Some say capitalism is in crisis. Ruth Davidson thinks that’s an exaggeration, part of the way the temperature of debate in this country has sent the thermostat into meltdown.

Part of how rival sides have come to regard anything that is less than perfect as a disaster, made compromise seem an ugly word and made leadership ever more difficult. But she does think capitalism has more than a few issues and plans to be part of the solution. Since she stepped down as leader of the Scottish Conservative party in August, Tory onlookers have wondered what one of their brightest stars is going to do next.

Now she has joined City PR firm Tulchan Communications, to advise some of the biggest players in corporate Britain how to cope with the changing climate, including actual climate change. She insists this will be helping firms who want to do the right thing to genuinely get there, rather than to just appease millennials by talking the talk.

She will be paid £50,000 for 24 days’ work a year. The connection here is Andrew Feldman, the Tory fundraiser and Tulchan’s managing partner.

We start chatting at Tulchan’s offices on Fleet Street when I notice both of us are taping the conversation. Paranoia? “I used to be a journalist,” she says. She worked for BBC Radio after college, so, sort of. For now Davidson remains a member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh Central, though she will step down in 2021. Capitalism, she says, needs “resetting”. It has been the most powerful force in history for lifting people out of poverty. Life is now more equal than at any time since she was born. “But it doesn’t feel like that. There is a feeling that if you play by the rules and do the right thing you aren’t going to be wealthier than your parents.” In some parts of the country this is more than just a feeling, I suggest.

She concedes the point and thinks that politics can help fix that. “But it is not everything, business can do a lot for itself.” There has been a radical change in what is expected of companies, partly from shareholders, but also from customers and from staff. “In the old days it was let’s make a load of money and tick the CSR box.” That will no longer cut it. “It is about setting yourself up reputationally for the long term. People want to work for good companies.” It’s about being sincere too. She gives an example of a major retailer doing something “naff” on Gay Pride day and getting the kicking it deserved. To voters who think politicians shouldn’t be working for big business anyway, she insists she won’t be lobbying, won’t be talking to ministers. “It is about helping people get ahead of where it is going, letting them know what government thinking is, what campaigns are brewing outside of that.”

In this way she can help big companies avoid regulatory clampdowns and fines. There is an “opportunity cost of not doing something” is how she puts it. And when big business does make a big change, it can lead opinion as well as any politician. She references the real beauty campaign led by the Dove soap brand, owned by Unilever. “There is massive concern with young women on body confidence and self-esteem issues. That will have made an enormous difference to people’s lives.”

While she figures out what to do next aside from Tulchan and being an MSP, she plans to focus on her constituents and spend more time at home. Her son is one this week. “I have a very young family, I have just stepped back from a big job. I am excited and energised about my work. That is enough to be going on with for now. But I am saying for now.” Does she like the Prime Minister? “He’s a very able dinner companion. He has many attractive qualities,” she says, not answering the question. Would she let him drive her home? “I’m not going to answer that question,” before more or less answering it. “I wouldn’t fear for myself around Mr Johnson. He’s not the reason I left.” OK, so humour me: Brexit turns into utter disaster. Boris is out. Other front-runners are too tainted to win. A grateful Tory party turns its eyes northwards….

She turns to the Tulchan executive in the room. “Was this the one that you warned me about? The garden-path question? “In terms of what happens next, dot dot dot, I am a big believer that if you put in the graft then things tend to work out. “But I don’t have a 10-year plan. Whether there is a second act I don’t really know, but I would suggest that lots of people do have second acts.” Still up for it then.