About

Shawn Achor: Keynote Speaker on Happiness, Positive Psychology & Human Potential | Bestselling Author | Harvard-Trained Researcher

Happiness Isn't the Result of Success. It Can Help Drive It.

What if one of the biggest opportunities to improve performance, engagement and resilience is changing the way people think about happiness?

Shawn Achor is a bestselling author and internationally recognized keynote speaker on happiness, positive psychology, leadership and human potential.

Known for bringing positive psychology research to life with humor, memorable stories and practical strategies, Shawn challenges the traditional belief that we have to become successful before we can be happy. Instead, he shows audiences how cultivating a more positive mindset can help people improve performance, strengthen resilience and bring greater energy to their work.

Why Book Shawn Achor?

Shawn takes a topic everyone understands—happiness—and connects it directly to the challenges organizations care about: performance, engagement, resilience, leadership and change.

His approach isn't simply about encouraging people to “think positively.” Shawn translates research in positive psychology into practical behaviors people can incorporate into their everyday lives.

The result is a keynote that is funny, thought-provoking and highly actionable—giving audiences a fresh perspective on how they approach work, relationships, challenges and success.

What Makes Shawn Achor Different?

• Leading voice in positive psychology — helped bring the science of happiness into the business world
• Bestselling author — known for books including The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential
• Research-based message — connects positive psychology with workplace performance
• Exceptionally entertaining — combines research with humor and memorable storytelling
• Immediately actionable — practical habits audiences can begin using right away
• Broad audience appeal — relevant to leaders, sales teams and employees across an organization
• Positive and energizing — leaves audiences thinking differently about success and their own potential

Why Is Shawn Right for Your Audience?

Shawn is an excellent choice when you want your audience to leave energized, optimistic and equipped with practical strategies for improving their performance and wellbeing.

He is particularly effective for leadership conferences, corporate meetings, sales kickoffs, association conferences, employee events and organizations focused on engagement, resilience and workplace culture.

Book Shawn when your audience needs to:

• Increase engagement and motivation
• Build greater resilience during challenging periods
• Improve performance without simply increasing pressure
• Create more positive and productive workplace relationships
• Strengthen optimism during uncertainty and change
• Improve collaboration and social connection
• Develop practical habits that support wellbeing
• Recognize how individual behavior can influence team performance

Audience Takeaways

Attendees will leave:

• Understanding the relationship between mindset, happiness and performance
• Equipped with practical positive-psychology strategies they can use immediately
• Better prepared to maintain optimism during challenges
• More aware of how their behavior influences colleagues and teams
• Ready to strengthen relationships and social connection
• Motivated to create habits that support sustainable performance
• Inspired to rethink the traditional relationship between happiness and success

Shawn Achor Keynote Programs

The Happiness Advantage: What if happiness doesn't follow success—but actually helps create it?

Shawn challenges the conventional formula that says we'll be happy once we become more successful.

Drawing on positive psychology research, he shows audiences how developing a more positive mindset can influence motivation, creativity, resilience and performance.

Audiences leave with practical strategies for creating positive habits and bringing greater energy and optimism to both work and life.

Ideal for: Corporate conferences, leadership events, sales kickoffs, employee meetings and workplace wellbeing programs.

Big Potential: Our greatest potential isn't achieved alone. It's influenced by the people around us.

Shawn explores how individuals and organizations can move beyond focusing exclusively on individual achievement and instead create environments where people help one another perform at a higher level.

He demonstrates how stronger relationships, collaboration and positive influence can help teams unlock greater collective potential.

Ideal for: Leadership, teamwork, culture, collaboration and employee-engagement events.

Positive Leadership Through Change: During uncertainty, a leader's mindset doesn't affect only the leader—it can influence the entire team.

Shawn shows leaders how optimism, connection and positive behaviors can help teams remain engaged and resilient when circumstances are difficult or changing.

Audiences gain practical strategies for creating environments where people can continue learning, collaborating and performing despite uncertainty.

Ideal for: Executive meetings, leadership development, transformation initiatives and organizations navigating change.

Why Book Shawn Achor Through The Sweeney Agency?

Shawn Achor's combination of research, humor and practical positive psychology makes him an engaging choice for a wide range of audiences—but the real value comes from connecting his message directly to what you want your people to think, feel and do differently.

The Sweeney Agency can help you:

• Confirm Shawn Achor's availability and current speaking fee
• Determine which Shawn Achor keynote best fits your audience
• Discuss customization around your organization's objectives
• Coordinate format, timing and event logistics
• Compare Shawn with other leading motivational, leadership and workplace-culture speakers

Is Shawn Achor Right for Your Event?

Tell us what you want to improve—performance, engagement, resilience, leadership or workplace culture.

We'll help you determine whether Shawn is the right fit, confirm availability and fees, and make the booking process simple.

Planning a leadership conference, sales kickoff or corporate event? Contact The Sweeney Agency today [email protected] to discuss booking Shawn Achor as your keynote speaker.