Masculinity in the Workplace - 2025 (In-person)

Brought to you by Token Man and The Hobbs Consultancy.

Welcome to Masculinity in the Workplace, designed specifically to engage men with creating inclusive cultures. Marking International Men's Day, the objective of our event is to give men both the reason and the skills to lean into the conversation, while also providing women and non-binary people with the confidence to engage more men in culture change. Because ultimately we can only make real change by working together.

Date: Weds Nov 19 2025

Time: 12.30pm to 6pm

Location: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL

Our speakers will share their insights and experiences, shedding light on the evolving dynamics of masculinity, leadership and culturein diverse work environments. You'll have the chance to ask questions, participate in interactive sessions, and network with like-minded professionals.

The theme for this year is 'Supporting Boys to Men to Role Models'. This year’s event will seek to understand the concerns and barriers that are in the way for boys and men, particularly looking at key inflection points in their lives. It will equip parents, leaders, friends and persons of significance in the lives of young men with the tools for self-reflection, effective role modelling and courageous conversations..

It will suggest that status-seeking and risk-taking behaviours are innate as boys become men, look at how this shows up for boys in 2025 and question what support could help these boys have a more positive initiation in to adulthood so that they are ready for the workplace. We know that there is a reverse gender pay gap and that schools aren't preparing students in the same way to enter the professional workplace - what needs to be done?

We will look at the behaviours that are role modelled by men once they are in the workplace. Is it healthy for us to look for male role models, or is a search for positive behaviours more effective? What can we learn from how men are represented on screen and in the media? And what can we do to support our men once they are in the workplace?

This site is for the in-person experience. Otherwise you can register for the online version here.

FYI - lunch will not be provided

This event is for anyone passionate about creating more inclusive, equitable, diverse and human workplaces, and we welcome attendees of all identities and expressions.

Historically, our audience has included around 60% men and 40% women or non-binary people, with a wide range of roles and lived experiences.

This year, we’re especially keen to welcome CEOs, HRDs, CMOs, Inclusion & Diversity leaders, People & Culture teams, and anyone working to engage men more effectively in their organisations. Whether you're a parent, people manager, or someone invested in systemic culture change, this event is for you.

• A deeper understanding of the generational divide - the hopes, aspirations of young men as they enter the workplace and the support that they need
• An understanding of what teenage boys are going through and how you can engage / support
• Insight into the role of positive male role models in creating healthy, inclusive cultures
• Tools for engaging men more meaningfully in inclusion and mental health conversations
• Practical micro-actions you and your organisation can take to support men, challenge stereotypes, and foster equity
• Stories of progress and transformation from organisations successfully shifting masculine norms
• A fresh perspective on the future of work - one where emotional expression, empathy, and vulnerability are recognised as leadership strengths

By attending, you’ll be joining a growing community of people committed to reshaping masculinity, unlocking allyship, and building workplace cultures where everyone can thrive - from boys and young men to senior leaders and everyone in between.

A huge thank you to our fantastic partners, it is so critical that companies weigh in on this important discussion:

* If you are interested in becoming a partner, please e-mail daniele[@]tokenman.org

EVENT SUPPORTERS

We are also super lucky to be supported by:

ACCESSIBILITY

The full event will have access to BSL interpreters.

We believe inclusion is fundamental in the creation of healthy workplace cultures. Which is why we want to make sure all of our events, physical or virtual, are inclusive and accessible to everyone. If you require any adjustments to make access to this event inclusive and equitable whether you're attending in-person or virtually, please contact Liz Carter via [email protected] and we will work together to make sure that effective adjustments are put in place.

And if you are struggling financially but would like to attend, please contact Liz about a free ticket. We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to attend.

Info: A thought provoking talk and conversation with evolutionary psychologist Dr. Becci Owens (Head of the School of Psychology at Sunderland and evolutionary psychologist) and 15-year-old Joshua Sargent (author-in-progress and lived-experience expert on the “manosphere.”) They will explore what evolutionary psychology tells us about the transition from boyhood to manhood, and how that intersects with the online influences shaping young men today.
With rising anxiety around masculinity, identity, and belonging, this keynote bridges evidence and empathy. They will be unpacking the biological drivers (like testosterone and status-seeking behaviour) alongside the lived reality of young men navigating online echo chambers. The session closes with practical reflections: if we know what boys need, how can we build systems that support them through this transition?

Info: How are young men learning what it means to “be a man”,and what happens when the stories they see on screen don’t reflect who they really are?
From action heroes to ad campaigns, fictional men play a critical role in shaping young men’s understanding of their identity and their place within society.
In this session, we’ll share insights from research by NRG and Channel Four, exploring the relationship between media portrayals of masculinity and the lived experiences of men today. We’ll unpack the role of these portrayals in creating cultural narratives around masculinity, and the impact they can have on men’s wellbeing and mental health.
We’ll also look at some characters providing models of masculinity that truly resonate with today’s young men, and what they can tell us about masculinity in the workplace and other real-world settings. Because shifting the narrative around masculinity opens the door to more honest, inclusive cultures–in the workplace and beyond.

Info: We’ll hear from a diverse panel about their searches for role models as children and adolescents, and how the concept of a “role model” has changed in meaning to them over time.

Info: Marcus Brigstocke is a touring stand-up comedian currently on the second leg of his nationwide tour, Vitruvian Mango. This critically acclaimed show takes a sharp, funny, and deeply human look at the roles men play in the 21st century - unpacking the mistaken thinking many of us fall for and exploring what we can do better, and enjoy more, in the process.

There’s no shame in being a man. In fact, a lot of it is pretty great. Other parts? Not so much. He will offer an invitation to leave behind the bits that no longer serve us and redefine masculinity for the world we actually live in. Along the way, Marcus reveals how we can find role models in the most unexpected places, and why those examples matter now more than ever.

Info: Choose between 1) Boys to Men: How can we create a route of passage for teenage boys in 2025 and beyond and 2) Men to Role Models: What can we do/have we done in organisations to support men to role model positive and inclusive behaviours?

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London, United Kingdom