Trust AAE Speakers Bureau for Booking Top Professional Speakers. Find a Keynote Speaker Today.
Trust AAE Speakers Bureau for Booking Top Professional Speakers. Find a Keynote Speaker Today.
Shawn Achor

Shawn Achor

Keynote Speaker: Harvard Professor, Researcher, Positive Psychology Expert, Author of "The Happiness Advantage" & "Big Potential"

Shawn Achor Biography

Shawn Achor is the NYTimes bestselling author of “The Happiness Advantage” and “Big Potential.” Achor graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and earned a Masters from Harvard Divinity School in Christian and Buddhist ethics.

After spending 12 years at Harvard, Achor traveled to 50 countries studying how to create an interconnected approach to potential and happiness. He has now worked with over a third of the Fortune 100 companies, and at places like NASA, the NFL, and the Pentagon. Achor has battle-tested his research in high challenge environments from working with all the public schools in Flint Michigan, to six battalions of Marines at Camp Pendleton, to government leaders at Camp David, to students in a shantytown in Soweto South Africa, to hospitals in the wake of a mass shooting in Orlando and the Boston bombing.

In every place Achor has found the optimism can be increased through mindset and behavioral change, and that by creating an interconnected approach to happiness and success, we shine brighter together. Achor's research made the cover of Harvard Business Review, his TED talk is one of the most popular of all time with over 20 million views, and his lecture airing on PBS has been seen by millions.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Shawn Achor and other top speakers and celebrities.

Shawn Achor Speaking Topics

THE HAPPINESS ADVANTAGE: Linking Positive Brains to Performance

Most business is done under the guideline that: if you work harder, you will be more successful, and then you will be happy. This formula is scientifically backward. What over a decade of research shows is that training your brain to be positive first actually leads to greater success at work. In fact, only 25% of job success is predicted by intelligence, the rest is determined by your optimism, social support network and the ability to manage energy and stress in a positive way. Based on Shawn’s book, The Happiness Advantage (2010) and research studying top performers at Harvard, the world’s largest banks and Fortune 500 companies, Shawn explains what positive psychology is, how much we can change, and practical applications and strategies for reaping the Happiness Advantage in the midst of change and challenge.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT: How to Make Positive Change Easier

Common sense is not common action. This is because awareness does not necessarily equal transformation because we require a certain level of “activation energy” to start a change. Shawn’s research in the field of positive psychology reveals how small shifts in our mindset and behavior can ripple out to a team and even an entire organization. Audiences will learn about the latest scientific research on mirror neurons and mental priming to explain how positivity and negativity spread, case studies on how to become a lightning rod for change, and findings on how a positive ripple effect profoundly affects an organization’s ability to transition and change.

RESILIENT OPTIMISM: Restoring A Culture of Confidence

Confidence, trust and job satisfaction are at historic lows. At the start of the economic collapse, Shawn worked with the world’s largest banks to restore confidence and forward progress. By researching the managers who maintained high levels of success and leadership during this challenging time, he found that our brains develop confidence based on the belief that our behavior matters towards creating the outcomes we desire. To overcome learned helplessness, we must create “wins” for our brain and train ourselves to be rational optimists. Based on the science of positive psychology and case studies of working with companies in the midst of an economic collapse, Shawn provides practical applications for raising the belief that individual behavior matters and strategies to help leaders to keep teams motivated and engaged.

RETHINKING THE FORMULA FOR SUCCESS: The Power of Positive Education

At schools and companies alike, we often are taught: “If I work harder, then I will be successful, and then I will be happy.” This formula is scientifically backwards. Shawn explains how when we flip the formula, and focus on being positive first, we raise nearly every educational and business outcome. By demonstrating how happiness is a choice, we can help students not only cultivate positive habits and mindsets, but achieve higher levels of success as a result. Based on Shawn’s study of 1600 Harvard students, his seven years as a Freshmen Proctor, and his subsequent work at schools and companies in over 50 countries, Shawn uses the latest research, interactive experiments, and humorous stories, to show how simple changes to our mindset and habits can bring this research to life and create happiness and success for our schools and for ourselves.

POSITIVE GENIUS: The Key to Raising Success, Spreading Happiness & Sustaining Positive Change

Why are some people able to make great changes, while others stay the same? Based on the research in Before Happiness (2013) and cutting edge of positive psychology and neuroscience, Shawn takes us to the beginning of human potential. Each of us has a picture of reality, and this mental picture determines our likelihood of success and our ability to harness our brain’s IQ, emotional and social intelligence. Using his signature humor, new case studies and interactive experiments that engage the audience, Shawn clearly demonstrate how each of us can become a “positive genius,” someone who can continually use true facts to see the most helpful and positive reality and then share this reality with others. In this program, participants will learn how to harness the latest research on managing stress that Shawn did with Yale University, how to navigate multiple realities at work, cancel internal and external noise, add vantage points to planning, use success accelerants to speed goal completion and use meaning markers to spread positive genius throughout a team, family and an entire organization.

Shawn Achor Videos

Happiness & Success - with Shawn Achor
HRR: Shawn Achor, NYT Best Selling Author and Harvard Professor
Shawn Achor - Positive Psychology Expert

How do I book Shawn Achor to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Shawn Achor for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Shawn Achor, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Shawn Achor or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Shawn Achor for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Shawn Achor, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Shawn Achor are $50,000 - $100,000 for live events and $30,000 - $50,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Shawn Achor, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Shawn Achor speak about?

Shawn Achor is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Human Resources, Peak Performance, Personal Growth, Overcoming Adversity, Stress, TED, Authors, Communication, Inspirational, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Motivational, Big Think, Relationships, College, Education, Mindfulness, Mental Health, Future Of Work, Commencement, Happiness, Psychology, Sales, Business, Health, Leadership, Thought Leadership and Lifestyle.

Where does Shawn Achor travel from?

Shawn Achor generally travels from Dallas, TX, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Shawn Achor?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Shawn Achor for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Shawn Achor for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Shawn Achor or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Shawn Achor is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Human Resources, Peak Performance and Personal Growth. The estimated speaking fee range to book Shawn Achor for live events is $50,000 - $100,000, and for virtual events $30,000 - $50,000. Shawn Achor generally travels from Dallas, TX, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Erica Dhawan, Daymond John and Cassandra Worthy. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Shawn Achor for an upcoming event.

Shawn Achor Speaking Topics

  • THE HAPPINESS ADVANTAGE: Linking Positive Brains to Performance

    Most business is done under the guideline that: if you work harder, you will be more successful, and then you will be happy. This formula is scientifically backward. What over a decade of research shows is that training your brain to be positive first actually leads to greater success at work. In fact, only 25% of job success is predicted by intelligence, the rest is determined by your optimism, social support network and the ability to manage energy and stress in a positive way. Based on Shawn’s book, The Happiness Advantage (2010) and research studying top performers at Harvard, the world’s largest banks and Fortune 500 companies, Shawn explains what positive psychology is, how much we can change, and practical applications and strategies for reaping the Happiness Advantage in the midst of change and challenge.

  • THE RIPPLE EFFECT: How to Make Positive Change Easier

    Common sense is not common action. This is because awareness does not necessarily equal transformation because we require a certain level of “activation energy” to start a change. Shawn’s research in the field of positive psychology reveals how small shifts in our mindset and behavior can ripple out to a team and even an entire organization. Audiences will learn about the latest scientific research on mirror neurons and mental priming to explain how positivity and negativity spread, case studies on how to become a lightning rod for change, and findings on how a positive ripple effect profoundly affects an organization’s ability to transition and change.

  • RESILIENT OPTIMISM: Restoring A Culture of Confidence

    Confidence, trust and job satisfaction are at historic lows. At the start of the economic collapse, Shawn worked with the world’s largest banks to restore confidence and forward progress. By researching the managers who maintained high levels of success and leadership during this challenging time, he found that our brains develop confidence based on the belief that our behavior matters towards creating the outcomes we desire. To overcome learned helplessness, we must create “wins” for our brain and train ourselves to be rational optimists. Based on the science of positive psychology and case studies of working with companies in the midst of an economic collapse, Shawn provides practical applications for raising the belief that individual behavior matters and strategies to help leaders to keep teams motivated and engaged.

  • RETHINKING THE FORMULA FOR SUCCESS: The Power of Positive Education

    At schools and companies alike, we often are taught: “If I work harder, then I will be successful, and then I will be happy.” This formula is scientifically backwards. Shawn explains how when we flip the formula, and focus on being positive first, we raise nearly every educational and business outcome. By demonstrating how happiness is a choice, we can help students not only cultivate positive habits and mindsets, but achieve higher levels of success as a result. Based on Shawn’s study of 1600 Harvard students, his seven years as a Freshmen Proctor, and his subsequent work at schools and companies in over 50 countries, Shawn uses the latest research, interactive experiments, and humorous stories, to show how simple changes to our mindset and habits can bring this research to life and create happiness and success for our schools and for ourselves.

  • POSITIVE GENIUS: The Key to Raising Success, Spreading Happiness & Sustaining Positive Change

    Why are some people able to make great changes, while others stay the same? Based on the research in Before Happiness (2013) and cutting edge of positive psychology and neuroscience, Shawn takes us to the beginning of human potential. Each of us has a picture of reality, and this mental picture determines our likelihood of success and our ability to harness our brain’s IQ, emotional and social intelligence. Using his signature humor, new case studies and interactive experiments that engage the audience, Shawn clearly demonstrate how each of us can become a “positive genius,” someone who can continually use true facts to see the most helpful and positive reality and then share this reality with others. In this program, participants will learn how to harness the latest research on managing stress that Shawn did with Yale University, how to navigate multiple realities at work, cancel internal and external noise, add vantage points to planning, use success accelerants to speed goal completion and use meaning markers to spread positive genius throughout a team, family and an entire organization.

Shawn Achor Videos

Happiness & Success - with Shawn Achor
HRR: Shawn Achor, NYT Best Selling Author and Harvard Professor
Shawn Achor - Positive Psychology Expert
The happy secret to better work | Shawn Achor

Shawn Achor Reviews

  • Acuity Insurance - Sep 21 2023

  • Shawn Achor was fantastic!!! So happy to have found him. What a great, polished and positive presenter.
    JM Family Enterprises, Inc. - May 03 2022

  • KemperSports - Mar 01 2021

  • Target - Aug 11 2020

  • Right On Pointe o/b/o/ Flexera - Jan 30 2020

Shawn Achor News

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