What happens when more than 2,000 leaders from business, government, education, academia, the arts, charities and civil society leave their titles – and their sector silos – at the door?
Lucy Knill is CEO of Anthropy, the UK’s largest gathering of future makers. After 25 years in events and communications, Covid brought home to her the irreplaceable power of human connection—and strengthened her resolve to put that experience to more purposeful use. An introduction to Anthropy founder John O’Brien, and a childhood connection with Eden Project co-founder Sir Tim Smit, brought her journey full circle. In this conversation, Lucy describes Anthropy as a place where diverse perspectives meet, challenge one another and create possibilities that no single discipline could reach alone: a living laboratory for collective intelligence.
We explore whether inspiring conversations can translate into meaningful change; why leadership is shifting from control and ego towards stewardship, responsibility and kindness; and why business leaders have an exceptional opportunity to help rebuild trust. Lucy also explains Anthropy’s four lenses – People, Place, Prosperity and Global Perspective – and its framework for moving from individual agency to collective impact.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Anthropy: https://anthropy.uk/
EARLY BIRD TICKETS FOR Anthropy27 – Sept only: https://anthropy.uk/national-gathering/
Book directly: https://eu.launchpad.swapcard.com/Anthropy27/registrations/Start 2026
Edelman Trust Barometer: https://www.edelman.com/trust/2026/trust-barometer
Anthropy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anthropy-uk/
Lucy Knill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-knill-7060b24/
HIGHLIGHTS
* Lucy’s unexpected path from the events industry to purpose-led leadership
* How Anthropy turns cross-sector dialogue into connection, collaboration and action
* The trust deficit – and why employers and CEOs carry growing responsibility
* Stewardship, honest communication and emerging leaders
* Why competence and kindness must work together
* Profit as the oxygen of business, rather than its purpose
* Small actions, multiplied: “What can you do? Do it.”
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction: why collective intelligence matters
03:45 Lucy’s path to Anthropy
14:00 Synchronicity, agency and purpose
19:38 What future are we trying to build?
22:13 Anthropy’s four questions
26:17 Trust, purpose and business responsibility
31:20 Leadership as stewardship
34:37 From conversation to practical change
44:35 The Eden Project: where connection becomes action
47:15 Emerging leaders and multigenerational wisdom
50:18 Anthropy
27: an invitation to take part
52:43 Hope, concern and inspiration
1:00:16 Advice for purpose-led entrepreneurs
1:02:29 Small actions, big change
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Anthropy: https://anthropy.uk/
Anthropy27 and tickets: https://anthropy.uk/national-gathering/
Book directly: https://eu.launchpad.swapcard.com/Anthropy27/registrations/Start 2026
Edelman Trust Barometer: https://www.edelman.com/trust/2026/trust-barometer
Anthropy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anthropy-uk/
Lucy Knill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-knill-7060b24/
#Anthropy #Anthropy27 #CollectiveIntelligence #Leadership #ConsciousLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeadership #Stewardship #Trust #BusinessForGood #FutureOfBritain
SPONSORED BY: This Meta-Conscious Leaders podcast is sponsored by Ultimate Goal Ltd: Partners in Personal, Leadership & Business Growth, Developing Personal Mastery, Emotional Intelligence and Transcendent Leadership https://www.ultimategoal.co.uk