Polly Milne is the Chief Operating Officer and a Board Member at FuturePlus Technologies, where she brings expertise in operational leadership and sustainability. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and an MSc with Distinction in Sustainable Development.
As COO, Polly leads cross-functional teams to deliver ESG strategies, responsible AI implementation, net-zero planning, and sustainability innovations for over 300 clients around the globe. She plays a pivotal role in business operations and growth, and in the development and quality assurance of FuturePlus’s technology suite and consultancy outputs.
Prior to joining FuturePlus in 2021, Polly was the Head of European Operations for NetZeroAg, focusing on agri-tech supply chains. A panellist and speaker, she also serves as a volunteer judge for the prestigious Hult Prize. Across her career, she has demonstrated a strong track record in project management, logistics, stakeholder relations, and leading complex impact-driven operations.
Leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about creating the stability, trust, and support that enable others to thrive.
Leadership was never something you set out for. What has the journey to COO looked like?
Leadership was never something I aspired to! I’ve always been ambitious, but my career was driven by solving problems rather than managing others. However, progressing to becoming the COO at FuturePlus has been a hugely rewarding learning curve.
Businesses can’t exist without teams. It’s easy to talk about being “innovative” or “collaborative”; it’s much harder to build systems, processes and a culture that hold those principles when things are busy, or uncertain, or both. Behind every client report, every platform update, every onboarding call, there are people solving real problems with genuine curiosity. That’s not something you can manufacture. It’s what happens when a team is ambitious about outcomes, not just outputs. I’ve come to understand that leadership plays a huge part in that.
Throughout my leadership journey at FuturePlus, my priority has been to remain approachable, be honest, and lead by example, ensuring our collective problem-solving drives meaningful change.
What impact are you proudest of at FuturePlus?
Under my co-leadership, alongside CEO Alexandra Smith, FuturePlus has grown to become a prominent voice in the impact-tech ecosystem. Impact is the measurable outcome of what we do daily. As COO, I’m incredibly proud of the tangible change our team has driven. In 2025 alone, we supported over 250 FuturePlus members across 17 countries, helping them achieve 4,483 specific sustainability actions and ambitions. Our consultancy team delivered over 100 projects, translating complex ESG goals into real-world strategies.
Crucially, we hold ourselves to the same rigorous standards we expect of the businesses we support. The greatest impact I’ve helped create is ensuring that sustainability efforts are not just performative words, but operational, measurable, and continuous progress
FuturePlus continues to scale, having raised over £3million in total funding since its inception, and we have won multiple awards for our work, including Startups Magazine Hustle Awards and the TBLI Better World Prize.
What’s the achievement that stands out most?
One of my biggest achievements has been helping lead the business through a significant period of change. Last year brought considerable challenges. Navigating that level of transformation required resilience, adaptability, and strong leadership.
As COO, I see my role as providing both operational leadership and support to our CEO. During this period, I worked hard to be a reliable anchor for her, ensuring the business continued to run effectively while creating the space and stability needed for strategic decisions and growth. Knowing that I was able to support a colleague through a demanding time, while contributing to the continued success and development of the business, has been incredibly rewarding.
Leadership is a continuous learning curve, and while I know I don’t always get everything right, the experience has taught me a lot about myself, how to support others, and how to lead teams through uncertainty with confidence and empathy.
What makes your leadership style distinct?
My belief is that good leadership is fundamentally about creating the conditions for others to succeed. I try to lead through trust, consistency, and support, ensuring that people feel empowered to do their best work. Whether supporting the CEO through challenging decisions, providing stability for the wider team, or ensuring the business continues to operate effectively during times of transformation, I focus on enabling others to thrive while keeping the organisation moving forward.
What advice would you give future women leaders?
My advice to aspiring female leaders would be not to underestimate the power of supportive leadership. Leadership isn’t always about being the loudest voice in the room or having all the answers. Some of the most impactful leaders are those who create stability during uncertainty, empower others to succeed, and build trust through consistency and empathy.
I’ve learned that leadership is a continual journey of growth. There will be times when you don’t get things right, and that’s okay. Every challenge presents an opportunity to learn more about yourself, refine your approach, and become a stronger leader. Confidence comes from being willing to learn, adapt, and keep moving forward.
I would also encourage women to recognise the value they bring to leadership. Different perspectives, collaborative approaches, and emotional intelligence are strengths that can have a profound impact on teams and organisations.
