Festival of Work 2025: Key takeaways from day 2 – Jen Compton, Little Man Project

Another year, another fantastic Festival of Work in London and as always, it didn’t disappoint. This year felt particularly energising, with lots of brilliant conversations (especially with charities and not-for-profits) and a real buzz around accessibility.

This is the second part of a two-part blog post from Jennifer Compton from Little Man Project. In the first post on the Little Man Project blog, she provides her highlights from the show on day 1.

If you missed it, you can head over to their blog

Growth Mindset and the Power of Perspective

Matthew Syed reminded us that talent isn’t enough; it’s mindset that drives curiosity, learning and collaboration. A growth mindset encourages people to seek out diverse perspectives and fill in their knowledge gaps.

Supporting Wellbeing in a Polycrisis World

I’m always excited to hear Liggy Webb speak. This time, she focused on self-care during times of uncertainty.

Top takeaways:

Self-care ensures the world gets the best of you, not the rest of you.
Self-care isn’t just about resilience, it’s about endurance.
Boundaries aren’t selfish – they’re a sign of self-respect.
Keep wellbeing simple: sleep, nature, food, water, movement.

The Science Behind Happiness at Work

Applied futurist Tom Cheesewright offered a helpful reminder: happiness isn’t about beanbags or fun perks, it’s about achievement. To find that ‘flow’ state, work needs to be challenging but not overwhelming. Training and support play a huge role here.

Closing Inspiration from Alex Scott

An uplifting end to the event. Alex spoke candidly about the power of vulnerability and storytelling. Her message? Be a real model, not just a role model and believe in yourself before waiting for validation,

I finished the day in the wellbeing village, discovering my blood type and signing up to donate plasma, a fitting end to a day all about positive impact.

Jen Compton, Little Man Project

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