The State of Digital Work Keynote | Digital Wellbeing Week 2026 | Day 1

What if the challenge with modern work isn't people, productivity, or even technology... but the way work itself has been designed? In this opening keynote of Digital Wellbeing Week 2026, Philippa Perryman explores how the workplace has evolved over the last 25 years and why so many people feel busier, more connected, and yet more exhausted than ever before. Drawing on research from organisations including Microsoft, Gallup, Cisco and HiBob, Philippa examines the growing gap between human capability and organisational design, challenging many of the assumptions we've inherited about productivity, communication, wellbeing and success. This session isn't about productivity hacks or wellbeing tips. It's an invitation to think differently about work itself, asking what kind of workplaces we're creating and whether they're truly helping people thrive. From AI and hybrid working to communication overload and workplace culture, this keynote sets the scene for an important week of conversations about the future of work.