Leaders from across the charity, membership, arts, heritage and horseracing sectors gathered for an exclusive day of insight, professional collaboration and candid conversation.
What connects us is more powerful than that which divides us. Driven by this core belief, CPL One Group officially launched The Common Room – a dedicated, exclusive space designed to bring a diverse portfolio of clients together to share experiences and knowledge, and to tackle the unique cultural and technological challenges of leadership today.
The National Theatre’s Buffini Chao Deck, with its stunning view of some of London’s iconic landmarks, provided a fitting backdrop for the day. Bringing together a select group of clients and friends of both CPL One and Cabbells, the day offered a rare opportunity to step outside of sectors, forge fresh connections and engage in lively debate.
The launch event featured three focused sessions addressing some core pressures facing organisations.
The day opened with a deeply resonant discussion: ‘Staying human in a polycrisis’. Panellists Billy Differ (chief operating officer, Delfont Mackintosh Theatres), Helen Kelly (director of communications, campaigns and digital, Nautilus International), Nicky Shepard (CEO, Abbey People) and Martin Bewick (content strategist, CPL One) explored how organisations can navigate shifting expectations, rising uncertainty and the challenge of maintaining deep human connection in a fast-moving world.
Shifting focus from cultural resilience to operational survival, the second session, ‘Forging diamonds under pressure’, tackled the realities of the current economic climate. Emma Jhita (CEO, The Institute of Conservation), Magali Horbert (sustainability and strategic communications manager, FIDI Global Alliance), Philip Newton (chairman, Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association), and Sarah Simpson (managing director, Cabbells), shared practical insights on how to deliver more with less, manage tightening resources and stay on course to reach organisational goals.
The final session of the day turned its attention to the horizon to tackle today’s hot topic: ‘After the hype… when AI becomes invisible’. Ivan Massow (co-founder, Noah Wire Services), Sajeeda Merali (CEO, Professional Publishers Association), and Alice Turner (head of people, Phyron AI), discussed the practical realities of artificial intelligence and looked at how emerging tech innovation will fundamentally change the future workplace.
Throughout the day, conversations and debate found plenty of common ground and fresh perspectives in the challenges CPL One Group’s clients are facing, how tech innovation can help meet those challenges, and how businesses are seeking to add value for their customers and membership bases.
CPL One’s central mission is to help people belong – and The Common Room is the embodiment of that goal. This inaugural event proved to be a relaxed, informative and useful touchpoint for our community. We look forward to continuing the conversations.
