How to Inspire More Joy at Work

In an era of rapid change and rising demands, leaders who actively nurture joy and well-being build cultures where people feel valued, perform at their best and stay committed for the long term.

From Dolly Chugh’s toolkit for increasing psychological safety and retaining top employees to Susan David’s frameworks for developing emotional agility, discover the thinkers helping managers build the necessary skills to lead thriving teams.

Read on to explore distinguished researchers and practitioners whose insights help executives unlock higher engagement, spark innovation and sustain resilience, creating workplaces where happiness and business success go hand in hand.

Enhancing Feelings of Connection in the Age of AI

Elizabeth Dunn, Ph.D., (University of British Columbia) delivers engaging workshops that provide participants with an uplifting, science-based toolkit for establishing a genuine sense of connection in person or remotely. She empowers audiences with practical strategies that can be put into practice right away to boost well-being at work, at home and within oneself.

Liz DunnProfessor of Psychology, University of British Columbia

Find the Joy in Climate Action

Jiaying Zhao, Ph.D., (University of British Columbia) outlines positive ways organizations can approach high-impact sustainability actions that can enhance well-being while protecting the planet. Audiences leave her sessions with immediately applicable frameworks to gain more confidence and competence for optimistically facing the challenges of climate change.

Jiaying ZhaoProfessor and Canada Research Chair, University of British Columbia

Harness Emotional Agility to Break Through Business and Personal Challenges

Susan David, Ph.D., helps leaders and their teams understand how navigating our emotions shapes our actions, careers, relationships, health and happiness.

Susan DavidPsychologist, Harvard Medical School

Cultivate Joy by Rekindling Optimism in the Workplace

Desmond U. Patton, Ph.D., (University of Pennsylvania) uses innovative AI and social work strategies to help companies reignite the sparks of joy and optimism that fuel innovation and productivity.

Desmond Patton31st Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professor, University of Pennsylvania

A Boss’s Toolkit for Increasing Psychological Safety and Retaining Top Employees

Dolly Chugh, Ph.D., (NYU) helps leaders intentionally bake inclusivity and psychological safety into every organizational level to achieve better results and have more productive teams.

Dolly ChughNYU Stern professor of management and organizations

Untethered: Reclaiming Imagination and Sparking Joy

Courtney D. Cogburn, Ph.D.’s research (Columbia University) explores the health benefits of imagination, framing it as a powerful, revolutionary tool that can ground us in being alive rather than tethered to oppression.

Courtney CogburnAssociate professor, Columbia University School of Social Work

Strategies for Uncovering True Happiness

Elissa Epel, Ph.D., (UCSF) guides leaders to reduce burnout and boost collective resilience through science-backed stress management. She empowers employees to see they have more control than they think over their well-being, and her presentations leave them with specific strategies they can use immediately.

Elissa EpelSarlo-Ekman Endowed Chair in the Study of Human Emotion, University of California, San Francisco

Applying Empathetic Leadership to Unlock Exceptional Team Performance

Lalin Anik, Ph.D., (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) reveals how building genuine human connections and community can dramatically elevate everyday happiness at work and unlock vast competitive advantages.

Lalin AnikAssociate Professor of Marketing, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

A Framework for Change: The Incredible Influence of Fun in Decision-Making

Cass Sunstein (Harvard Law School) offers practical strategies for crafting smart “nudges” and policies that create environments where people make happier choices every day. His noteworthy FEAST framework presents leaders with a streamlined methodology for driving individuals to take a desired action that benefits themselves and the organization.

Cass SunsteinRobert Walmsley University Professor, Harvard

How Communities Are Essential to Happiness

Jeremy Heimans (co-founder and Chairman of Purpose, which was acquired by Capgemini in 2020) is a leading global authority on the dynamics and implications of “new power,” which he describes as the ability to harness the energy of the connected crowd. In an insightful interview, Heimans reveals that engaged communities are an essential part of joy and happiness.

Jeremy HeimansCo-Founder and Chairman, Purpose

Practice Everyday Courage to Build Trust and Shape Innovative Cultures

Alex Budak (executive director of the Berkeley Haas Global Access Program and lecturer at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business) is an award-winning educator, entrepreneur and author who helps people cultivate courage, spark change and make an impact wherever they go. His standout article in Harvard Business Review, “6 Ways to Practice Everyday Courage,” reveals how leaders can practice aligning values with action in small, daily moments, which builds trust and sparks a more innovative culture.

Alex BudakFaculty, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business

Research shows that when employees are happy, they’re more productive and loyal. Stellant Group connects you with renowned thought leaders whose insights, strategies and management frameworks help organizations fuel growth and disruptive innovation to better compete in a constantly changing world. Let us arrange for these esteemed experts to advise your organization via virtual and in-person consulting sessions, workshops and keynotes.