1. Your Brain Is Built for Bonding We are hardwired to connect. Social interaction isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s essential for cognitive function, emotional health, and long-term success. Research from the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology found that positive social connection activates the same brain reward centres as money and food. Meanwhile, social… Continue reading The Science of Networking: Making Meaningful Connections
1. The Identity Shift Is Real and Measurable Leadership roles change how people behave and how they see themselves. In one study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, researchers found that individuals in high-status leadership roles often suppress their emotions and self-expression in order to fit perceived norms. Over time, this leads to emotional… Continue reading The Leadership Identity Crisis: How to Lead Without Losing Yourself
1. The Age of Dramatic Distraction Sharma painted a vivid picture of the modern professional’s daily reality: “We are addicted to distraction. We are addicted to technology. We are addicted to applause.” He cautioned that even the most talented leaders and performers are being pulled into a vortex of shallow focus, checking inboxes, chasing likes,… Continue reading Pendulum Rewind: Robin Sharma on Regret, Distraction, and the Power of Purposeful Leadership
1. Feedback Is a Relationship, Not a Transaction Many leaders treat feedback like a checklist item: give it, tick the box, move on. But truly effective feedback starts with context, care, and credibility. When people don’t trust the messenger, they won’t take the message on board. That’s why feedback culture begins long before a performance… Continue reading Feedback Loops: How Great Leaders Build Cultures That Grow
The Underrated Force Behind Every High-Performing Team “Decisions are the oxygen of great teams, individuals, and organisations,” David declared early in his talk. It was a line that landed powerfully — not just because of its simplicity, but because of its truth. In a fast-paced world, businesses often obsess over strategy, innovation and execution —… Continue reading David Meade: Small Changes, Big Impact at Pendulum Summit 2025
Into the Unknown: Swimming at the Edge of the World Nuala opened her keynote by transporting the audience to Cape Horn — the southernmost headland of South America, where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans collide in one of the most dangerous stretches of water on Earth. This was the setting of her 2018 expedition, a… Continue reading Nuala Moore: Fear, Fortitude and Finding Strength in Uncharted Waters
The Man Behind the Medals Despite being one of the most recognisable athletes in history, Agassi quickly shattered the myth that fame equals fulfilment. With disarming openness, he admitted that he didn’t love the game that made him a global icon. “I hated tennis,” he said plainly. “It was never my choice — it was… Continue reading Andre Agassi: From World Number One to Living with Purpose
From Identity to Impact: The Roots That Shape Leadership Reflecting on her early years, Mary spoke about her unique family background — a Belfast Protestant father, a Catholic mother from County Tyrone, and a household full of character, warmth and resilience. “I still say things like ‘a weak cup of tea’ — it never… Continue reading Mary Portas: Redefining Leadership with Heart, Humanity and Purpose
From Optimism to Overwhelm: A Leader Thrust Into Crisis Sanna began by reflecting on the moment she stepped into leadership — full of hope and ambition, ready to enact progressive policy reform. But instead of rolling out her domestic agenda, she was immediately faced with an onslaught of crises that required fast, decisive and morally… Continue reading Sanna Marin: Leading Through Crisis with Values, Vision and Courage
Here are the top takeaways from her session: 1. Work Has Become Overwhelming—But It Doesn’t Have to Be One of the most common complaints in the modern workplace is the feeling of being always on. Employees are inundated with emails, Teams messages, and late-night WhatsApp notifications. Armstrong highlighted how this culture of constant communication does… Continue reading Top Lessons from Christine Armstrong at Pendulum Summit: The Future of Work in 2030
