Stephen Slessor is a transformative business leader who is reshaping the water sector. As CEO of RSE, he is revolutionising how the water industry can benefit consumers, all the while championing women and social value in the construction industry.
Learning of his Top 100 influential People award, Stephen felt a genuine sense of “surprise and gratitude.” To Stephen, it is “humbling to be recognised alongside so many people doing meaningful work across different sectors.”
The recognition of the award for Stephen meant a “reassurance that long-term effort, values-led leadership and backing innovation really do matter.” Furthermore, he sees the recognition not as an individual accolade but as a reflection of the people and teams whose hard work has driven shared success.
Being named in the Top 100 has raised Stephen’s profile significantly and strengthened the visibility of RSE’s work. For the business, it has “increased credibility with partners and stakeholders who may not have known my background or the breadth of what our business does.” Expanding further on benefits to the business, Stephen says “it has opened doors to new conversations and collaborations.”
The positive consequences of the Top 100 award are not just limited to business. For Stephen, “it’s given confidence to use my voice more openly on topics like leadership, sustainability and innovation.” Likewise, the award acts as “motivation to keep pushing for positive change, particularly around sustainable infrastructure, technology and developing future talent.” Therefore, the award symbolises scaling impact and making measurable change.
The Top 100 is distinctive for Stephen because it is driven by values: it isn’t just about “scale or profile, but about influence, contribution, and purpose, which really resonates with me.” The stories of success which are shared with the award “make success feel achievable. Most progress isn’t linear, and sharing the reality helps others realise setbacks and change are part of the process.”
Stephen would strongly encourage others to enter the Top 100, believing it is a “chance to reflect, not just win something. There’s real value in taking time to articulate your journey and impact.” His message to anyone reading his story would be “you don’t need a perfect start or a straight path. If you stay curious, back your values, and keep learning, you can build something meaningful over time.”