What Comes Before Happiness?  This was the essential question that the data posed to happiness researcher Shawn Achor.  While recent advances in neurobiology and scientific methods have clearly demonstrated a link between happiness and success; the question they had NOT answered was: "Why do some people move toward a more positive state quicker and more easily than others?"

In his soon-to-be-released book, Achor answers this very question; and in doing so provides a blueprint for organizations that wish to capitalize on positivity.  In this enlightening session leaders and managers will learn how to adapt their organization and modify their leadership practices to create an environment where more people achieve happiness quicker - and the organization capitalizes on increased employee engagement and the power of positive results.
 
This session will bring this research to life by focusing upon Achor's research, case studies and best practices from his work with companies in 50 countries and over a third of the Fortune 100.

Shawn Achor is a New York Times bestselling author, Harvard-trained researcher, and one of the world’s leading experts on the connection between well-being and performance. Over 12 years at Harvard University, he won more than a dozen distinguished teaching awards before taking his groundbreaking positive psychology research to more than 50 countries and to more than one-third of the Fortune 100.

Shawn is the author of the bestselling books The Happiness Advantage, Before Happiness, and Big Potential, as well as the widely acclaimed business parable The Orange Frog. He is also the co-creator of the Happiness Advantage | Orange Frog Workshop, which helps organizations translate cutting-edge research into practical habits that drive engagement, resilience, and measurable performance gains.

His research on happiness and success has been featured on the cover of Harvard Business Review. His TED Talk is one of the most popular of all time, with over 27 million views, and his PBS lecture has been seen by millions worldwide. Shawn has worked with organizations including Microsoft, American Express, the NFL, and NASA.

He taught in the Advanced Management Program at Wharton Business School, conducted original research in collaboration with Yale University and Columbia University, and continues his research at the Institute for Applied Positive Research.

His upcoming book, The Power of Beliefs (Crown Currency, May 2026), explores how mindset drives sustainable performance.