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There’s an explosion of intellectual activity with the launch of the Midtown Big Ideas Exchange with School of Life. Here’s where to engage your brain
28 October 2014

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The Virtues of Modern Business

The Bloomsbury Ballroom

29 October 2014, 6-9pm

The School of Life’s Alain de Botton discusses the joys and challenges of contemporary working life.

10 things you need to know about the future

Rosewood London

5 November 2014, 6.30-8pm

Scientist, futurist and writer Ben Hammersley on how the continuing technological revolution will impact on the worlds of business, politics and culture. Introduced by Caroline Macleod-Smith of Yahoo!

Understanding the creative brain

The Cartoon Museum

11 November 2014, 6.30-8pm

Neuroscientist Professor Vincent Walsh discusses the science of creative thought.

Are we all creative professionals now?

Farrer & Co

19 November 2014, 6.30-8pm

Some of Midtown’s leading business minds, including Lucas Dietrich of Thames & Hudson, share their experiences on where creativity belongs, why it’s important and how it can feed our work. The discussion is chaired by Cathy Haynes, founding member of the School of Life.

Can we achieve a tech/life balance?

Google

25 November 2014, 6.30-8pm

In a world where we’re rarely more than a swipe away from communication, entertainment and the office, are we losing sight of what really matters? Hosted by Google with the London Evening Standard — Sarah Sands, editor of the Standard, introduces the panel, which includes, digital commentator Tom Chatfield, comedian and actor David Schneider and the Standard’s technology editor Jasmine Gardner.

Truth, Lies and Business: A Philosophy Breakfast

Grange Holborn Hotel Sky Bar

2 December 2014, 8-10am

Mark Vernon and Robert Rowland Smith, two of The School of Life’s resident philosophers, discuss the themes that impact business, including risk, responsibility and fear.

A question of trust

Grange Holborn Hotel

14 January 2015, 6.30-8pm

Do you trust your colleagues, clients and customers and if not, does it matter? Trust specialist Dr Brennan Jacoby has the answers.

Leadership in times of change

Mitsubishi Corporation

21 January 2015, 6.30-8pm

Today the only thing we can be ceratin of is uncertainty. The School of Life brings together a panel of leaders from a variety of industries, including Andrew Fraser, senior adviser, Mitsubishi Corporation, to discuss the challenges facing the leaders of today and tomorrow, and to share some big ideas about the best ways to tackle them.

The joys and perils of ambition

Olswang

29 January 2015, 6.30-8pm

Author of the best-selling book Office Politics, psychologist, broadcaster and presenter Oliver James will look at the psychology of ambition and how individuals and organisations can think differently about what motivates us and how we can develop healthy relationships along with our own ambitions.

Work: love it or hate it?

AECOM

4 February 2015, 6.30-8pm

As we work longer hours and the prospect of retirement retreats further into the future, the importance of enjoying our work and successfully navigating the inevitable stresses of working life, is more important than ever. Panellists include Anita O’Brien, director at the Cartoon Museum, and the discussion will be led by The School of Life’s Gaylene Gould.

A Happy, Healthy Workplace:

Conversation Cocktails

Hoxton Holborn

11 February 2015, 6.30-8pm

TV journalist, business coach and author Tazeen Ahmad leads a thought-provoking discussion about some of the most important questions faced by organisations in today’s business world.

Happiness works

Mishcon de Reya

17 February 2015, 6.30-8pm

Researcher and founder of the Happiness Works research group Nic Marks challenges us to rethink the way we measure business success and makes a compelling case for promoting happiness at work.

Get tickets for all the events (they’re free, but numbers are limited) from inmidtown.org/bigideas. Tickets for the Virtues of Modern Business cost £30, from theschooloflife.com.

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