At the cutting edge: Thriving not just surviving - fulfilment across the whole lifespan based on latest research and insights

Rationale and purpose of the session  

This session will focus on the important and worthwhile aspiration of fulfilment in the career space and beyond and will explore what it means not just to survive but to thrive throughout the lifespan, in both professional and personal domains. 

Whilst fulfilment is seen as a desired outcome, there is evidence that it may not be easy or equally available to all. 

This ‘At the Cutting-Edge session’ will set the scene by sharing some contemporary research on the topic, in particular identifying what factors make the biggest difference and pinpointing the six consistent and shared themes which have led to a new psychometric tool – the Work Fulfilment Scale. 

Fulfilment narratives can naturally shift in later life when achievement and work are no longer the primary organising structures of identity and meaning and, drawing on lifespan psychology and adjustment research, the session will also explore meaning for the age group, 60–80, which represents a psychologically distinct and under-theorised developmental stage within current career and lifespan discourse. 

This session will share key findings from doctoral research blended with fascinating insights from the wider Psychology community. Participants will be invited to join the conversation, reflect on practical implications, and to take away a brand-new model to boost their professional practice.  

They will also explore the implications for career development, supporting individuals through longer working lives, retirement transitions, and the decades beyond employment. 

Some fundamental questions will include: 

• How can we thrive, not just survive, in work? 

• How can we sustain fulfilment throughout our working lives? 

• What factors make the biggest difference? 

• Does fulfilment shift throughout the lifespan? 

• Is the experience different for men and women? 

• Is what we find fulfilling unique to each individual? 

• How is Olderhood as a developmental phase shaped by changing relationships with work, time, identity, contribution, embodiment, curiosity, and psychological adjustment? 

• Do longer lives necessarily imply continual striving or prolonged work-centred identities? 

• What are some practical implications for boosting professional practice around this topic? 

This two-hour session will comprise two input sessions, where highlights are shared from doctoral research as well as some practical suggestions and structures for supporting our work around the concept of fulfilment and thriving across the lifespan 

In addition, this session will be interspersed with interactive, small group discussions in break-out rooms, combined with whole group discussion and sense-making. Here we will reflect upon: what this means for our own careers practice? What questions are we left with? The session will culminate in a signposting to additional relevant resources and events to help us to continue with our CPD.  

As hosts of this session, NICEC Fellows Gilly Freedman and Kate Mansfield will guide us through our agenda; they look forward to seeing you there. 

Speakers 

Gilly Freedman NICEC Fellow

Gillian is a Professional Executive Accredited Coach with the Association for Coaching and a qualified Career Coach with an M.SC in Psychology from the University of Derby. She is also a qualified Career Coach Supervisor with Bath University and Joint-Lead tutor on CCS’s Accredited Career Coach Training.

She specialises in work with Doctors with a contract with the NHS and she also offers career coaching and coaching to a wide range of other clients. She is particularly interested in helping clients to tackle issues of confidence and help them identify and play to their strengths, interests and values.

As well as working with individuals, Gillian runs many career coaching development programmes and workshops including the well-established CCS Core skills training Her earlier career involved teaching abroad with the British Council and then taking several Training Manager roles with City firms before becoming an independent consultant.

Laura Walker 

Laura Walker is a recognised expert in careers and learning and development, bridging academic research and business practice. Passionate about evidence, she loves translating the latest research into accessible insights for practitioners via webinars, guest lecturing, or written content.

She was awarded the inaugural Bill Law award by NICEC for her work into career reinvention, is conducting PhD research into ‘The psychology of work fulfilment’ and regularly writes psychology-based articles. Her best-selling book 'Dancing with fear and confidence: How to liberate yourself and your career in mid-life' was published in November 2020.  

A practitioner at heart, Laura held Director-level positions for respected businesses across six different sectors including Retail (John Lewis Partnership), Pharmaceuticals (GSK), Insurance (Aviva), Oil and Gas (Centrica), Defence (BAE Systems) and Luxury Goods (Burberry). She now runs her own business - blending consulting, researching, and career coaching.

She is also a very amateur photographer, an enthusiastic (rather than talented) choir member, and a reluctant houser renovator. She only manages to stay human if she does something active every day.

Dr. Denise Taylor
 

Dr Denise Taylor is a Chartered Psychologist, author, and later-life commentator whose work focuses on fulfilment, identity, and meaning in the 60–80 age range and beyond. She holds a Professional Doctorate exploring meaning after full-time work, an MBA, and has over 25 years’ experience in career development and lifespan transitions.

She is the creator of the ThriveSpan framework and author of the forthcoming book ThriveSpan: Walking Gently Into What Matters Now, which charts a more conscious path through later life, where wellbeing, purpose, and reflection meet. Her work moves beyond traditional retirement and productivity narratives to examine Olderhood as a distinct life stage shaped by psychological adjustment, curiosity, contribution, and evolving identity.

Dr Taylor is also the author of Rethinking Retirement for Positive Ageing, Career Coaching for Midlife and Beyond and writes regularly on ageing and longer lives, including for the i paper, alongside wider media contributions. She speaks on fulfilment, longer working lives, and the psychological transition into older adulthood.

Agenda

Welcome

Gilly Freedman & Kate Mansfield

Introduction

David Morgan, Chief Executive, CDI
Why this topic matters: exploring its relevance for today's careers profession.

Session 1: Work Fulfilment – How We Can Thrive, Not Just Survive

Laura Walker

Breakout Discussions
Small-group discussions to reflect on key themes and share perspectives.

Plenary Discussion
Group feedback and discussion, followed by a short comfort break.

Session 2: Thrivespan for Later Life

Dr Denise Taylor

Breakout Discussions
Small-group discussions to explore insights and practical applications.

Plenary Discussion
Group feedback and discussion, followed by a short comfort break.

Closing Reflections

Gilly Freedman & Kate Mansfield