Speakers

THE FUTURE OF HAPPINESS: LIFE-HACKS TO ENHANCE PERFORMANCE AND WELL-BEING WITH TECHNOLOGY

Technology—at least in theory—is improving our productivity, efficiency, and communication. Yet the proliferation of smartphones and Internet access also coincides with historically high levels of depression and life dissatisfaction. As the speed of innovation increases, researchers are turning attention to a crucial question: Will we continue to see declines in physical, emotional, and mental health due to our current use of technology, or can we use new strategies to harness technology and improve happiness and well-being? The answer is YES. In this talk, Amy Blankson shares simple, scientifically-proven, and practical life hacks to increase performance and well-being in the Digital Era.

MAKING YOUR TECH WORK FOR YOU: FIVE STRATEGIES FOR FINDING BALANCE IN THE DIGITAL ERA

The average mobile user checks their phones more than 150 times per day, and 67% of cell owners find themselves checking their phone even when they don’t notice their phone ringing or vibrating. Mindful attention is a scarce resource. As one of the world’s leading experts on the connection between happiness and technology, Amy Blankson unveils five strategies that successful individuals use to find a sense of balance between technology, productivity, and wellbeing in the Digital Age. In this talk, you will learn how to move from partial attention to full intention, how to hack your distractions to achieve maximum productivity and life satisfaction, and how to rid yourself of the tech graveyard in your office drawers to create more mental and physical space to do the things you love. By rethinking when, where, why and how we use technology, we can begin to recapture our focus, deepen engagement, and find flow in our everyday activities and relationships.

THE FUTURE OF HAPPINESS: CONSTRUCTING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS IN THE DIGITAL ERA

The greatest predictor of long-term levels of happiness is social connection. In this regard, technology either works for us or against. While some complain how technology is eroding the fabric of our society, recent studies show that it—and specifically social networking–can actually increase meaningful connections by helping to reinforce strong ties, facilitate collisionable hours, identify your tribe, and even strengthen your resolve in starting positive habits. In this talk, one of the world’s leading experts on the connection between happiness and technology Amy Blankson explains how we can shift from a world of inattention to one of full intention to create the type of deep meaningful connections that facilitate our growth and happiness.

STRATEGIC HAPPINESS: RETHINKING STRESS AND SUSTAINING POSITIVE CHANGE

Happiness is the greatest competitive advantage in the modern economy, yet so often it is seen as a luxury at work. However, a decade of research shows that training your brain to be positive at work actually fuels greater success. In fact, 75% of our job success is predicted not by intelligence, but by your optimism, social support network and the ability to manage energy and stress in a positive way. It is time to get strategic about how we can raise happiness levels at our organizations to empower teams to reach their full potential. Amy draws on her unique business experience as the Chief Operating Officer of GoodThink to empower teams that happiness is a choice, happiness is a habit, and happiness spreads. She explains what positive psychology is, how much we can change, and gives practical strategies for reaping the Happiness Advantage in the midst of change and challenge.

FEARLESS POSITIVITY FOR WOMEN: HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN POSITIVE LEADERSHIP

For women who balance multiple priorities, pursuing happiness can seem like a luxury they cannot afford. We think that if we can find success, then happiness will come; but instead, the goalpost for success gets pushed over the cognitive horizon and happiness remains elusive. Research from the field of positive psychology definitively shows how a positive engaged brain is the greatest advantage in the modern economy. So, the question is not how to make changes in our lives, but how we can not make changes when we know the benefits for our personal and professional lives. In this humorous, interactive talk, Amy highlights the three pillars of positive change by drawing on her experiences in the workplace and at home to help empower women leaders to reach beyond their fear to find their potential and sustain change in their lives.

SPECIAL TOPICS: THE POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY REVOLUTION FOR EDUCATORS AND NONPROFITS

The nonprofit and education world have unique challenges that have been well-studied in the field of positive psychology. Amy–named a Point of Light by two US Presidents for cracking the code on how to create positive change–combines her nonprofit experience as an Executive Director with her cutting-edge research at corporations like Google to illuminate the science of happiness in an applied, interactive and entertaining way. Learn how to minimize the effects of burnout by rethinking stress, how to inoculate the brain against negativity and setback, and how to create a renewable source of positive energy that maximizes your impact and tips the brains of people in your community or school towards the belief that our behavior matters.