Biography

Emma Seppälä, Ph.D., is a bestselling author, Yale lecturer, and international keynote speaker. She teaches executives at the Yale School of Management and is faculty director of the Yale School of Management’s Women’s Leadership Program.  A psychologist and research scientist by training, she has expertise in the science of happiness, emotional intelligence, and social connection. Her bestselling book The Happiness Track (HarperOne, 2016) has been translated into dozens of languages. Her new book is Sovereign (Hay House, 2024). Seppälä is also the Science Director of Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education.

Seppälä’s research has been published in top academic journals and featured in major news outlets like The New York TimesThe Washington PostNPR, and CBSNews. She speaks and consults internationally for Fortune 500 companies like Google and Facebook and contributes to Harvard Business ReviewThe Washington PostPsychology Today, TIME, and others.

A repeat guest on Good Morning America, she also spoke at TedX Sacramento and TEDx Hayward. Her research on breathing for military veterans with trauma was highlighted in the documentary Free the Mind. She is also featured in documentaries like The Altruism Revolution, What You Do Mattersand Bullied.

Seppälä is the recipient of a number of research grants and service awards, including the James W. Lyons Award from Stanford University for founding Stanford’s first academic class on the psychology of happiness and initiating other well-being programs for Stanford students.

She graduated from Yale (BA), Columbia (MA), and Stanford (Ph.D.). Originally from Paris, France, she is a native speaker of French, English, and German and is conversant in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.

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EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

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THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS

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BUILDING HIGH-QUALITY CONNECTIONS

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BUILDING HIGH-QUALITY CONNECTIONS

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Booksby Emma Seppälä

Sovereign: A science-backed path to reclaiming your SOVEREIGNTY

The Happiness track: How to Apply the Science of Happiness to Accelerate Your Success

The Oxford Handbook of Compassion Science

Blog Posts

Rethinking Events: Bite-Sized Surprises and Live Interaction with Seth Godin

Seth Godin shares his strategies and suggestions for unforgettable events—from riff-based teaching to co-creation through communication and creativity.

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Aligning Prosperity with Purpose: Money Lessons from Doug Lynam

Marine. Monk. Manager. Behavioral finance expert Doug Lynam helps you heal your relationship with finances, aligning prosperity with a deeper, personal purpose.

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Expert Mental Health Keynote Speakers That Can Elevate Your Attendees’ Experiences

Learn how the right mental health keynote speaker can help transform your events by fostering connection, resilience, and lasting impact that last a lifetime.

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Future-Proof Your Events and Create Unforgettable Experiences

Discover proven methodologies for events that integrate technology, sustainability, and sensory engagement to create future-proof, high-impact experiences.

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How to Flourish in Flux: April Rinne’s Superpowers for Leading Through Change

Learn from keynote speaker April Rinne how to deal with change, thrive in flux, improve resilience, and lead with emotional intelligence.

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Why Work With Us: More Than a Broker, We’re Your Keynote Speaker Partner

Learn why event professionals choose to work with us and our curated speaker selection, and how we can help you create magical experiences at your next event.

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Blog Posts

 

Rethinking Events: Bite-Sized Surprises and Live Interaction with Seth Godin

In an era where free online content floods every screen, the role of live events—and...

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Aligning Prosperity with Purpose: Money Lessons from Doug Lynam

💸 Marine. Monk. Money Manager. Doug Lynam has lived more lives than most. A former...

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Expert Mental Health Keynote Speakers That Can Elevate Your Attendees’ Experiences

Let’s be honest: booking a speaker for your event is more than just finding someone...

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Future-Proof Your Events and Create Unforgettable Experiences

When we step into a truly well-designed event, every detail—from the moment we first click...

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How to Flourish in Flux: April Rinne’s Superpowers for Leading Through Change

Life’s only constant is change—and keynote speaker April Rinne helps us not just cope but...

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Why Work With Us: More Than a Broker, We’re Your Keynote Speaker Partner

Picture this: the keynote is about to begin, and your CEO just added a last-minute...

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