Better Futures Leader Phil Eayres arrived in Cambridge after a three-decade career in strategy and transformation. Today, he’s using his time on the Better Futures Programme to rethink how individuals and institutions can create meaningful change, and to shape the next chapter of his professional life.
A Career Built on Better Futures
Phil’s background spans 30 years in senior roles across the business world, with a consistent thread: improving the future.
“All my roles have really been about making the future better than today; strategy, transformation, enabling organisations to thrive,” he explains. “I came to a natural pivot point where this was the perfect time to take a year to reset and think about what the next phase of my career should be.”
After completing a degree at Oxford, Phil spent many years helping organisations navigate change. But with his youngest child leaving for university and a major professional milestone behind him, he recognised an opportunity to pause and reevaluate.
“I wanted something that would enable me to reset, rethink, pause, and commit the rest of my working life to something genuinely meaningful for me,” he says.
Discovering the Better Futures Programme
Phil describes finding the Better Futures Programme as “serendipitous.” What began as a passing interest quickly turned into something much more significant once he explored the programme in more depth and spoke with members of the team.
“I almost cancelled the initial conversation because I thought there was no way it could work practically for me,” he admits. “But once I learned more about what the programme offered, I was hooked.”
What struck him was the blend of intellectual challenge, purpose driven community, and the opportunity to pause and reorient his career.
“It became clear that this was the right thing at the right time. My wife was supportive, and the programme offered exactly the reset I needed.”
The Better Future Programme, launched in 2024 by University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education, supports mid to late career leaders seeking to create positive societal impact by connecting them with Cambridge researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and a global cohort of peers.
Immersed in Cambridge’s Ideas Ecosystem
What drew Phil most was the opportunity to step into a completely different environment.
“Being somewhere different with different people broadens your perspective on the world and your place within it,” he says. “And this isn’t just any environment, it’s Cambridge. You’re surrounded by people who are the best in the world at what they do.”
As a Better Futures Leader, Phil has been able to meet academics across the University, explore cross disciplinary research, and follow intellectual threads wherever they lead. A key theme of his work is understanding how institutions can drive transformation in ways that support both organisational outcomes and human wellbeing.
“Lots of theories treat humans as we wish they behaved, not as they actually do. Here, I’ve been able to underpin my work with real insights from social psychology; how people behave, what enables them to flourish, and how change really happens.”
Learning from a Diverse and Inspiring Cohort
Phil speaks warmly of his fellow participants; a cohort of 22 leaders from different countries, disciplines, and professional backgrounds. The variety of perspectives has been one of the most enriching parts of the experience.
“It’s a bewilderingly capable and inspiring group,” he says. “Every session brings a different perspective on the world. When you put people together who all want to create a better future, the energy is remarkable.”
What stands out for him is the intellectual and cultural mix.
“We’ve got people exploring everything from biology to politics, behavioural economics to anthropology. That diversity of thought makes every conversation richer than the last.”
Exploring the Ideas Shaping Tomorrow
From discussions on frugal innovation to climate solutions and behavioural economics, the programme has opened doors to unexpected avenues of learning. Phil highlights a conversation with Professor Jaideep Prabhu on innovation in resource constrained environments:
“It made me rethink innovation entirely, how scarcity, not abundance, often sparks genuine ingenuity.”
Climate research sessions have also been both sobering and hopeful.
“The message isn’t naïve optimism, it’s grounded hope. We have the technologies to reduce emissions. The urgency is real, but so is the potential for progress.”
Advice for Future Applicants
Phil is clear eyed about who the programme is, and isn’t, for.
“Don’t come if you just want a nice time in Cambridge for a year,” he says. “Do come if you’re at a pivot point and want a year among an inspiring community to turbocharge the next chapter of your career.”
He emphasises that the programme provides the ecosystem, but participants must bring the drive.
“It’s not about the programme making you better. It’s about you making yourself better. Cambridge is simply the perfect environment in which to do it.”
Looking Ahead
Phil hopes to apply his learning to organisations working in social innovation, climate, health, and other areas where people and systems must evolve together.
“We can be agents of change. That’s why we’re here.”
Start your journey toward meaningful impact with the Better Futures Programme.