Anthropy – Leave your ego at the door

April 21, 2026
by Paul Boross

… and bring your curiosity in

A few weeks ago, I found myself standing in what can only be described as the world’s most optimistic coffee queue.

Strangers smiling at each other. Conversations starting without introductions. People actually listening. Not a phone in sight. I briefly wondered if I’d wandered into a parallel universe.

I hadn’t.

I was at my second Anthropy UK conference.

The UK’s Answer to Davos (But With Better Coffee Queues)

For those who haven’t yet experienced it, Anthropy is often described as the UK’s answer to Davos. Around 2,500 leaders from business, government, education and the third sector gather at the Eden Project to explore how we might build a better Britain.

And this year, something shifted.

Since last year, I have taken on the role of Strategic Communications Mentor for the Emerging Leaders programme. A remarkable group of 18 to 30 year olds who make up around 10% of the entire gathering.

Not Waiting Their Turn

Now, I should confess something.

When I first heard the phrase “Emerging Leaders”, I half expected polite enthusiasm, a bit of nervous networking and the occasional over-rehearsed introduction.

What I encountered instead was something far more impressive.

Clarity, courage and curiosity.

These are not future leaders waiting their turn. These are present leaders already shaping the conversation.

My role is to help them find their voice, sharpen their message and step forward with confidence. In essence, to help them communicate in a way that matches the quality of their thinking.

Fun Fuels Forward Thinking

And here is where Humourology comes in.

Because if there is one thing I have learned over the years, whether in boardrooms, on stages or in comedy clubs, it is this:

Fun fuels forward thinking.

There is something about lightness that unlocks seriousness. When people feel at ease, they think more clearly. When they are allowed to smile, they are more willing to speak. When there is a sense of play, ideas travel further and faster.

Neuroscience backs this up. When we laugh, the brain releases dopamine, which enhances memory, learning and openness. In simple terms, when people feel good, they think better.

Movers Shakers and Smilers

At Anthropy, you can feel that happening in real time.

Yes, the conversations are serious. These are, after all, some of the biggest movers and shakers in the country. People working at the sharp end of policy, business, climate, education and social change. The kind of people who put the “great” into Great Britain.

But what makes Anthropy different is the atmosphere.

There is a generosity of spirit. A willingness to engage. A quiet understanding that we are all there not to perform, but to participate.

And that changes everything.

When Communication Becomes Human Again

I saw it in the Emerging Leaders sessions. Young people stepping forward, not because they had to, but because they wanted to contribute.

I saw it in the unscripted conversations. People connecting without agenda, without hierarchy, without the usual choreography of networking.

In other words, I saw what happens when communication becomes human again.

Three Humourology Takeaways

So what can we take from this into business and leadership?

Create the conditions for contribution
People do their best thinking when they feel safe enough to speak. A little warmth, a little humour and a little encouragement go a long way.
Take the work seriously, not yourself
The best leaders I met at Anthropy were deeply committed, but lightly worn. They understood that humility and humour are not weaknesses. They are access points.
Let energy lead the room
Before strategy, before structure, there is state. If the energy is open, ideas flow. If it is closed, they don’t. Leaders set that tone, whether they realise it or not.