The Movement
Our Audacious Goal
We have a big hairy audacious goal (BHAG)[1] : to elevate 1 billion lives by 2035 by transforming 30% of the global workforce into flourishing humans delivering peak performance. We can’t do this alone. This is why we are creating a movement and convening a global flourishing community – to collaborate and amplify each other’s work to accelerate the change.
[1] Collins, J. C., & Porras, J. I. (1994). Built to last: Successful habits of visionary companies. Harper Business.
Vision, Mission, and Values
Vision
A world where everyone is flourishing.
Mission
To transform organizations and their people into beacons of flourishing through science, speed, and simplicity at scale.Values
Our values define our culture, guide our decision-making, and reinforce our positioning as a global movement leader.
Courage: Challenging the status quo to redefine workplace success.
Collaboration: Building partnerships to amplify collective impact and win together.
Compassion: Placing human potential and well-being at the center of decision making.
Rigor: Applying evidence-based methodologies, transparency, and continuous learning.
The Science
Advancing Human Flourishing Globally
Our work draws deeply from the Global Flourishing Study (GFS)—the most comprehensive, cross-cultural research initiative ever undertaken on human flourishing.
Flourishing goes beyond well-being or engagement. It is a whole-system condition in which people can perform, grow, connect, and feel fulfilled across all areas of life, making it a powerful predictor of resilience, innovation, and long-term organizational and societal success.
The GFS is a landmark study in human flourishing research. It builds on Martin Seligman’s PERMA model for well-being and positive psychology. The GFS Wave 1 results are the culmination of a five-year longitudinal study involving over 200,000 participants from 22 culturally and geographically diverse countries.
Conducted in partnership with leading institutions including Harvard University, Baylor University, Gallup, and the Center for Open Science, the study collects annual data on a wide range of well-being indicators, providing an unprecedented view into the factors that enable people and communities to thrive. The WFO is collaborating with the GFS researchers as we look to apply the findings to the workplace and society in general.
The Six Dimensions of Human Flourishing
Central to both the GFS and WFO’s approach is the Secure Flourishing Index (SFI), which measures flourishing across six universally valued domains:
Credit: Gallup, (2025). The Global Flourishing Study: What contributes to a life well-lived?. p6.
1. Happiness and Life Satisfaction
Overall sense of contentment, joy, and satisfaction with life.
2. Physical and Mental Health
Well-being of the body and mind, including both physical health and psychological resilience.
3. Meaning and Purpose
The sense that life is purposeful, significant, and directed toward valued goals.
4. Character and Virtue
Living according to moral and ethical principles, such as honesty, kindness, and integrity.
5. Close Social Relationships
The presence of supportive, loving, and trusting relationships with family, friends, and community.
6. Financial and Material Stability
Having the resources and security needed to support life and pursue aspirations.
Why Flourishing Matters
Understanding and advancing flourishing is not just a moral imperative. It is a strategic one. Flourishing individuals are more productive, innovative, and resilient, driving better outcomes for organizations and society at large. By grounding our work in the world’s leading scientific research, WFO is uniquely positioned to transform how we value, measure, and invest in human potential.
A recent paper[2] by Jan Emmanuel de Neve, Micah Kaats, and George Ward at the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, and book, provide compelling data for the business case behind workplace well-being. The paper identifies the main pathways through which employee well-being can drive organizational performance (see Figure 1).
The evidence supports a business case for investing in employee well-being and organizational flourishing. It is not a cost; it’s a driver of success. While executives recognize the value of a positive workplace culture, few make it a strategic priority. This study and the GFS provide strong and definitive evidence that employee wellbeing and human flourishing are significant and undervalued predictors of performance. Organizations that prioritize and support this type of culture are likely to see measurable gains in productivity, profitability, and performance.
[2] De Neve, J-E., Kaats, M., Ward, G. (2024). Workplace Wellbeing and Firm Performance. University of Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre Working Paper 2304. doi.org/10.5287/ora-bpkbjayvk
Figure 1.
Productivity
Relationships
Creativity
Health
Recruitment
Retention
Resources
We compiled a library of our favorite articles, podcasts, books, and tools and we’re sharing it here so it can also be a resource for you. The database is updated regularly as we discover new content. If you have suggestions, please share them with us so we can add them too.Press and Media
Strategy
Our Vision 2035 strategy is to elevate 1 billion lives by 2035 by transforming 30% of the global workforce into flourishing humans delivering peak performance.
How we’ll achieve our strategy
To achieve our Vision 2035, we have three strategic goals:
#1 – Lead
- Build awareness, teach, and a create a movement.
- Guide and convene a global flourishing community.
#2– Activate
- Measure flourishing using science-backed frameworks.
- Support organizations on their flourishing journey.
- Recognize and promote flourishing organizations.
#3 – Accelerate
- Educate individuals and practitioners on the science behind flourishing.
- Share impact stories and lessons learned from flourishing organizations.
The three strategic goals are supported by five strategic pillars – our core work.
Pillar 1: Community
Build a global flourishing community. Anyone can join the WFO to get special access to expert-led webinars, a curated newsletter, and flourishing events.
Pillar 2: Tools
Bring tools to clients (our own and our partners’ tools) to support/accelerate their flourishing.
Pillar 3: Programs
Deliver programs to help individuals and organizations learn about and practice flourishing.
Pillar 4: Advisory
Provide bespoke advisory and consulting services to individual clients, complemented by a network of trusted partners who also provide this service.
Pillar 5: Events and Keynotes
Host and participate in learning events and executive forums at different locations globally.
Lastly, our strategy is supported by a strong foundation:
Science – our flourishing philosophy is based on the science and research behind human flourishing and workplace wellbeing as described here.
Global Reach – with employees in the U.S. and Hong Kong, we are physically located in two sides of the world. We work with clients across the globe. OR Our team is based in the U.S. and Hong Kong, giving us a global footprint. We partner with clients worldwide.
Impact – everything we do is focused on improving the probability of living a good life. These are the outcomes we strive for. This is the impact we aim to achieve.
People – flourishing is about people.
Collaboration – we have big aspirations, and collaboration with partners is key to our success.
Theory of Change
Our Theory of Change is the engine driving our mission to transform organizations and their people into beacons of flourishing. Here’s how we turn our strategy into measurable global impact:
Mapping the Path to Impact
Our Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) is called Vision 2035: to elevate 1 billion lives by 2035 by transforming 30% of the global workforce into flourishing humans delivering peak performance. Our roadmap identifies key milestones. These include building a global flourishing community, curating science-backed measurement tools, and providing advisory and educational programs that collectively move organizations and individuals toward greater well-being and performance.
Clarifying Assumptions and Links
Guiding Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
Engaging Stakeholders
Our theory of change is shown below.
WFO Theory of Change for Workplace Flourishing
What We Do
Support organizations to flourish
Recognize Flourishing Organizations and Individuals.
Promote and spotlight best practices in flourishing at work.
Teach organizations and individuals about flourishing, brain science, and human behavior.
Create a global movement around workplace flourishing.
How We Do It
- Measure
- Advise
- Educate
- Flourishing Organizations (Luminaries)
- Flourishing Accredited Professionals
- Newsletters
- Case studies/Impact stories
- Blogs
- Flourishing Executive Program
- Flourishing Bootcamp
- Flourishing Prof. Accreditation
- Flourishing Blueprint Implementation
- Champions
- Ambassadors
- Leaders
- Partners
What That Leads To for Organizations and Employees
- Greater well-being
- Higher productivity
- Happier workforce
- Improved loyalty
- More creativity
- Reduced turnover
- Diminished burnout
- Lowered health care costs
- Less absenteeism