Lessons on Connection and Inclusion from a Global 24-Hour Conference

Posted August 21, 2026

Reviewed by Tyler Woods

As organisational psychologists, we spend a lot of time thinking and talking about work-related issues across occupations and careers, but we rarely turn that lens on ourselves. One challenge of our own field is the name itself: depending on our country, professional body, or educational background, we might call ourselves industrial, organizational (or organisational), business, occupational, or work psychologists—or some combination of these.

Regardless of title, our goal is the same: making workplaces better for people, because we prioritise psychology and care about well-being. This shared motive was the driving force behind the initiation of the Global Work and Organisational Psychology Conference (G-WOP), a 24-hour online conference that brought together professionals from around the world to unite under this shared identity.

Global Connection Builds Stronger Occupational Identities

The online conference was a chance to feel part of a global community and to connect with colleagues around the world. Any one of us inevitably focuses on a narrow set of tasks or responsibilities day to day, but as human beings, we usually find meaning in feeling part of something bigger. In a world this large but virtually connected, online events can help us find our global tribe.

As one participant put it, ‘The conference was a great opportunity to see the power of uniting work psychologists around the world, feeling proud of our identity together and showcasing the various areas where we contribute as scientists, practitioners, or both.’ This sentiment was echoed by many participants who felt a sense of pride and connection to their global community.

Your Area of Work is Richer than You Think

To excel at our jobs, we naturally narrow our focus to specific interests, tasks, or responsibilities—a natural result of specialization and division of labour. But we shouldn’t lose sight of the broader context: we work, live, and function within a system where different actors and factors shape one another.

Making the effort to step outside our silos and stay aware of that broader context enriches our perspective and pushes us to keep developing. To get inspired, enrich your perspective, question your ways of doing work, and start thinking outside the box, you need to know where to look and how to learn from others’ experiences.

As one participant put it, ‘Being together on such an inclusive platform with people from all over the world with whom we share both theoretical and practical commonalities was not only emotionally but also intellectually fulfilling.’

Diversity and Inclusion Matter, and Can Be Addressed in Different Ways

Many people lack the means or access to attend in-person professional events, whether due to financial constraints, visa restrictions, caregiving responsibilities, or health considerations. If we genuinely want diversity and inclusion, we can use technology to close that gap and G-WOP’s own format is a good example of how.

Running for a full 24 hours meant no time zone was structurally excluded, and recording every session let people join on their own schedule rather than requiring everyone to be online at the same moment. Small design choices like these can open a professional community to people who would otherwise be left out.

We Can Bridge the Scientist-Practitioner Gap in Different Ways

Bridging the scientist-practitioner gap remains a major challenge in our field: research has limited impact unless it’s grounded in real-world challenges and translates into results at work, while practitioners who adopt an evidence-based, scientific approach create more positive and sustainable impact.

At G-WOP’s first meeting, 65 percent of participants placed themselves somewhere on a continuum between academic and practitioner, which stands as evidence of the conference’s power to unite scientists and practitioners in this field. That balance of research- and practice-based talks gave participants real-world examples and practical ways of combining science and practice.

High-quality online events can also be good opportunities for improving mutual understanding and collaboration across people who prioritise different areas of work since focusing too heavily on one perspective can mean missing the potential gains the others offer.

As one of the initiators of G-WOP, Nikita Mikhailov, put it, ‘If you want to explore your global community, strengthen your occupational identity, connect with people elsewhere who share your background and motivations, and learn from their experience, you can do it from your seat—especially thanks to the efforts of people like us.’

So, if you want to build your global community, excel in your job, and stay connected with like-minded professionals, G-WOP is an event you should definitely consider.

With its unique format and focus on uniting professionals around the world, G-WOP is an event that can help you achieve your goals and make a positive impact on your work and your community.

So, join the global community of work and organisational psychologists and experience the power of connection and inclusion for yourself.