Management System represents a new approach to heritage site management, blending historic stewardship with cutting-edge technology. At its core, this innovative system harnesses the power of hundreds of sensors across the estate, advanced AI models, and real-time data analytics to transform how Blenheim understands and enhances the visitor experience. Through sophisticated predictive algorithms and machine learning, the system achieves 80% more accurate visitor forecasting than traditional methods, enabling smarter resource allocation and operational decision-making – Extract from Blenheim.
There is little doubt that Blenheim’s approach to innovation has a direct impact on its value maximisation, whether directly through opening new revenue streams and customer insight or indirectly through numerous environmental and community initiatives. All of this plays a huge role in maintaining Blenheim’s top 10 ranking in the most visited paid attractions in England.
This focus on innovation is also seen in how Blenheim is approaching the vital subject of sustainability.
Sustainability as a Core Value Driver
In today’s business landscape, sustainability is no longer a peripheral concern but a fundamental driver of long-term value. Investors are increasingly factoring ESG performance into decision-making processes. Bloomberg Intelligence’s Global 2025 Outlook has forecast sustainable investment to reach US$35 trillion in AUM in the next five years. For businesses aiming to maximise long-term value, ‘baking in’ sustainability is essential for attracting talent, customers, and investment. ESG measures will also help tackle the significant risks posed to businesses from climate change. From supply chain disruptions to regulatory changes, proactive sustainability measures can mitigate these risks and enhance resilience.
Blenheim recognises combating climate change as its “biggest battle”. Dom and his team are fighting that battle head-on, integrating sustainability into every aspect of their business operation. Blenheim’s sustainability efforts extend far beyond compliance requirements. As he shares with us in this episode, Dom has led the way in implementing a holistic strategy that encompasses everything from renewable energy generation (solar farm) and carbon neutrality targets (2027) to sustainable transportation and community engagement. For Dom and his team, sustainability is not primarily about investment and profit. Whilst they understand that combating climate change is a crucial business strategy, Dom’s sustainability focus revolves around investing in the long-term health of the estate and the surrounding area.
Defining a Purpose Beyond Profit
A clear and authentic purpose builds trust amongst customers, staff and investors and fosters brand loyalty, leading to long-term, sustainable relationships.
While Blenheim Palace remains a commercial entity, its business operations are rooted in and directed by a purpose beyond profit. Dom explains that Blenheim’s purpose is to share and protect its space for future generations to enhance the lives of local people and to be the lifeblood of the local economy. His ability to articulate the “why” behind Blenheim’s diverse operations has created a cohesive vision that resonates with stakeholders, from employees to the local community. As Dom describes, by creating the 10 goals, he has made the “why” measurable and achievable. Blenheim’s purpose acts as a compass, guiding strategic decision-making and ensuring that revenue-generating activities are aligned with broader values. By embracing a purpose-driven approach, Blenheim Palace is not only maximising its commercial value but also creating a positive impact on its community and preserving its cultural heritage for future generations.
For leaders focused on maximising long-term value, this demonstrates the power of purpose-driven strategies that resonate with stakeholders and create sustainable success.
In Conclusion: A Blueprint for Modern Businesses
Dom Hare’s leadership provides a leadership blueprint for modern businesses. By prioritising innovation as a core function, embedding sustainability into every operation, grounding decisions in a clear purpose, and fostering a culture of open collaboration, Blenheim is not only preserving its heritage but also creating a model for sustainable growth and community impact.
These lessons provide invaluable guidance for any leader seeking to maximise their organisation’s value in a world of rapid change.
Legal questions don’t exist in a vacuum, they are driven by business plans, business objectives and what’s going on in the world. We provide expert strategic legal advice to help leaders grow their businesses, manage their risks and maximise their value. To explore how White & Black can support your business growth, manage risk and maximise value, contact us today.
Whether protecting and licensing your Intellectual Property, advising you on digital expansion and implementation of technology or helping you ensure you have the right documents in place, our expert team will partner with you to ensure you are fully utilising the value within your business.