Nataly Kogan
Founder of Happier, Inc., a global technology and learning platform enabling users to discover new methods of pursuing emotional wellbeing, TEDx Speaker, Author, Happier Now and The Awesome Human Project, Host of the REINVENT•ABILITY Podcast, Venture Capitalist & Successful Tech Entrepreneur
Nataly Kogan is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur whose superpower is helping people reinvent their stories and unlock their best, thriving selves.
Nataly immigrated to the US as a refugee from the former Soviet Union when she was 13 years old. Starting her American life in the projects and on welfare, she learned English by watching “Who’s the Boss?” on repeat.
She went on to reach the highest levels of career success at McKinsey and Microsoft, as a Managing Director at a venture capital fund, and as founder or executive at 5 startups and tech companies.
But after years of chasing a non-existent state of nirvana, Nataly suffered a debilitating burnout that led her to find a new way to live and work.
Nataly founded Happier Inc., whose gratitude sharing mobile app, courses, Happier @ Work and leadership programs have helped more than a million people lead more fulfilling lives.
She is a sought-after international keynote speaker and has appeared in hundreds of media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Time.
Nataly is the author of Happier Now, The Awesome Human Project, and The Awesome Human Journal, and hosts The Awesome Human Podcast that people call their “best-self hour”.
Nataly began painting when she turned 40 and is a self-taught abstract artist. She is passionate about the power of art to fuel our well-being.
She loves yellow, overuses the word “awesome”, and is the funniest person in her family. (Just ask her husband and daughter, her favorite awesome humans.)
HARNESSING REINVENT•ABILITY: EMBRACE GROWTH, UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL, AND CREATE THE POSITIVE IMPACT ONLY YOU CAN HAVE
In times of rapid change and uncertainty, one skill has become essential: the ability to reinvent ourselves. REINVENT•ABILITY is the dynamic ability to grow through change, uncover your unique gifts and dimensions, and continuously expand into your fullest potential — so you can create the lasting impact only you can have.
In this transformational keynote, Nataly shares her unique 5-step REINVENT•ABILITY™ Framework, designed to help individuals and leaders embrace transformation, unlock their unique gifts and top performance, and create a lasting positive impact. Drawing from her personal journey of reinvention as a refugee, entrepreneur, and artist, and the science of hopefulness, Nataly weaves together inspiring stories and practical tools to help you break free from limiting beliefs, take meaningful action, and unleash your true potential.
You’ll leave this keynote feeling empowered not just to grow through change, but to leverage your reinvention as a pathway to deeper fulfillment and positive impact.
THRIVING THROUGH CHANGE: HARNESSING CHANGE AS A CATALYST FOR GROWTH
In today’s world, change isn’t just constant–it’s accelerating. AI and other technologies are reshaping the way we work and live at a breathtaking pace. In this environment, resisting change is no longer an option. The key to success lies in learning how to embrace and thrive through it.
Nataly knows this firsthand. Arriving in the U.S. as a teenage refugee, she had no choice but to navigate uncertainty and find a way to thrive. Drawing from her “refugee mindset” of possibility and hope, Nataly excelled through constant change during her 20-year career as a serial entrepreneur and executive in tech and finance.
In this eye-opening keynote, Nataly shares her science-backed T.H.R.I.V.E. blueprint, empowering audiences to reframe change as an opportunity for growth, envision new possibilities, reconnect with their purpose, and lead with authenticity.
THE POWER OF AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP: CREATING TRUST AND EMPOWERING YOUR TEAM TO THRIVE
Leaders are constantly given advice to be authentic and vulnerable.
But for many, this feels like a contradiction to the qualities they’ve come to believe leaders should embody: confidence, strength, unwavering positivity.
With vulnerability, humor, and scientific insights, Nataly shares mistakes she made and lessons she learned during her 20 year career as a business leader wearing a “confident and positive” mask. She offers powerful mindset shifts to help leaders communicate with authenticity and immediately-accessible practices that leaders can use to lead with more compassion and humanness.
UNLEASH YOUR AWESOME HUMAN!: FUEL YOUR EMOTIONAL FITNESS, STRUGGLE LESS, AND THRIVE MORE IN WORK AND LIFE
Based on Nataly’s best-selling book, The Awesome Human Project, this keynote will activate you to prioritize your emotional fitness, fuel your energy, and show up as your best, thriving self in every aspect of your work and life.
With her signature mix of vulnerability, humor, and scientific research, Nataly shares her journey as a refugee who achieved immense career success, suffered a debilitating burnout, and discovered how changing her relationship with herself and strengthening her emotional fitness not only improved her well-being, but her ability to unleash her full awesome potential.
This keynote won’t just inspire you, but empower you with Nataly’s signature simple yet surprisingly powerful practices to mana
UNLOCKING CONFIDENCE: CRAFT AN EMPOWERING INNER NARRATIVE, BUST THROUGH DOUBT, AND CREATE THE IMPACT ONLY YOU CAN HAVE
From coming to the U.S. as a refugee when she was a teenager to becoming a venture capitalist at 25, being the only woman in the room for most of her career as a tech and finance executive, starting several start-up companies, writing two best-selling books, and becoming an artist at 40, Nataly is no stranger to having to overcome self-doubt and fear.
Weaving in vulnerable and powerful lessons she has learned on her journey, Nataly shares neuroscience insights, powerful mindset shifts and highly actionable strategies that audience members can use to break through limiting beliefs, create an empowering inner narrative, embrace their unique abilities, and boost their courage to do what feels deeply aligned with their purpose.
THE HAPPIER METHOD: 5 SCIENCE-BACKED SKILLS TO LIVE WITH MORE JOY AND ALIVENESS
Based on Nataly’s best-selling book Happier Now.
We’ve all gotten stuck in the “I’ll be happy when…” trap, believing that achievements or seeking perfection will bring us happiness. In this vulnerable and practical keynote, Nataly, the founder of Happier, a company that has helped more than one million people live happier lives, and author of the best-selling book Happier Now, shares her lifelong struggle of searching for the elusive “big happy” and how she finally made the mindset shifts that enabled her to live with more self-compassion, joy, and meaning.
Nataly redefines happiness as a skill that anyone can cultivate, and activates the audience to practice 5 core happier skills based on her science-backed Happier Method™. Audience members will be elevated, inspired, and armed with simple practices that can immediately fuel their joy.
We brought Nataly in for our North America Sales Conference in 2016 when morale was at an all-time low. While a departure from our usual guest speakers -- sales experts -- Nataly was a breath of fresh air. Her passion is truly inspiring! Nataly taught us the practice of gratitude and how to bring happiness into the workplace. She gave us easy tools that enable you to drive your own happiness, regardless of the situation around you. It was a very uplifting afternoon and it was exciting to see the team so energized. To quote one of our employees from that day…”this made me feel like MediaMath cares about us as humans.” After that, Nataly’s work lived on. We started a weekly ritual sharing post-its of what (or who) we were grateful for that week. It became a special tradition for our team every Friday afternoon and was always a positive experience. I would absolutely recommend Nataly. We first met Nataly almost a year ago and have actively implemented practices she taught us to bring more happiness into the workplace. My team calls her their hero.
Media Math
Nataly was the hit of the event. The reviews were fantastic and her message was absolutely perfect. What a delightful, inspirational woman she is.
Women Inspiring Women
Nataly’s accessible and personal approach made it easy for a diverse audience to connect with her message. She dared us to be happier and we are excited for the challenge!
Wentworth Institute of Technology
As the keynote speaker at our biggest event of the year, Nataly immediately captivated our audience of entrepreneurial young professionals. Her witty sense of humor, genuine passion for her work, and real world stories gave us inspiration (and many head nods and laughs!). Her positive energy is infectious, and our audience left feeling ready to take their careers to the next level thanks to her unique advice and words of wisdom. I'd highly recommend her as a speaker at any event.
Young Women in Digital
Nataly has an amazing personal story, and has created an impressive brand based on her believe in making each moment in life matter. Her passion for and belief in the power of happiness is palpable and allows her to connect with her audience in a unique way that provokes them to in turn reflect on how they can bring more happiness into their own lives. The power of Nataly's words continued to resonate within our walls long after she had left the building!
Mullen
Nataly addressed our entire community of 500 students and 100 faculty and did an amazing job. Her message is simple, powerful and thought provoking. We have seen lasting impressions of her message all over campus; stickers she handed out are on our student’s backpacks, “you rock” cards are being passed about, and most impressive, a student created “what makes you happy” board now resides in one of our dorms. She had a great effect on our community.
Tabor Academy
The Awesome Human Project
Happier Now
