This is Me: Managing with Compassion event recap

Professionals from across the City joined at the end of February for our Managing with Compassion workshop. Kindly hosted by PwC, the thought-provoking afternoon explored practical strategies for fostering empathetic leadership, strengthening workplace culture, and supporting employee wellbeing. 

Phil Canale, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at MindForward Alliance and Chair of the This Is Me Steering Group chaired the event, launching the discussion with some powerful opening remarks on the theme. 

Reflecting on what compassion really means, he said:

"Compassion is the ability to stay human in moments of pressure, and to remain curious rather than judgmental."   

Sean Maywood, Mental Health First Aid Instructor at PwC then stepped in to moderate a panel discussion exploring practical approaches for balancing business demands with pastoral care, navigating common challenges and strengthening supportive workplace practices.  

Together, the panellists Simon Gilbody, Professor of Psychological Medicine at the University of York, Tanya Marwaha, Co-Founder of Synkora Consulting and Patrick McCann, Chief Executive of The City of London Law Society explored the realities of compassionate leadership.  

Sharing advice he was given early in his career, Simon urged managers not to confuse "confidence with competence’" He also noted that avoiding difficult conversations often fuels "absenteeism and presenteeism" and that "it is important for managers to push through uncomfortableness and have those conversations about performance."  

Patrick reflected on authenticity at work and encouraged organisations to question unsustainable performance cultures while encouraging everyone to make use of any health benefits their organisation provides. Tanya highlighted the importance of clear expectations and shared responsibility for maintaining boundaries.   

Sean wrapped up the panel discussion with a powerful analogy that he uses in Mental Health First Aid training: 

"If I’m drowning in the deep end and you jump in when you’re not a lifeguard, you’re making the problem worse. To help, you need to stay on the sidelines and throw in a ring."  

Following the panel, participants moved into group discussions to share practical examples of balancing pastoral care with business performance. Conversations centred on best practices they had seen or implemented, alongside the obstacles that can make compassionate management challenging.  High-stress, high-demand environments were widely recognised as a key barrier. 

In response, groups highlighted the importance of building trust, embedding regular wellbeing check-ins, role modelling openness at senior levels, and setting clear cultural expectations to support both people and performance. 

Find future programme events here