Member-only

Happiness is a Serious Business

Name: Happiness is a Serious Business
Start: 2026-03-26T18:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-03-26T21:15:00+01:00
Location: Smith & Wollensky

A Blend Book Club Live

Smith & Wollensky

March 26, 2026

6:00 pm - 9:15 pm

About this event

What if happiness wasn’t a “nice-to-have” – but a strategic advantage?

In this special Blend Book Club Live, we’re joined by Nic Marks, statistician, wellbeing pioneer, and author of Happiness is a Serious Business, for an evidence-led conversation on why wellbeing belongs at the heart of business performance.

Drawing on decades of research – including the creation of the globally recognised Happy Planet Index and work with organisations such as LEGO, Google, and Virgin – Nic will explore how happiness can be measured, managed, and used to drive stronger results in complex, high-pressure environments.

Our speakers

Nic Marks

Author, Statistician & Founder of Friday Pulse

Nic Marks is a pioneering figure in the field of workplace wellbeing, often described as “The Statistician with a Soul” for his unique combination of analytical insight and human understanding. Originally trained as a mathematician and statistician, Nic has spent the past 25 years at the forefront of measuring what matters—people’s experience of life and work.

After graduating from Cambridge, he studied operational research and organisational change, while also training as a therapist—an unusual mix that has come to define his work. Nic founded the Centre for Wellbeing at the New Economics Foundation (NEF), where he and his team developed influential frameworks such as the Happy Planet Index and the Five Ways to Wellbeing. His TED talk on happiness has been viewed millions of times, and he was the author of one of the first TEDbooks, A Happiness Manifesto.

In 2012, Nic founded Friday Pulse, a London-based tech company helping organisations measure and improve team happiness through a science-led weekly pulse. His clients include large corporates, public sector organisations and fast-growth scale-ups—teams of every shape and size.

Nic’s work sits at the intersection of statistics, psychology and systems thinking. He brings evidence, empathy and optimism to his mission: to make happiness at work something we take seriously. His forthcoming book, Happiness is a Serious Business, explores why happy teams perform better—and how leaders can build the conditions for people and organisations to thrive. He’s an engaging public speaker, whether at boardroom briefings, international summits or music festivals.

Nic lives near Stonehenge in Wiltshire with his wife. He’s happiest when walking the ancient chalk paths of southern England, listening to music, or enjoying time with his family as well as occasionally getting immersed in datasets.

Key themes & discussion topics

Why happiness is a leading indicator of team performance – and how to measure it meaningfully

Understanding the emotional dynamics of work and the practical steps leaders can take to reduce burnout

What the data shows about the leaders who create psychologically safe, energised, high-trust teams

Using wellbeing metrics to guide smarter strategy, people decisions and organisational priorities

Event agenda

Registration & networking

6:00-6:45 PM

Masterclass & discussion

6:45-8:00 PM

Dinner

8:00 – 9:00 PM

Event wrap-up, reflection & networking

9:00 – 9:15 PM

Why should you attend?

You want an evidence-led perspective that cuts through wellbeing fluff.

You’re navigating burnout, uncertainty, or sustained pressure across your organisation.

You want practical insight into how wellbeing drives performance – not just morale.

You value learning alongside senior peers from across industry and function.

Event Organizer

Emily Osgood

emily@joinblend.com

Venue

Smith & Wollensky

1-11 John Adam St.
London
WC2N 6HT
United Kingdom

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