Happiness is a Choice  

While we can't always choose the circumstances, we find ourselves in, we always have a choice about how to respond, and by making conscious changes in our lives, we can all be happier and more resilient. Weaving together an academic theory on positive psychology, habits, and mindfulness. Karen demonstrates why much of our happiness is due to our mindset and the way we choose to see the world around us, why it's less influenced by our genes than we might think, and how we can consciously choose to make ourselves happier, and increase our resilience.  

Drawing on her own personal and sometimes tragic experiences to bring the theories to life, she shows us practical, as well as humorous ways to influence our own mindsets and behaviors to get through even the toughest of times. Karen brings a combination of energy, passion, emotion, and fun to help you create positive changes, develop better habits, and be more resilient, whatever challenges life throws at you." 

Karen is an award-winning speaker and consultant, who's spent 18 years specializing in consumer insight and behavior change, developing innovative approaches to understand the psychology of why we behave the way we do and how to influence it. Her interest in resilience and happiness is as much personal as professional. After being suddenly and tragically widowed in her early 30s, she relocated to Singapore where she set up and managed a successful business for a UK-based insights company. Three years later, she took a few months out to travel solo around Asia, which included (in her opinion) one of the ultimate tests of resilience and mental strength vipassana before relocating back to her home city of Manchester, UK.  

She's since started her own business, as a full-time speaker, trainer and consultant in behaviour change, consumer insight and innovation. She specialises in developing innovative approaches to understanding and influencing decision making and behaviour, combining techniques from disciplines spanning academic and commercial spheres, from positive psychology to creative uses of technology. She's partnered with businesses across Europe, APAC and the US, from global MNCs like Unilever, GSK, Ferrero and Friesland Campina to smaller organisations and not-for-profits. Karen runs corporate training with the UK Market Research Society and has trained and mentored hundreds of insight practitioners both within her own organisations and client businesses. She is currently writing a book on resilience, happiness and mental wellbeing.