Why Not IWellbeing

Engagements / Workplace Wellbeing / 2025

Where wellbeing and high performance meet.

Why Not I at the Wellbeing at Work World Summit in Manchester.

At the Wellbeing at Work World Summit in Manchester, Why Not I brought lived experience and lessons from elite sport into a wider conversation about leadership, workplace culture and sustainable performance.

The fireside session was delivered by Wellbeing at Work World CEO Chris Cummings, with Why Not I founder Kofi Josephs joining as guest speaker.

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Chris Cummings hosting a fireside conversation with Kofi Josephs before a corporate audience at the Wellbeing at Work World Summit

A past speaking engagement

Moving workplace wellbeing beyond words

The Wellbeing at Work World Summit brought together C-suite leaders and corporate professionals to explore the future of health, leadership and culture in the workplace.

Wellbeing at Work World CEO Chris Cummings delivered the fireside session, with Kofi Josephs joining as guest speaker. Kofi contributed insights drawn from his experience as an international basketball player, psychology graduate and mental health advocate, exploring what elite sport can teach organisations about pressure, leadership, individual support and the conditions people need to perform sustainably.

The conversation challenged the idea that wellbeing and high performance sit on opposite sides. When leaders understand their people, model healthier behaviours and create the right culture, wellbeing can become part of how strong and consistent performance is achieved.

Chris Cummings and Kofi Josephs in conversation on stage at the Wellbeing at Work World Summit
Kofi Josephs responding during the fireside conversation hosted by Chris Cummings

Leadership · Culture · Performance

Three ideas brought into the room

The conversation connected lessons from high-performance sport with the everyday responsibility of leading people well.

  1. 01

    Leadership sets the culture

    Workplace culture is shaped by what leaders consistently demonstrate, support and prioritise. Without visible action from leadership, wellbeing risks becoming a message rather than a lived part of the organisation.

  2. 02

    Performance and wellbeing can reinforce each other

    Supporting people does not mean lowering ambition. The right environment can help individuals manage pressure, remain consistent and pursue excellence without treating their wellbeing as expendable.

  3. 03

    People cannot be led as identical units

    Every person responds differently to pressure, communication and support. Effective leadership requires attention to the individual while creating the conditions for the wider team to succeed.

Kofi Josephs in conversation with a corporate professional following the summit session

Lived experience and leadership

The person behind the performance

Elite environments often celebrate visible achievement without acknowledging the pressure, uncertainty and personal experiences carried by the people performing within them.

By speaking openly about ambition, adversity and mental health, Kofi gave workplace leaders a different way to consider performance: not simply as output, but as something shaped by identity, environment, support and the ability to speak honestly when things are difficult.

This is central to the Why Not I approach. Lived experience can make complex conversations human, create permission for greater honesty and help move an audience from awareness towards action.

Kofi Josephs speaking with attendees after the Wellbeing at Work World Summit session

From reflection to action

A conversation designed to continue

The engagement extended beyond the fireside conversation through discussions with attendees and the introduction of Kofi’s memoir, Why Not I?, and the Why Not I Journal. These resources were shared as tools for reflection, self-belief and personal development.

The purpose was not simply to deliver an inspiring moment. It was to encourage people to consider what they could change in their own leadership, teams and working environments after leaving the room.

Testimonial from Chris Cummings, Chief Executive of Wellbeing at Work World

Feedback from the host

“Kofi is an inspirational speaker who I would highly recommend. When he spoke at the Wellbeing at Work Summit, the feedback from our audience was incredible and it was clearly a highlight for them. Kofi has a unique blend of engaging audiences with his passion and personal story and a communication style that delivers a powerful message. He is a joy to work with and a lovely guy who I would highly recommend”

Chris Cummings

Chief Executive, Wellbeing at Work World

Documentary gallery

Inside the summit

The fireside conversation in the room, followed by discussions with corporate professionals attending the event.

A wide view of Chris Cummings and Kofi Josephs speaking before the summit audience
Kofi Josephs speaking as part of the fireside conversation hosted by Chris Cummings
Chris Cummings listening as Kofi Josephs contributes to the fireside conversation
Kofi Josephs talking with corporate professionals after the summit session
The corporate audience listening to the fireside conversation with Chris Cummings and Kofi Josephs

Why this engagement matters

Better cultures begin with honest conversations.

This engagement demonstrated how Why Not I can bring lived experience, inspiration and practical reflection into professional environments. It connected the realities of human wellbeing with the responsibilities of leadership and the pursuit of sustainable performance.

The same underlying principle applies across workplaces, sport and communities: meaningful change becomes more possible when people feel able to speak honestly, see new possibilities and take a practical next step.

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Why Not I works with organisations, institutions and communities to create honest conversations around mental health, aspiration, lived experience and positive action. Tell us about the people you want to reach and what you want the engagement to make possible.

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The first link opens Kofi Josephs’ professional speaking website. Get involved stays within Why Not I Wellbeing.