Global Leadership Summit in Madison aims to make the world a happier place March 24, 2014—Can happiness be a metric of success? Yes, according to leading sources such as the United Nations, which issued its first-ever World Happiness Reports in 2012 and 2013. A new breed of leaders—people who believe happiness in their organizations is an important measure of success—will gather in Madison, WI in June to learn more about this global movement. The Leadership for a Better World Global Summit, to be held June 17-18, 2014, is the first of its kind for the University of Wisconsin-Extension’s new leadership center. The summit brings together internationally and nationally recognized innovators on leadership, organizational and community well-being, and collaboration, including Jenn Lim, CEO and Chief Happiness Executive of Delivering Happiness, and Nic Marks, Director of Happiness Works in the United Kingdom. The UW-Extension established the Center for Inclusive and Engaged Leadership in fall 2012 in an effort to promote the next stage of leadership. “The purpose of leadership is to create happiness,” said Stephan Gilchrist, director of the Center, which is based in Madison. “This is leadership with a higher purpose, and outcomes can be measured.” This new way of leading involves three basic principles:

1. The purpose of leadership is to create organizational and community well-being. 2. Everyone is a leader. We all contribute to and influence our organizations. 3. Inclusive collaboration is a means to creating well-being.

“The measurable result is a more productive workforce and communities that are stronger and more resilient,” Gilchrist said. Participants in the Global Summit will have a hands-on experience, interacting and sharing stories with the presenters. The list of featured innovators includes: Jenn Lim, the CEO and Chief Happiness Officer of Delivering Happiness, a company that she and Tony Hsieh (CEO of Zappos) co-created in 2010 to inspire happiness in work, community and everyday life. In 2005, Jenn created the first Culture Book for Zappos – now on its 7th edition – and has produced them ever since. Eric Lowitt, author of The Collaboration Economy, and the Future of Value. Eric was named one of the Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business Behavior in both 2012 and 2013.

 

 

Nic Marks, Director of Happiness Works, and the Founder the Centre for Well-Being at the New Economics Foundation. His TED Talk on the Happy Planet Index has received over 1 million views. Mike Huggins, former city manager, City of Eau Claire. Mike led a Happiness Initiative in 2011 that surveyed residents of the city on their state of well-being. He is Principal of Civic Praxis consulting and a Civic Engagement Service Provider for the Center for Management Strategies at the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). The Summit and the two post Summit workshops, on Design Thinking and Make Happy Work™ are expected to draw participants from business, government and non-profit organizations. The sessions and workshops will create an educational environment that will help leaders to effect change in their organizations and communities; and to connect with like-minded leaders for ongoing, supportive relationships. Register for the Global Summit at http://inclusiveleadership.wisconsin.edu by April 14 for the early bird price of $595 per person. After April 14, registration is $625 per person. The group rate of $570 per person is available at any time. Two-day post-Summit workshops are planned for June 19-20. The event takes place at the Pyle Center on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. About the Center for Engaged and Inclusive Leadership: The Center for Inclusive and Engaged Leadership was established in 2012 at the University of Wisconsin-Extension’s Division of Continuing Education, Outreach, and E-Learning. The Center develops effective leaders through its Global Summit, workshops, idea exchanges and related resources. The Center helps individuals and groups gain the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to collaborate effectively in on-going creation and renewal of their institutions and the communities they serve. For more information and a complete schedule, visit http://inclusiveleadership.wisconsin.edu.

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Contact: Stephan Gilchrist, director Center for Inclusive and Engaged Leadership University of Wisconsin-Extension stephan.gilchrist@uwex.edu 608-262-3049