The Happiness Squad Podcast with Ashish Kothari

Have you ever stopped to think about how much of your life is spent at work? It's a staggering amount, and yet, so often, we treat our work life as something to endure rather than enjoy. Integrating wellbeing at work isn't just a fancy concept; it's a necessity for a fulfilling life.In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Dr. Steven MacGregor, International Speaker & Chief Wellbeing Officer, shares tips and tricks to unlock your wellbeing and performance at work.Dr. Steven MacGregor is a teacher who has taught over 30,000 executives face-to-face, and a further 250,000 online through his Sustaining Executive Performance program. He also taught at IMD in Lausanne and CIBS in Shanghai. His varied clients include McKinsey & Company, Salesforce, and Uber. This global exposure has given him a keen sense of cultural awareness and a deep understanding of how to inspire and change behavior.He's currently an adjunct professor at Madrid's IE business school and is a prolific author who, over the past 11 years, has either authored or co-authored a total of six books. These include Sustaining Executive Performance, Chief Wellbeing Officer, and The Daily Reset.In our conversation, we explore further the importance of work-life integration.Things you will learn from this episode:The importance of work-life integrationThe Value of Adaptability and Learning from FailureBuilding Resilience and a Growth MindsetThe Role of Community and Meaningful Connections in enhancing well-being at workUnderstanding Sustainable Leadership Ready to turn your workday around? Tune into our latest podcast episode on wellbeing at work and discover the secrets to a happier, more productive work life! Listen now 🎧Resources:Keynote speech: Beyond the Hateful 8, by Dr. Steven P. MacGregorFavorite song: Tinseltown in the Rain by The Blue NileBooks:Sustaining Executive Performance: How the New Self-Management Drives Innovation, Leadership, and a More Resilient WorldChief Wellbeing Officer: Building better lives for business successThe Daily Reset: 366 Nudges to Move Your Life Forward (Chief Wellbeing Officer)A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Are you feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unproductive all at once? Chances are, you’re experiencing burnout. It’s quite a prevalent challenge in both our personal and professional realms. However, there are transformative strategies that can help you reclaim your happiness.In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Anil Ramjiani and Ashish Kothari welcome Dr. Neha Sangwan, a mechanical and biomedical engineer, as well as an internal medicine physician. After a decade of caring for hospitalized patients, she realized she could be of service to people long before they show up in the emergency room. In 2008, she left her partnership and founded her own company, Intuitive Intelligence.As an entrepreneur, speaker, author, and executive coach, Neha combines the art of communication with the science of medicine to transform workplace cultures. She combines the science of medicine with the art of communication to bridge health, happiness, and performance. She's a three-time TEDx speaker and the author of "Talk Rx" and "Powered by Me," her most recent book.In the conversation, Ashish, Anil, and Dr. Neha tackles the pervasive issue of burnout, dissecting its three core elements: exhaustion, cynicism, and ineffectiveness. Things you will also learn in the episode:The Concept of Me, We, WorldThe Triad of Burnout3 Phases that Lead to BurnoutHow to Cope with BurnoutThe importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence in fighting burnoutThis is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand and overcome the challenges of modern-day stress.Tune in now and reclaim your inner happiness and well-being!Resources:/Website: intuitiveintelligenceinc.com Books:/Powered by Me: From Burned Out to Fully Charged at Work and in Life

Success in today’s fast-paced world is often measured by material wealth and personal achievements. But what if the richest person isn't the one with the most achievements, but the one who's happiest? Happytalism challenges the capitalist narrative by placing joy and well-being at the center of success.Welcome back to the HAPPINESS SQUAD podcast! In this episode, Ashish and Anil explore innovative ways to unlock inner happiness through Happytalism with Luis Gallardo, the visionary Founder and President of the World Happiness Foundation and World Happiness Festival.Luis Gallardo is the author of ‘Happytalism’. He's also authored the exponentials of happiness. Over the years, Luis has been an advisor to CEOs, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, Nobel laureates, and political institutional game changers on strategic personal positioning and brand building.Luis's remarkable journey began at the age of 25 in war-torn regions, leading him to establish a foundation and festival with the ambitious mission of reaching 10 billion happy people by 2050.Here are some highlights from the episode:The Concept of Happytalism and its 3 Key PillarsThe 3 levels of ConsciousnessThe Difference between Contemplation and ThinkingSo the question now is: By 2050, can we transform our beliefs to create a world where joy is at its core? Let's redefine success where happiness and well-being are as valued as profits and power. Tune in now and dive into the world of Happytalism.Resources:Important dates: March 20, International Day of HappinessMarch 8 to 10, Gross Global Happiness at the University for PeaceMarch 15 to 17, World Happiness Fest in SpainMarch 22, World Happiness Fest in MiamiMay to June, more festivals in Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, and 100 cities around the worldWorld Happiness Foundation: https://www.facebook.com/worldhappinessf World Happiness Fest: https://www.facebook.com/watch/WorldHappinessFest/Books:Hardwired for Happiness Happytalismo by Luis GallardoWhy Happytalism matters for the continued existence of the human race The Exponentials of Happiness: Reaching Exponential Happiness, for ALL.

We often think of leadership as leading others. Yet, there's another style of leadership that begins with a deep dive into our own selves. This is what conscious self-leadership is all about: knowing yourself deeper to better understand how to positively influence others. So how do we lead authentically and positively impact others?In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD podcast, Ashish and Anil dive deep into the concept of conscious self-leadership with Executive Coach Indira Kennedy. Indira is a pioneer of conscious leadership and multi-award winner for her commitment to inspiring and informing the next wave of more awakened and empowered leadership. Since 2003, Indira has been actively inspiring people globally with her passion and practical knowledge of ways to elevate our own consciousness and how to apply these principles for more awakened empowerment of people and purpose in the workplace. During this conversation, Ashish and Anil delve into the journey that led Indira on her mission to unlock the five realities of conscious self-leadership, which are: remembrance, radiance, resonance, resolution, and ritual. Get ready to understand their significance in personal growth, leadership, and flourishing. Things you will learn from the episode:The Five Realities of Conscious Self-LeadershipUnderstanding Our Innate Nature of Love as IndividualsRediscovering Our Ability to Love and ForgiveHow to Practice Forgiveness for Ourselves and OthersTune in now and explore how you can make a real difference through conscious self-leadership!Resources:Website: consciousleader.com.au Website: gorgeousallover.com “Happy” by Pharrell Williams - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZSe6N_BXs Books:Gorgeous All Over: A Daily Guide for Women with Spirit by Indira KennedyLove in action: The 5 Realities of a Highly Conscious Leader by Indira KennedyPower vs. Force by Dr. David R. Hawkins

Complex challenges often come without a playbook. In a world that's rapidly evolving and increasingly becoming more complex, an agile mindset empowers us to adapt quickly, think on our feet, and embrace change as an opportunity rather than a setback.In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD podcast, Ashish, Anil, and Johanne Lavoie, Partner at McKinsey & Company and leadership expert, explore the importance of an agile mindset in the face of complexities.Johanne is also the Dean of McKinsey & Company’s signature multi-client program, leading with inner agility, which helps senior executives lead with greater purpose and impact in times of increasing complexity. As an author and frequent lecturer, Johanne actively engages in broader conversations at the nexus of leadership, mindfulness, and business. Joe has played a key role in the transformation of so many lives, including that of Ashish's, and in this episode, we’ll discover powerful practices and habits that can  help us live healthier, meaningful, and fuller lives. We’ll also dive deeper into how inner work for leaders is pivotal in fostering a human-centric approach to leadership.Things you will also learn from this episode:The Role of Inner Work in LeadershipThe False Polarity of WorthinessThe Adaptability ParadoxHow to Build Trust and Human-centric LeadershipThe Power of Mindful Practices for Personal GrowthResources:Johanne Lavoie at McKinsey & Co.https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/johanne-lavoie Future proof: Solving the ‘adaptability paradox’ for the long termLeading With Inner AgilityBooks:Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

Dealing with grief isn't easy. It challenges us in ways we never imagined. But sometimes, it's in these challenging moments that we often find our true strength and purpose. It's okay to feel the pain, because behind them are the lessons and meaning that can guide us to our stronger and more resilient self. During this heartfelt and inspiring HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast episode, Ashish and Anil are joined by Nick Shaw, Co-founder of Mirrorbox Leadership Lab and author of "My Teacher, My Son." Nick is an accomplished executive coach and speaker, and in the conversation, he shares his journey of personal transformation after a tragic loss and discusses his mission to guide others in living intentional, meaningful lives through his insights on leadership and resilience.Things you will also learn from this episode:Finding Meaning from GriefGrowing Through Resilience and AcceptanceThe Healing Power of Community SupportThe Importance of Intentional LivingTune into this episode with Nick as he takes us on a journey to self-rediscovery, finding meaning in life’s toughest battles, and turning grief into inner growth.Every loss carries a lesson that leads to inner growth. Let's navigate it together.Resources:Nick Shaw’s website: https://www.meetnickshaw.com/ Nick’s favorite song: Ho Hey by The LumineersBooks:My Teacher, My Son: Lessons on Life, Loss, and Love by Nick ShawThe Prophet by Khalil Gibran

Change can be daunting, especially in our organizations, but it's also an open door to endless possibilities. As the lines between our professional and personal lives blur in this fast-paced world, the need for change agents becomes more evident than ever.In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish and Anil explore how embracing the role of a change agent is not just about personal growth but about redefining the very essence of organizational success with Dr. Britta Bibel, Founder of Ensomatic Alliances.Dr. Brita Bibel is a relentless human change maker, a certified high-performance coach, a lifelong dancer, and a mentor who's on a mission to make transformation truly possible and accepted as a productive and sustained way of being radically human.With over 25 years of experience as a transformational leader and executive coach, she has held key positions as Global Head of Culture, Transformation, Head of Sustainability, Global Head of Compliance and Ethics, as well as Business Excellence in multinational companies like GE and Oerlikon, as well as in Management Consulting. She facilitates large scale organizational transformations as well, helping individual leaders grow to their full potential.The conversation dives deeper into the impactful ways Britta’s work fosters change and flourishing in both companies and individuals. They discuss the criticality of flourishing in today's world, and how embracing it now can give you a competitive edge or leave you struggling to catch up.Things you will also learn in this episode:Starting Change by Nurturing YourselfInvesting in Individual Well-being and Organizational FlourishingThe Role of Change Agents in OrganizationsYou wouldn’t want to miss this transformational episode! Tune in now and learn how you can be the change you want to see!Resources:Britta’s website: http://www.brittabibel.com/ Britta’s favorite song to dance to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz_UPn0CRVU Happiness Squad: www.happinesssquad.comREWIRE Program: www.happinesssquad.com/rewire-programBooks:'Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us.' by Jon AlexanderBelonging: Remembering Ourselves Home by Toko-pa TurnerThe Charge: Activating the 10 Human Drives That Make You Feel Alive by Brendon BurchardHardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari

We all want to stand out as individuals but also crave being part of a group. Often, companies swing too far one way or the other. But imagine if we could hit that perfect balance where everyone gets to show off what makes them special and still feel like they truly belong. This is what inclusivity means, but there’s more to it than it seems, and Stefanie Johnson, Director of the University of Colorado Boulder's Center for Leadership, tells us all about it!In this episode, Ashish, Stefanie, and Anil unlock the meaning of “inclusify” and unlock several archetypes and blockers of workplace inclusion. People not only want to be seen; they want to be heard and be part of the solution. In fact, individuals are 21 percent more productive when they are engaged. This episode will open your mind to possibilities that you can unlock in a space that may seem challenging.So stay tuned for tips that can have a profound impact on your leadership style, as well as your organization's culture, happiness, and overall performance.Things you will also learn in this episode:What “Inclusify” means and how it creates an inclusive workplaceThe challenges of diversity and true inclusivityPractical strategy for fostering inclusivityHow self-awareness can lead to diversity and inclusion Resources: Dr. Stefanie K. Johnson’s website: https://drstefjohnson.com/Dr. Stefanie K. Johnson’s blog: https://drstefjohnson.com/media/ REWIRE Program: www.happinesssquad.com/rewire-programHappiness Squad: www.happinesssquad.comBooks: Inclusify: The Power of Uniqueness and Belonging to Build Innovative TeamsHardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life

Brian Johnson, Founder of Heroic, shares his vision of unlocking the best self and creating a flourishing world. He discusses his journey, the Heroic Platform, and the transformative power of his practices. The podcast explores the concept of happiness, redefines heroism, and emphasizes the importance of integrating ancient wisdom with modern science. Additionally, they discuss the power of community, the potential of using a platform for change, and express gratitude for each other's support.

Here's a thought: What if the real secret to making more money was to focus less on the money itself? True success in organizations isn't just about chasing profits, but about being driven by a genuine purpose. It’s about making a meaningful impact, serving a greater cause, and adding value to the world.In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish and Anil chat with Alex Edmans, a multi-award-winning professor of finance at London Business School with a PhD in finance from MIT Sloan. As a Fulbright scholar, he joined Wharton in 2007 before moving to London Business School. His TED talk, "The Pie Growing Mindset” and “The Social Responsibility of Business," has a combined 2.8 million views. He's written for the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and the Harvard Business Review.The focus of this conversation is Alex's book, 'Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit'. Through quantitative research, Alex introduces the concept of growing value for all stakeholders rather than merely dividing it. He presents three pivotal principles that guide organizations in defining their purpose. Ashish and Anil supplement this with examples from their own work, ensuring that leaders, shareholders, or stakeholders of organizations will benefit. Ready to redefine success and discover the power of purpose in organizations? Listen to this episode now!Things you will also learn from this episode:The concept of ‘growing the pie’ and long-term greedThe correlation and causation of employee satisfaction and stock returnsThe power of purpose in maximizing profitResources:Alex Edmans’ website: http://www.alexedmans.com/ Growth the Pie website: http://www.growthepie.net/ TED Talk: The Pie-Growing Mindset https://www.ted.com/talks/alex_edmans_the_pie_growing_mindset TED Talk: The Social Responsibility of Business  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5KZhm19EO0 REWIRE Program: www.happinesssquad.com/rewire-programHappiness Squad: www.happinesssquad.comBooks:Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit