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Anthropy25: Reflections, Insights, and Opportunities for Inspirational Group

Digital Marketing Manager

Alice Short

Recently, the Inspirational Group team attended Anthropy25, an extraordinary gathering of cross-sector leaders, innovators, and changemakers committed to shaping a better, more sustainable future for Britain. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Eden Project, this year’s event focused on critical themes such as leadership, purpose, creativity, inclusivity, and intergenerational collaboration.

Attending on behalf of IG were Simon Mann, Iain Robertson, Felicity Wingrove, Stephen Bennett
and Laurent Corneille. The experience provided rich insights, sparked powerful conversations, and showcased the important work being done across industries to address societal challenges and unlock potential.

Below, we share some of the most impactful moments, learnings, and reflections from the various sessions our team attended.

How Should We Show Up in Society?
Our Civil Society?
Critical Thinking: Equipping Young People for a Complex Future
The Future of Leadership & AI: Harnessing Technology Responsibly
The Curious Leader: Why Curiosity is Essential for Leadership
Creativity & Causes: Unlocking Potential Through Innovation and Purpose
Looking ahead
Meet the IG Anthropy Team

How Should We Show Up in Society?

Discussion panel featuring Simon Mann, Group MD Inspirational Group

One of the most thought-provoking sessions for Inspirational Group at Anthropy25 was the panel discussion titled “How Should We Show Up in Society?”, which Simon Mann participated in alongside Vivienne Artz OBE, Stefan Stern, Jade Barnett, and Mandy Thorn MBE.

The panel explored themes of trust, integrity, inequality, and personal responsibility, inviting attendees to reflect on how individuals and organisations can show up authentically and meaningfully in society.

Reflections on Connection and Change

Simon emphasized the need for genuine connection, noting how often institutions focus on policies and systems rather than the people they serve. As he later reflected:

“The world is actually changed place by place by place, mate by mate by mate.” – Dame Julia Cleverdon DCVO, CBE

The discussion also highlighted the importance of noticing societal challenges and responding with empathy, integrity, and action. Topics such as inequality, social justice, and the power of connection were central to the conversation.

Key Takeaways

Trust is Built Through Daily Actions: Simon reflected on how trust is not restored through grand gestures but through small, consistent acts of integrity and reliability.
Empathy and Accountability: The need to balance personal accountability with empathy and understanding, particularly in leadership roles.
Creating Safe Spaces: Acknowledging the importance of providing psychological, mental, physical, and emotional safety to enable authentic dialogue and trust.

The conversation resonated with many attendees, sparking further dialogue around how leaders can rebuild trust and show up authentically in their organisations and communities. Simon’s reflections emphasized the need for consistency, openness, and genuine connection—principles that align with Inspirational Group’s commitment to Leadership for a Better Tomorrow.

Join Our Free Leadership Masterclass: Building Trust & Purpose

Inspired by the powerful discussions at Anthropy? Take the next step and deepen your leadership skills. Join Simon and Iain to discover practical strategies to build trust, empower teams, and align purpose within your organisation.

Our Civil Society

Attended by Fliss

The Our Civil Society session highlighted the UK’s enduring strength in charitable giving, volunteering, and community spirit. As Catherine Johnstone CBE, CEO of the Royal Voluntary Service, noted:

“140 million hours of available volunteering time were left on the table last year. If it’s everybody’s problem, it’s everyone’s solution.”

The session emphasized the importance of collaboration between sectors and leveraging innovation to mobilize the power of civil society. Initiatives like RVS’s new app, designed to help people connect with causes that matter to them, reflect this commitment to purpose-driven action.

The panel’s discussion inspired our belief that business can be a force for good by cultivating meaningful connections and partnerships that drive positive societal change.

Recent charitable endeavours by Inspirational Group include our sponsorship of the Invictus Atlantic crew and our support for Project ReMake.

Critical Thinking: Equipping Young People for a Complex Future

Attended by Fliss

In an age of information overload and digital transformation, critical thinking is more valuable than ever. Facilitated by Tony Evans, Founder of EGI Live Communication, this session explored how to nurture critical thinking skills in young people to help them thrive in uncertain futures.

Key contributions from the panel included:

Encouraging open, collaborative environments where ideas are fully understood before opinions are formed.
Highlighting the need for safe spaces, free from cancel culture, where young people can ask questions and challenge ideas.

This discussion reinforced our commitment to promoting environments where creativity, critical thinking, and leadership can flourish.

The Future of Leadership & AI: Harnessing Technology Responsibly

by Laurent

AI was a hot topic at Anthropy25, with numerous discussions centered around how businesses can leverage AI to boost productivity, creativity, and adaptability. However, the dialogue extended beyond just the technology itself to include ethical considerations and intergenerational impact.

Laurent attended sessions focused on the intersection of AI, leadership, and social responsibility, noting the divergent views presented by speakers. On one hand, there was optimism around AI’s potential to enhance productivity and creativity. On the other, concerns were raised about ensuring technology serves broader societal and environmental goals.

Laurent captured the essence of the challenge well:

“The real challenge isn’t just about implementing AI effectively—it’s about making sure it’s aligned with human values, inclusivity, and ethical principles. Leaders must bridge the gap between commercial pragmatism and societal impact.”

He also noted that discussions often reflected a generational divide in perceptions of AI. Younger leaders were generally more open to embracing AI, while older leaders expressed caution around its implications. Bridging this gap is essential for making AI integration successful, responsible, and inclusive.

This theme closely aligns with Inspirational Group’s commitment to promoting leadership that balances innovation with integrity and impact. As we continue our work in developing future-ready leaders, understanding AI’s role in that journey will be essential.

Read more about our thoughts on AI and leadership in our latest blog post: From Chaos to Curiosity: A Leader’s Guide to the Age of AI

The Curious Leader: Why Curiosity is Essential for Leadership

Attended by Iain

Curiosity was a recurring theme at Anthropy25, particularly during the workshop facilitated by the Peter Jones Foundation. This session explored how curiosity acts as a foundational skill, inspiring leadership, creativity, and resilience.

Participants discussed how curiosity can be nurtured and why it’s essential for developing future-ready leaders. The dialogue strongly resonated with our own research and thinking on The Curious Leader.

At Inspirational Group, we believe curiosity should be actively cultivated to encourage innovative thinking and drive positive change. You can explore more about our perspectives on curiosity here:

The Curious Leader: Why Curiosity is an Increasingly Important Leadership Trait

Creativity & Causes: Unlocking Potential Through Innovation and Purpose

Attended by Iain

This session explored how creative thinking can drive real societal change, with contributions from leaders in business, arts, and non-profits.

“Creativity is not discovered, it’s unlocked. It starts from the assumption that everyone has the ability to be creative, but traditional systems don’t always nurture that potential.” – Iain Robertson

By encouraging inclusive approaches that draw on diverse perspectives, creativity can be a powerful force for positive change. The session reinforced our belief that leadership and creativity must be unlocked, nurtured, and encouraged through innovative frameworks and collaborative efforts.

Looking Ahead

The Inspirational Group team left Anthropy25 feeling energized, inspired, and more committed than ever to our purpose of Inspiring Leadership for a Better Tomorrow. From critical thinking and creativity to inclusive innovation and intergenerational dialogue, the insights gained at Anthropy25 will continue to inform our work and strengthen our vision.

We’re excited to share our experiences, build on these learnings, and continue building connections that drive real, meaningful change.

Meet the Inspirational Group Team

We would love to keep the conversation going. If you’re interested in learning more about our perspectives or would like to invite one of our team members to speak at a future event, connect with them below: