The Happy Manifesto

Mark Williamson , co-founder of Action for Happiness and author of Make Life Happier talks to your hosts, Henry and Maureen, in today's episode, sharing his personal journey from chronic back pain to well-being through mindfulness, and explores happiness as a direction rather than a destination. Marks covers meaningful goals, the power of kindness, active listening, and practical workplace strateg...

Dr. Anja Milde , a former senior leader at Bayer, talks with us today about the company's radical organisational transformation. Hear how Bayer shifted from a rigid 12-layer hierarchy to a 'Dynamic Shared Ownership' model, empowering teams to make 95% of decisions, operating in 90-day learning cycles, and reducing management from 15,000 to 5,000 which delivered over 500 million euros in savings wi...

Dr. Apurv Gupta , a former Chief Medical Officer and performance improvement expert, today discussed the redefinition of the relationship between love and work; in the workplace. Dr. Gupta argues that burnout isn't a failure of individuals, but a failure of systems designed around fear and industrial-age hierarchies. Hear why traditional performance improvement often ignores the human component an...

Kim McCabe, is the founder of Rights for Girls and author of From Daughter to Woman . In this episode, Kim shares her journey as a leader, with your hosts, Maureen and Henry, discussing how embracing vulnerability and psychological safety transformed her organisation's culture. Kim also reveals how the alarming rise of anxiety and depression among young girls, advocates for restricting children's...

Patricia Elias is international lawyer and founder of the “No Peace Without Women” campaign. In today's episode, Patricia shares some of her own journey; advocating for women’s leadership in peace building, highlighting how including w...

Well-being and leadership expert and author Jeanette Browning challenges burnout culture and reframes self-care as a leadership responsibility. In our chat today, with your hosts Henry and Maureen, Jeanette shares personal stories of burnout and caregiving, and introduces the concept of “power pausing” towards creating clarity and connection, with others and for others. Hear about the importance o...

Finnish philosopher and psychologist Frank Martela , author of Stop Chasing Happiness joins hosts Henry and Maureen in today's episode, sharing insights on what makes life meaningful, why chasing happiness can backfire, and how the importance of autonomy, trust, and equality can foster meaning at work Drawing on Finnish culture and education, Frank reveals practical ways leaders can create and cul...

Dr. Vernon Bainton , Chief Medical Officer at Havas Lynx and co-founder of the Health and Happiness Lab, shares his journey from medicine to healthcare innovation, focusing on patient-centred care and the importance of measuring happiness and well-being in both patients and staff. Vernon shares insights on the limitations of traditional clinical metrics, the impact of the pandemic on workplace wel...

Talent is everywhere; opportunity is not. In this episode, Joe Seddon, founder and CEO of Zero Gravity, shares his journey from a single-parent household in West Yorkshire to launching an award-winning tech platform that supports over 15,000 talented students from low-income backgrounds, providing mentoring, coaching, and career pathways to help them gain entry into top UK universities and secure...

In this episode, Alisa Sydow, Associate Professor at ESCP Business School, and Thinkers 50 Radar for 2025. Alisa shares her journey researching entrepreneurship in Africa, focusing on empowering female founders and local artisans in Kenya. She discusses the challenges of building authentic, culturally-rooted businesses and the importance of storytelling and branding for “Made in Kenya” products. A...

DJ, from Happy, shares his wisdom with us today about the evolving role of AI in work and life in 2025. Sharing insights on using AI as a “co-thinker” to boost creativity and critical thinking, you'll hear practical examples, from DJ, Maureen, and Henry, of AI effectiveness in the workplace, with examples, as we address data security, ethical use, and the importance of verifying the output of AI....

What are you prepared to do, to get the thing you want? Heather R. Younger, a TEDx speaker, author, and leadership expert, chats with our hosts, Henry and Maureen, discussing self-leadership and its vital role in effective leadership. Heather shares her personal journey, including a pivotal realisation about prioritising her own well-being, and offers practical self-leadership habits. You'll hear...

Debby Penton is the CEO of Wildfire, a B2B PR consultancy recognised for its outstanding workplace culture and employee ownership. In today's chat with Henry and Maureen, Debby shares insights on building a happy, inclusive, and high-performing team through autonomy, flexible work, and clear values. Our discussion covers Wildfire’s creative campaigns, B-corp certification, apprenticeship programs,...

Today, Elaine Lin Hering , bestselling author and expert on speak-up cultures, joins Henry and Maureen for an insightful conversation on creating a happier workplace. Elaine reveals insights from her global work on “unlearning silence” in workplaces, explaining how silence is often learned from childhood and reinforced by leadership and cultural norms. Elaine also shares practical strategies for f...

NK Chaudhary (NKC) shares his journey from humble beginnings to building a global social enterprise that empowers over 40,000 artisans, many from marginalised communities. Chatting with Henry and Maureen, NKC shares his commitment to dignity, inclusion, and love in business. He talks about his efforts to break caste barriers and his focus on self-management, mindfulness, and introspection. We refl...

Dr. Srikumar Rao, TEDx speaker and creator of the pioneering course, Creativity and Personal Mastery , joins our hosts, Henry and Maureen, and shares how our internal mental chatter shapes our reality and can cause unnecessary suffering. Drawing on the Buddha’s "parable of the second arrow" and other stories, Dr. Rao offers practical advice on observing thoughts, reframing challenges, and cultivat...

In this episode, Pim de Morree from Corporate Rebels , shares his journey, from corporate frustration to pioneering self-managed workplaces worldwide. Pim discusses with your hosts, Henry and Maureen, how he and his co-founder left traditional jobs to research and promote organisations with employee-focused, hierarchy-free cultures. Pim explains Corporate Rebels’ evolution from blogging to investi...

Samantha Green is the leader of a UK charity working on animal welfare in Sri Lanka. In today's conversation, Samantha shares how the Level Seven Senior Leaders programme helped her shift from top-down leadership to empowering self-managed teams. Samantha discusses her experience with cross-training staff, adopting 'Toyota-inspired' continuous improvement, and fostering a workplace of trust and tr...

Sophie Bryan works at the deepest level of workplace culture: where energy, trust, & curiosity shape everything. In today's episode, Maureen and Henry are joined by Sophie to explore how Montessori principles such as freedom, curiosity, and play can transform workplace culture. Sophie shares stories from her HR career, advocating for employee autonomy, transparency, and coaching over tradition...

In this episode of the Happy Manifesto podcast, hosts Maureen and Henry converse with Vanessa King from Action for Happiness. Vanessa is an expert in positive psychology and the author of The Ten Keys to Happier Living. In this episode, Vanessa discusses the active pursuit of happiness, distinguishing between short-term pleasure and long-term fulfilment. Vanessa shares the importance of making con...

Can organisations gain a strategic advantage by investing in their employees? Stephan Meier, a Columbia Business School professor, and author of The Employee Advantage , shares, in this episode, the relationship between employee motivation, organisational culture, and profitability. Stephan reveals that organisations prioritising employee well-being, ones that align with their core values, foster...

Kelly McGovern is the Chief Nurse at the West Hertfordshire Foundation Trust In this episode, Kelly shares how she has fostered a transformative culture of trust and empowerment in a healthcare environment. Kelly shares her leadership journey, highlighting the importance of empowering staff to drive change and celebrate small wins. She recounts how her hands-on approach and role modeling have led...

Ann Hartland, Deputy CEO and Growth Director of Cedar, discusses the importance of joy at work, personal growth, and leadership as well as her experiences in the Level 7 Senior Leadership Programme. Ann shares insights into her role highlighting a people-first approach and the significance of listening to employees. Today's conversation reveals some of the challenges and successes of implementing...

Jenny Fernandez is an executive coach and professor at Columbia and NYU. In this episode, we explore some of Gen Z's unique characteristics, such as being digital natives and the impact of "helicopter parenting." Jenny highlights the challenges Gen Z faces, including communication skills, job security and concerns exacerbated by the pandemic. We also explore the need for supportive work environmen...

In this episode of the Happy Manifesto Podcast, co-hosts Maureen and Henry engage with Helen Stuart, Managing Director of Now You're Talking. Helen Stuart, Managing Director of Now You're Talking discusses her transformative experiences from a leadership program at TLC, emphasising trust, empowerment, and psychological safety in management. Helen shares practical insights on fostering team ownersh...