In 2013, I lost my husband suddenly from the flu. This is the beginning of my growth story and intentional happiness journey. After experiencing trauma over his loss and the ensuing grief, I grew. I pursued an MBA from Georgetown University to compliment my extensive experience in communications, from journalism to branding, positioning and crisis management.
In 2016, I quit my stable and successful position in a prestigious international communications agency to follow my purpose and co-found WOHASU®LLC to make the World Happiness Summit® a reality, and bring the tools of the science of happiness to a global audience.
MY PURPOSE
"Make a case for happiness by highlighting the opportunities for win-win scenarios created by learning and implementing evidence-based tools and policies that increase the happiness and wellbeing of people, organizations, and communities."
I’ve had the honor of collaborating with world’s leading happiness experts like Dr. Martin Seligman, Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, Dr. Laurie Santos, Dr. Fred Luskin, Dr. Kelli Harding, Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener, Dr. Isaac Prilleltensky, Lord Richard Layard, Dr. Sandro Formica, Dr. Itai Ivtzan and many more, which has so enriched my life and made me grow. Bringing the Summit to my alma mater the University of Miami has been an honor.
As CEO, I lead WOHASU®‘s efforts including ideating, producing, organizing, designing and promoting The World Happiness Summit attended by thousands of people from over 55 countries and 45 US states. I also created the World Wellbeing Policy Forum to highlight the importance of wellbeing economics and policy to country agendas. Along with fellow experts, I created unique programing like the WOHASU®LLC/Florida International University Chief Happiness Officer Certificate program, the only one in the world certified by a university.
In March 2020, I led the crisis management response to quickly pivot from a live in-person event to create the WOHASU® online Community Platform, where I cultivated an esteemed network of leading experts to create and host over 30 original content, programs and master classes.
I continue WOHASU's mission by developing a hybrid approach to deliver on our mission. During the pandemic, we offered our first online Chief Happiness Officer certification, and produced a free Happiness Fireside Chat event to commemorate the United Nations International Day of Happiness.
To deliver on my mission to expand the ripples of happiness, we took The World Happiness Summit to Lake Como, Italy, in 2023, and in 2024 we will be in London.
As a speaker, I enjoy speaking about finding meaning and purpose from challenges and developing resilience skills during difficult situations. I am proud of my first TEDx Talk The Bridge to Happiness, where I discuss my post traumatic growth and how people can find happiness after loss and challenges.
Given my unique perspective, I share about the global happiness movement, making a case for happiness, and post traumatic growth. I am also a lecturer in the Executive Master in Positive Psychology program at the University of Lisbon, and have held several happiness workshops for Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business.
I’ve use my branding and communications expertise to develop authentic narratives and customer centric approaches centered on a values-based methodology to optimize brand alignment and engagement. In creating WOHASU® LLC, I launched a wellbeing brand fostering a global movement for optimism, positivity, happiness and community, which has had a positive rippling effect around the world.
At heart, I am a happiness advocate who has to work every day to stay true to my mission.
-Karen G.
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