Much of today’s future-of-work narrative focuses on tools, systems, and efficiency. Organisations invest heavily in technology and conversations are often centered towards AI. Despite this, many organisations still struggle to engage their people, sustain learning, and build high-performing cultures which are genuinely embraced rather than resisted.

In this enlightening discussion, Niluka Kavanagh, MA Oxon, brings a leadership and behavioural science lens to the future of work, drawing on her experience across large enterprises, start-ups, and executive advisory roles. She explores how leaders influence engagement, learning, and adaptability through the way they communicate, create meaning, and shape everyday working environments. What are the human drivers behind performance and engagement and what really makes people tick?

Rather than framing leadership as a function of role or title, the session challenges traditional assumptions and focuses on leadership as a set of behaviours that encourage trust, curiosity, and continual development. Behaviours and approaches that ultimately get the most out of people, in a way that truly understands them. Niluka examines how shifts in the workforce are changing expectations around work and what it means to work and why organisations that fail to address these human dynamics risk undermining even the most advanced learning and technology strategies.

This session is not a prescription for learning strategy, but a provocation for those who design and support it. Attendees will leave with fresh perspectives on how leadership, behavioural insight, communication and purpose all influence engagement at work, and why these factors are becoming even more critical as technology reshapes how we work today.