?? “You don’t have to be ill to be better.” ??

This powerful opening message from The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, set the tone for an insightful day at the #MADWorld Summit yesterday.

There was so much interesting debate and learnings, I've written an article about it!

It was particularly special to have the opportunity to meet the formidable workplace wellbeing champion and legend Dame Carol Black, as well as getting to make lots of new connections and see some familiar ones too.

Here are my key takeaways from the day:

?? Surround yourself with people who share your values and passion. Uplifting, thought-provoking conversations emerge when you connect with those who have dedicated their careers to serving others.

?? Only half of organisations have a wellbeing strategy – and too few take it seriously. Peter Cheese, CEO of CIPD raised key questions: How do we train managers better? How do we create more responsible businesses? How do we offer meaningful support to employees?

?? A personalised approach is essential to creating impactful change. Dhavani Bishop from Tesco reminded us that “one size does not fit all.” It’s crucial to tailor support and DEI efforts to meet diverse needs and expectations.

?? Defining and operationalising culture is key. Christian von Stalk from RAND Europe asked the critical questions: How do you define culture? How do you measure it? And importantly, how do you make it work for your organisation? As our health service struggles to meet demand, these considerations are more urgent than ever.

?? Prevention is better than cure. Dr Clare Fernandes MFOM, BBC’s Chief Medical Officer, echoed a timeless truth in health and wellbeing, underscoring the need for proactive strategies over reactive fixes.

?? People are the ambassadors of your culture. Kirstin Furber from Channel 4 reminded us that, in today’s world of work, employees are empowered to shape their careers and workplaces. They expect more integrated work-life blends, enabled by tech and post-pandemic shifts.

?? Psychological safety matters. Maktuno Suit of WPP emphasised the need for both peer support and top-down approaches to foster a safe and trusting workplace.

?? Data can help bridge the gap between health, safety, and wellbeing. Enoma Woghiren MBA, MSc(Eng) from National Grid shared how data can elevate wellbeing to the same level of importance as health and safety.

?? The challenges of measuring intangible factors like workload are real, but critical. Martha Tracey of Givaudan raised an important question: should we follow the examples of France and Australia to make psychosocial risk assessments mandatory?

?? Wellbeing shouldn’t be something that is “done to” employees. Josephina Smith from British Airways Holidays highlighted the importance of storytelling in linking strategy to wellbeing, empowering employees to take ownership of their experiences.

From debates on culture and wellbeing to sessions on personalised employee support, it’s clear that businesses must embed wellbeing into their core strategy if they want to drive meaningful change.

Yes individuals can play a part and we need everyone to have access to personalised support to enable better habits and learning but, as Vanessa Harwood-Whitcher from IOSH said, “Good corporate governance is the ultimate catalyst for seismic change.”

Let’s continue pushing for a future where wellbeing is central to how we work, lead, and live.

Does your organisation have a wellbeing strategy? And where do you think the responsibility lies for wellbeing in your organisation - with leaders or colleagues?

#Wellbeing #MADWorldSummit #Leadership #CorporateGovernance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #WorkplaceCulture #DEI #WorkLifeBlend #WellbeingStrategy