Blake Morgan
"The Queen of CX" (Meta) | Customer Experience Futurist | Bestselling Author of 3 CX Books | Host, The Modern Customer Podcast | Forbes Contributor
Ashley Whillans
Behavioral Scientist & Harvard Business School Professor | Author of Time Smart | Expert on Time, Happiness & Productivity | TED Speaker with 4M+ Views
Ashley Whillans is an award-winning behavioral scientist and Harvard Business School professor, and a leading expert on the science of time and happiness. Her research shows that most of us are 'time poor,' and that valuing time over money is one of the surest paths to a happier, healthier life. Author of Time Smart and the voice behind a TED talk with over four million views, she gives audiences science-backed tools to reclaim their time.
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Ashley Whillans biography
Happiness speaker Ashley Whillans is an award-winning behavioral scientist and one of the world’s foremost experts on the surprising relationship between time, money, and happiness. A professor at Harvard Business School, she has spent her career studying a simple but profound question: why are so many of us stressed and unhappy despite having more than ever? Her answer reframes how we think about our most precious resource, revealing that we consistently overvalue money and undervalue time, at a real cost to our wellbeing.
Whillans popularized the idea of “time poverty,” the near-universal feeling of having too much to do and too little time, which affects four out of five adults. Her research, spanning field experiments and large-scale surveys with tens of thousands of people, from Fortune 500 companies to the U.S. military to communities in Kenya, demonstrates that people who use money to buy back time are measurably happier, healthier, and even more satisfied in their relationships. She has translated these findings into a practical framework anyone can use.
The Science of Time Affluence
A professor in the Negotiation, Organizations & Markets unit at Harvard Business School, Whillans earned her PhD in social psychology from the University of British Columbia and advises leading organizations on time, wellbeing, and the future of work, including roles with Gallup, The Conference Board, and Edelman. Her book, Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life, was named a top business book of 2020, and her TED talk on work-life balance has been viewed more than four million times. Her work regularly appears in Harvard Business Review, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal.
As a speaker, Ashley Whillans is engaging, warm, and refreshingly practical, turning rigorous science into strategies audiences can act on the same day. She speaks on reclaiming your time, building happier and more productive workplaces, the future of work and employee wellbeing, and how leaders and individuals can make smarter trade-offs between time and money. Audiences leave with a genuinely new way of thinking about their days, and concrete tools to buy back time, reduce stress, and build more fulfilling lives and careers.
Ashley Whillans Speaking Videos
A Simple Strategy For Happiness | Ashley Whillans | TEDxCambridge
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Ashley Whillans Keynote Topics
Drawing on her acclaimed book, Ashley Whillans shows audiences how to escape the trap of "time poverty" and become "time affluent." She shares proven, research-backed strategies, from rethinking the time-money trade-off to redesigning daily habits, that free up hours and, in turn, boost happiness, health, and productivity. A practical, uplifting keynote that gives every audience member tools they can use the very next morning.
Why do we so often chase money at the expense of the thing that matters most, our time? Whillans unpacks two decades of behavioral science to reveal how our decisions about time shape our wellbeing, and why valuing time over money is one of the strongest predictors of a happy life. With surprising data and memorable stories, she helps audiences see their choices, and their lives, in a completely new light.
Time poverty isn't just a personal problem, it's an organizational one, driving burnout, disengagement, and turnover. Whillans shares what her research with leading companies reveals about how leaders can design work that protects people's time and attention, and why doing so pays off in engagement, wellbeing, and performance. Essential insights for anyone shaping the future of work, hybrid teams, and employee experience.
Every day we make trade-offs between time and money, and most of us get them wrong. Whillans introduces her concept of "happiness dollars," a way to measure the true value of our time, and shows individuals and organizations how to spend, save, and invest their hours for maximum wellbeing and impact. A fresh, evidence-based framework for decision-making that applies at work, at home, and across an entire organization.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Ashley Whillans
Why Ashley Whillans?
Booking Ashley Whillans brings audiences a rare blend of Harvard-level scientific authority and genuinely practical, life-changing advice. As one of the world's leading researchers on time and happiness, she delivers insights grounded in rigorous studies with tens of thousands of people, yet she makes them warm, relatable, and immediately actionable. Her message, that how we spend our time shapes our happiness, health, and performance, resonates deeply with every audience, from stressed employees to senior leaders. She is ideal for events on wellbeing, the future of work, productivity, culture, and happiness. To bring Ashley Whillans to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Who is Ashley Whillans?
Ashley Whillans is an award-winning behavioral scientist and a professor at Harvard Business School, where she studies how people's decisions about time and money affect their wellbeing. She is a leading voice in time and happiness research, best known for popularizing the concept of "time poverty" and for showing that valuing time over money leads to greater happiness. She earned her PhD in social psychology from the University of British Columbia and is the author of Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life. Her TED talk on work-life balance has been viewed more than four million times, and she advises organizations including Gallup, The Conference Board, and Edelman.
What is Ashley Whillans's book Time Smart about?
Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life (2020) is Ashley Whillans's acclaimed, research-backed guide to overcoming "time poverty," the feeling of having too much to do and too little time that affects four out of five adults. Drawing on her own studies and the broader science of time and happiness, she argues that we are much better at managing our money than our time, and that we would be significantly happier if we valued our time more wisely. The book offers practical strategies, assessments, and activities to help readers free up hours, make smarter trade-offs between time and money, and build a happier, more fulfilling life. It was named one of the top business books of 2020.
What topics does happiness speaker Ashley Whillans cover?
Ashley Whillans speaks on reclaiming your time, the science of time and happiness, building happier and more productive workplaces, employee wellbeing and the future of work, and making smarter trade-offs between time and money. Her keynotes suit events on wellbeing, happiness, productivity, culture, and the future of work. To book Ashley Whillans as a speaker, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Ashley Whillans as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Ashley Whillans as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Ashley Whillans's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Ashley Whillans or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Ashley Whillans speaking fee?
Ashley Whillans speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Ashley Whillans to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Ashley Whillans.
How can I contact Ashley Whillans?
We only work with Ashley Whillans on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Ashley Whillans and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Ashley Whillans speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Ashley Whillans for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Ashley Whillans for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Ashley Whillans is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Ashley Whillans for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
