Ignite your summer with a week of inspiration
The Inspiring Workplaces Summer Series is a free, high-energy virtual event running over five days, with three dynamic speakers each day.
Join us online to hear bold insights and practical strategies designed to energize your thinking, fuel fresh ideas, and ignite meaningful change in your organization. Whether you join for one session or the full series, you’ll walk away empowered, recharged, and ready to elevate your impact at work, all from wherever you are.
Why attend?
- Free and flexible online access
- 15 expert speakers across 5 days
- Actionable insights to improve workplace culture
- Daily motivation to energize your routine
- Ideas you can use immediately to support your people
What to expect…highlights from past sessions
A lineup of speakers you won’t want to miss
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Marcel Schwantes is a speaker, executive coach, author, and global thought leader. He is principal of Marcel Schwantes Group LLC, an executive coaching and leadership training firm. His 2025 book, Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-ass Boss, offers a revolutionary framework for leaders to flourish on the job. He has been recognized by Inspiring Workplaces as one of the Top 101 Global Employee Engagement & Experience Influencers in 2024. He is the host of the top-ranked Love in Action podcast. Follow Marcel on Substack.
Marcel Schwantes
Executive Coach, Speaker, Author -
Angela is the fractional Head of HR for The Chronicle of Philanthropy, the preeminent source for nonprofit professionals committed to the advancement of the common good. She previously served as the Senior Vice President, Talent & Chief Human Resources Officer for Harvard Business Publishing.
Angela brings 30 years of both generalist and specialist Human Resources experience, having worked across consumer product goods, professional services, and high-tech as well as nonprofits. In addition to having served on the Alumni Board of Directors for Cornell University, she is a member of CNBC’s Workforce Executive Council, a body of CHROs dedicated to advancing the practice of HR; is a Strategic Board Advisor for several early-stage startups supporting the future of work; and serves as an advocate for the AAPI community for several nonprofits. Her thought leadership has been published in the Harvard Business Review and Fast Company.
Angela Cheng-Cimini
Head of Human Resources
The Chronicle of Philanthropy -
Heather Younger
Author, CEO & Founder
Employee Fanatix -
Robert Glazer is the founder and chairman of the board of Acceleration Partners, a global leader in partnership marketing. He also cofounded and chaired BrandCycle, which was acquired by Stack Commerce/TPG in 2021. A serial entrepreneur and award-winning executive, Robert is passionate about helping individuals and organizations elevate their performance.
Robert Glazer
Founder, Author & Keynote Speaker
Acceleration Partners -
Nirit Cohen is a Forbes columnist and globally recognized voice on the future of work. After three decades in senior HR and strategy roles at Intel, she now helps leaders and organizations make sense of what’s changing—and what to do about it. As the host of The Future of Less Work podcast and a sought-after keynote speaker, she bridges trends and strategy to reframe how we work, lead, and design organizations for what’s next.
Nirit Cohen
Founder & Speaker
WorkFutures -
Chris Dyer is a culture builder disguised as a serial entrepreneur, CEO, and consultant. His companies were named a Best Place to Work 15 times and featured on Inc. Magazine’s list of fastest-growing companies five times.
Named the #1 Leadership Speaker on Culture by Inc. Magazine, Chris also pioneered a radical approach to meetings that gives people time and energy back. He’s written bestselling books, hosted a globally ranked leadership podcast, and driven transformation that lasts.
Chris Dyer
Culture and Leadership Keynote Speaker -
Rachel Wells is a LinkedIn Top Voice, Forbes contributor, and the founder of CreatiSphere — a platform helping freelancers in tech, creative, and marketing launch high-impact freelance digital businesses.
She’s the creator behind Work 2.0, repeatedly a Top 100 Business newsletter, and has been featured on national TV for her insights on the future of work and AI. Rachel also hosts a new podcast of the same name, Work 2.0: The Podcast, where she interviews CEOs, tech entrepreneurs, and trailblazers as she unpacks the biggest questions around the future of work, money, and AI.
Now a six-figure digital nomad, Rachel built her business from the ground up and achieved it all by age 25.
Rachel Wells
Forbes Contributor | LinkedIn Top Voice | Founder
CreatiSphere -
Alli Murphy
Founder, Speaker, & Head Coach
Work & Thrive HQ -
Erifili Gounari
Founder & CEO
The Z Link -
Sharon Parmar is a former FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 leader who led major transformation across global organisations in her 20 year corporate career. Today, she’s the Chief Heart Officer at Humanity Works Consultancy, where she helps teams build the courage and connection needed to perform in times of change.
After surviving a life-threatening illness, Sharon developed her Resilience 2.0 approach, a practical, human-centred blueprint for growing stronger through change. She’s a sought-after speaker known for her powerful storytelling, fresh thinking, and real-world tools that shift culture and accelerate performance.
Sharon Parmar
Chief Heart Officer | Executive Coach | Speaker | NED
Humanity Works Consultancy -
Anna Katharina Schaffner, PhD, is a burnout and exhaustion coach, a clinical hypnotherapist, and a writer. In her previous life she was a Professor of Cultural History at the University of Kent. She is the author of Exhausted: An A-Z for the Weary (Profile, 2024), Exhaustion: A History (Columbia University Press, 2016) and The Art of Self-Improvement: Ten Timeless Truths (Yale University Press, 2021). Her writing and research have featured in the Times Literary Supplement, BBC, Guardian, Psychology Today, LA Review of Books, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Psychologies, National Geographic, and various other media.
Anna Katharina Schaffner, PHD
Burnout and Executive Coach (CPCC) | Writer | Speaker -
Rachel runs her own neurodiversity consultancy Firebird. She trains companies on how to reach, recruit and develop neurodiverse staff, and she also helps people build on their strengths whilst overcoming their challenges. She’s autistic, mildly dyspraxic, and has ADHD. Rachel has authored a book, produced an award-winning poster on autism, and is currently working on her stand-up comedy routine. She swims, loves nature, and is obsessed with food.
Rachel Morgan-Trimmer
Founder
Firebird -
Dr. Paul J. Zak is Distinguished University Professor at Claremont Graduate University and is in the top 0.3% of most cited scientists. Paul’s two decades of research extending the boundaries of behavioral neuroscience have taken him from the Pentagon to Fortune 50 boardrooms to the rainforest of Papua New Guinea. In 2017 he founded Immersion Neuroscience, a software platform that allows anyone to measure what the brain loves in real‑time that is used to improve outcomes in entertainment, education, advertising, and emotional health. He is a regular TED speaker and appears in the media reguarly.
Paul J.Zak
Professor, Speaker, Co-Founder
Immersion Neuroscience
Agenda
Every day for 1 week
8am SFO, 11am, NYC, 4pm London
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July 21
Talk 1: 8am SFO, 11am, NYC, 4pm London
Marcel Schwantes
Executive Coach, Speaker, AuthorHumane Leadership: How Radical Love and Care Create Kick-Ass Teams
Marcel Schwantes introduces a compelling framework for humane leadership based on five core principles:
- Leadership is Patient
- Leadership is Kind
- Leadership is Humble
- Leadership Advocates for People
- Leadership is Trustworthy
Drawing on cutting-edge research and real-world case studies as documented in his new book,Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-Ass Boss, Schwantes demonstrates that leading with care and compassion isn’t just beneficial for individuals—it’s also a winning strategy for organizations. This talk is designed for leaders who are ready to challenge outdatednorms and cultivate workplaces that foster engagement, loyalty, and exceptional performance.
Talk 2: 8:20am SFO, 11:20am, NYC, 4:20pm London
Angela Cheng-Cimini
Head of Human Resources
The Chronicle of PhilanthropyHyperpersonalization of the Employee Experience
Today’s employees expect more than a one-size-fits-all experience—they want to be treated as unique individuals. In this dynamic session, Angela Cheng-Cimini explores the emerging imperative of hyperpersonalization in the workplace across five key dimensions of the employee experience. Drawing on the latest research and real-world examples, Angela makes the case for moving beyond broad policies to tailor the employee journey in ways that fuel performance, belonging, and engagement across the organization.
Talk 3: 8:40am SFO, 11:40am, NYC, 4:40pm London
Heather Younger
Author, CEO & Founder
Employee FanatixThe Art of Self-Leadership
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July 22
Talk 1: 8am SFO, 11am, NYC, 4pm London
Robert Glazer
Founder, Author & Keynote Speaker
Acceleration PartnersThe Compass Within: Finding Your Core Values
The first step to building a fulfilling life is getting clarity on your core values. In this session, serial entrepreneur and WSJ bestselling author Robert Glazer shares a framework that has helped thousands of people identify and implement personal core values into their life, work and leadership. Learn why core values are so important, what makes an effective (and ineffective core value) and how you can start your own journey to identifying and aligning your life and work to your core values.
Talk 2: 8:20am SFO, 11:20am, NYC, 4:20pm London
Nirit Cohen
Founder & Speaker
WorkFuturesThe Future of Less Work: A Journey Through Three Possible Scenarios
This keynote invites the audience on a journey—from the world of work we knew, through the rapid shifts we’re experiencing, and into three distinct futures that organizations must prepare for. It weaves together two powerful forces: exponential advances in technology, and the radical shift in what people want from work and life.
Rather than predicting one outcome, the session explores three possible scenarios—each based on different assumptions about how we use technology, how organizations evolve, and how people choose to engage with work. The goal isn’t certainty—it’s possibility. I’ll invite the audience to challenge assumptions, widen their lens, and begin shaping workforce models that align with where talent, technology, and value are heading.
A mindset-shifting experience that reframes how we think about work, invites bold questions, and equips leaders to design organizations that are ready for an uncertain—and opportunity-filled—future.
Talk 3: 8:40am SFO, 11:40am, NYC, 4:40pm London
Chris Dyer
Culture and Leadership Keynote SpeakerCulture Shock, AI’s Big Bang Hits This Summer
Is your culture ready for the AI shockwave arriving this summer? In twenty high velocity minutes Chris Dyer, Inc Magazine’s #1 Leadership Speaker on Culture and advisor to giants like NASA, Johnson & Johnson, and Berkshire Hathaway, shows why the next ninety days decide whether your team thrives or scrambles. Drawing from his bestselling books like The Power of Company Culture, he reveals how AI rewires transparency, feedback loops, and decision rights. Understand what you need to do next to run a rapid readiness self-audit, and leave with a sprint plan to upgrade mindset, tools, and metrics before AI’s Big Bang hits just after summer!
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July 23
Talk 1: 8am SFO, 11am, NYC, 4pm London
Rachel Wells
Forbes Contributor | LinkedIn Top Voice | Founder
CreatiSphereRewrite The Rules, Or Get Left Behind
The future of work is for professionals and employers willing to challenge outdated systems, rewrite their own stories, and create new pathways to success. In this talk, Rachel Wells shares how she built a six-figure solo business, was promoted five times into management roles, became a Forbes contributor, and won a global MBA scholarship at an exclusive, top-tier business school — all without following the traditional rules. Drawing on her personal journey and the dynamics at play today in the global workplace, she’ll challenge individual contributors and leaders alike to rethink success, embrace reinvention, and adapt. Or risk being left behind.
Talk 2: 8:20am SFO, 11:20am, NYC, 4:20pm London
Alli Murphy
Founder, Speaker, & Head Coach
Work & Thrive HQHow to define “enough” at work for yourself and how it can transform your relationship with work
Talk 3: 8:40am SFO, 11:40am, NYC, 4:40pm London
Erifili Gounari
Founder & CEO
The Z Link -
July 24
Talk 1: 8am SFO, 11am, NYC, 4pm London
Sharon Parmar
Founder
Humanity Works ConsultancyResilience Reimagined: How Courage and Connection Create High-Impact Teams in Times of Change
The old resilience playbook tells us to “bounce back.” But in an era of relentless, fast-paced change, bouncing back is no longer enough and waiting for a crisis to test your team’s resilience is a costly gamble.
In this high-impact talk, Sharon Parmar, former FTSE 100 leader turned Chief Heart Officer, shares how surviving a life-threatening illness shattered everything she knew about resilience and leadership. The result is Resilience 2.0: a fresh, evidence-based approach rooted in cutting edge research that resilience isn’t just an individual trait it’s a shared and deeply human capability.
Drawing on Positive Psychology, elite military training, and real-world case studies from high-performing teams, Sharon introduces the concept of training for the right kind of hard. In this energy-filled session, she shares a practical blueprint for building team cultures that are agile, connected, and equipped to thrive in uncertainty.
This talk is for leaders ready to stop firefighting and start cultivating a team culture that fuels engagement, supercharges productivity, and strengthens retention, even in the toughest times.
“In moments of pressure, we don’t rise to the occasion; we fall to the level of our training.” – U.S. Navy SEALs
Trigger warning: This talk includes a short discussion of serious illness, trauma, and the experience of nearly dying. Please take care while listening and step away if needed.
Talk 2: 8:20am SFO, 11:20am, NYC, 4:20pm London
Anna Katharina Schaffner, PHD
Burnout and Executive Coach (CPCC) | Writer | SpeakerBeat Burnout by Changing Your Time-Beliefs
How we think about time really matters: Our deeper beliefs about time are often the root cause of burnout, overwhelm, and procrastination. Many of us think of time as an enemy. Tyrannised by tight deadlines and endless to-do lists, we may feel chronically overwhelmed and stressed. Conversely, we may persistently postpone getting started on what is truly important to us, procrastinating on our higher goals and drowning in feelings of guilt and shame. When we feel behind with our work, we may deem it unthinkable or frivolously wasteful to meet a friend for lunch, spend an hour exercising, resting, or going for a walk. And yet we regularly waste hours of our time online each day, languishing in front of our screens, neither working nor resting.
When we are burnt-out or burning on, our time-allocation decisions become highly irrational and counterproductive. We alternate between extreme time stinginess and extreme time wastefulness and make lots of poor decisions. We often try to work as many hours as possible, regardless of the quality and efficiency of our output, and think of any minute not spent working as wasted. Our lives shrink because we banish all nourishing activities and stop taking breaks.
In this talk, I argue that ‘productivity’ and ‘time management’ hacks very rarely help us to address the deeper causes of our time troubles. I invite you to reflect on what ‘wasted time’ and ‘time well spent’ may mean to you. I explore some common time troubles that many of us struggle with and offer some techniques for developing a healthier attitude to time that will allow you to thrive.
Talk 3: 8:40am SFO, 11:40am, NYC, 4:40pm London
Rachel Morgan-Trimmer
Founder
FirebirdWhat is neurodiversity and why should you care about itNeurodiversity is the hottest topic in DEI right now. But what exactly is it? And why is it having an impact on your business? In this insightful and engaging talk, Rachel will give you a comprehensive overview of what neurodiversity is and the strengths and challenges of each condition. She’ll also explain exactly how you can improve your workplace (and your bottom line) by being more inclusive. -
July 25
Talk 1: 8am SFO, 11am, NYC, 4pm London
Paul J.Zak
Professor, Speaker, Co-Founder
Immersion NeuroscienceThe Necessity of Employee Emotional Fitness
Emotional Fitness is the missing metric that increases employee productivity and job satisfaction. This talk discusses the neuroscience of emotional fitness and shares new technology that allows any organization to empower employees to measure and improve their emotional fitness and shows the improved organizational metrics that follow this.