The BOSS Leaders of the Future (LOTF) Conference drew a full house on 10 April at Fellowes Brands’ UK headquarters in Doncaster. It offered a high-energy and thought-provoking day focused on emotional intelligence (EQ) and conflict resolution.
After a warm welcome from Fellowes Brands UK & Ireland Sales & Marketing Director Darryl Brunt, the day kicked off with a dynamic keynote from Nick Saunders titled ‘Connection, Collaboration, Conflict Resolution: Turning Relationships into Results’.
His highly interactive session centred on the importance of self-awareness, strategic listening and authenticity in leadership, offering practical tools attendees could apply immediately within both their professional and personal lives.
Saunders’ core message – that collaboration, communication and conflict resolution starts with understanding yourself – resonated throughout the event. From his ‘pause, listen, learn and adapt’ approach to connecting with customers, to a one-minute checklist for navigating difficult conversations, attendees were equipped with tangible techniques to improve future interactions.
Pathways to progress
In the afternoon, Linsey Adams, Head of Trade Marketing and Customer Activation at Reckitt Pro Solutions, gave a refreshingly honest talk about her career journey, urging delegates not to feel pressured by a fear of making mistakes. “You don’t have to follow a set path, especially as a woman in this industry,” she said.
Delegates then broke into one of three expert-led workshops focused on core leadership skills, each providing real-world guidance and interaction in a more intimate setting. These were:
- Leanne Gregg, People Director at evo Group, led a session on using emotional intelligence to mediate workplace conflict.
- Jonathan Smith, consultant at Avery UK, presented on winning negotiations through stronger customer connections.
- Darryl Brunt explored the challenges of developing emotional intelligence as a leader and how to overcome them.
All four industry speakers reconvened for a candid panel led by Avery UK’s Head of Sales and LOTF committee member Shaun Tidman. They discussed mentorship best practices, including the value of impartiality, and the evolving role of emotional intelligence in workplace culture. “IQ gets you through the door,” Gregg stated, “but EQ helps you succeed.”
LOTF also announced two new initiatives: the NextGen Mentoring Programme and the Core Skills Programme – a webinar series running into 2026. Both are supported by the evo Foundation, with more details to be shared soon.
- The next in-person LOTF Conference will take place on 27 November 2025 in Manchester, before the BOSS Awards.
- The LOTF Committee encourages future leaders to join the Community Hub on the BOSS website to access keynotes and conference recordings
