Dr. Majid Fotuhi
Harvard & Johns Hopkins Neurologist | USA Today Bestselling Author, The Invincible Brain | Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins & GWU
Ellen Langer
Harvard Professor | First Woman Tenured in Psychology at Harvard | Mother of Mindfulness | Author, The Mindful Body | Pioneer of Mind-Body Unity
Ellen Langer challenges everything we thought we knew about aging, health, and human limits. As the first woman tenured in psychology at Harvard and the pioneering force behind modern mindfulness research, she has spent decades proving that our thoughts profoundly shape our physical reality. Her famous Counterclockwise Study showed elderly men could reverse biological aging through mindset alone, and her latest research on mind-body unity demonstrates how actively noticing variability can transform wellbeing, decision-making, and organizational culture.
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Ellen Langer biography
Ellen Langer is Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and one of the most influential social psychologists of our time. In 1981, she made history as the first woman ever to be tenured in psychology at Harvard, where she has spent decades conducting groundbreaking research on mindfulness, mind-body unity, decision-making, and the psychology of aging.
Widely recognized as the “mother of mindfulness” and the “mother of positive psychology,” psychology speaker Ellen Langer has fundamentally reshaped how we understand the connection between thought and physical health. Her research has demonstrated that our beliefs and perspectives have measurable effects on our bodies, from weight loss to wound healing to the aging process itself. She has authored over 200 research articles and 12 books, including the international bestseller Mindfulness, which has been translated into 15 languages, as well as The Power of Mindful Learning, On Becoming an Artist, and Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility.
The Counterclockwise Study and Mind-Body Unity
Her most famous work, the Counterclockwise Study conducted in 1979, remains one of psychology’s most provocative experiments. Langer placed elderly men in a retreat environment designed to replicate 1959, asking them to live as if they were 20 years younger. After just one week, participants showed remarkable improvements in flexibility, memory, hearing, posture, and cognitive ability. Independent observers even judged them to look younger based on photographs taken before and after the experiment. This research became the foundation for what is now known as Reminiscence Therapy and inspired a BAFTA-nominated BBC series.
Her latest book, The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health, published in September 2023, presents her bold theory of mind-body unity. Drawing on decades of research from the Langer Lab at Harvard, she demonstrates how actively noticing new things can profoundly impact our health, happiness, and longevity. Her work has shown that hotel housekeepers lost weight when they simply recognized their work as exercise, and that patients healed faster in rooms with accelerated clocks.
Langer’s contributions have earned her numerous honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, three Distinguished Scientist Awards, the Staats Award for Unifying Psychology, the Liberty Science Genius Award, and the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest from the American Psychological Association.
As a speaker, Ellen Langer brings transformative insights that challenge leaders to rethink their assumptions about limits, aging, health, and human potential. Her presentations combine rigorous science with practical applications, empowering audiences to recognize that many of the constraints we face are self-imposed. Executive audiences value her ability to translate complex research into actionable frameworks for enhancing wellbeing, productivity, and organizational culture through mindfulness and attention to variability.
Ellen Langer Speaking Videos
Uncertainty and The Power of Possibility | Ellen Langer | Talks at Harvard College
Dr. Ellen Langer on Mindfulness and the Psychology of Possibility
Ellen Langer Keynote Topics
Drawing from her groundbreaking Counterclockwise Study and latest research, Langer reveals how our thoughts and perspectives directly influence physical health and aging. She shares compelling evidence showing that hotel housekeepers lost weight by simply reframing their work as exercise, and that patients healed faster when time perception was altered. This presentation challenges leaders to question medical dogma and recognize the enormous untapped control we have over our wellbeing through mindfulness and active noticing.
Most organizations operate within invisible constraints created by assumptions about what's possible. Langer explores how mindfulness—defined as actively noticing new things—can liberate individuals and teams from self-imposed limitations. She demonstrates how uncertainty is the rule rather than the exception, and how embracing variability rather than seeking absolutes can enhance innovation, decision-making, and adaptability in rapidly changing environments.
Leaders who operate on autopilot miss critical distinctions that determine success or failure. Langer presents research-backed strategies for cultivating mindfulness in leadership and organizational culture. This session explores how paying attention to context and variability improves decision-making, strengthens relationships, boosts engagement, and creates workplaces where people thrive. Attendees learn practical approaches to replace mindless habit with mindful awareness, driving better outcomes across every dimension of organizational life.
Society's narratives about aging become self-fulfilling prophecies that limit human potential. Langer shares decades of research demonstrating that many physical limitations attributed to aging are actually products of our beliefs and expectations. She reveals how changing our mindset about aging can measurably improve health indicators, cognitive function, and quality of life, offering audiences a radically different perspective on how to approach the later stages of life and career with vitality and purpose.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Ellen Langer
Why Ellen Langer?
Booking Ellen Langer for your event means bringing one of the world's most influential psychologists to your stage. As Harvard's first tenured female psychology professor and the pioneering researcher behind the concept of mindfulness without meditation, Langer offers audiences scientifically-backed insights into human potential that challenge conventional thinking about health, aging, and performance. Her groundbreaking Counterclockwise Study demonstrated that our thoughts can measurably reverse physical aging, and her latest work on mind-body unity provides practical frameworks for organizational wellness, decision-making, and leadership development. Organizations choose Langer because she combines academic rigor with accessible storytelling, delivering presentations that inspire executives to question their assumptions and unlock untapped potential in themselves and their teams. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to book Ellen Langer for your next event.
What is Ellen Langer's Counterclockwise Study?
The Counterclockwise Study, conducted in 1979, is Ellen Langer's most famous experiment. She placed eight elderly men in a retreat environment meticulously designed to recreate 1959, asking them to live as if they were actually 20 years younger. After one week immersed in this environment, participants showed measurable improvements in flexibility, dexterity, memory, hearing, posture, and cognitive ability. Independent observers judging photographs taken before and after the study even determined the men looked younger. The study challenged the assumption that aging is a purely biological process and demonstrated that psychological factors can significantly influence physical health. This research became the foundation for Reminiscence Therapy and has profoundly influenced how we understand the mind-body connection.
What is Ellen Langer's definition of mindfulness?
Ellen Langer defines mindfulness as "the simple act of noticing new things" or "actively noticing distinctions." Her approach to mindfulness differs significantly from meditation-based practices. Rather than focusing on breathing or emptying the mind, Langerian mindfulness involves actively paying attention to variability and context in everyday life. It means looking at familiar things from new perspectives and recognizing that situations are not fixed but variable. This form of mindfulness keeps people engaged, present, and aware, and her research has shown it can improve health outcomes, enhance learning, strengthen relationships, and increase overall wellbeing without requiring any formal meditation practice.
What topics does psychology speaker Ellen Langer cover?
Ellen Langer's keynote presentations explore the powerful connection between mind and body, challenging audiences to reconsider their assumptions about aging, health, and human potential. Her talks cover mindfulness without meditation, the psychology of possibility, decision-making under uncertainty, the illusion of control, mindful aging, and how our thoughts directly influence physical wellbeing. She presents compelling research showing how changing our mindset can improve health outcomes, enhance organizational performance, and unlock capabilities we didn't know we possessed. Her presentations are ideal for leadership summits, healthcare conferences, corporate wellness initiatives, and any event focused on human potential, innovation, or transformative thinking. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to explore how Ellen Langer can inspire your audience.
How to book Ellen Langer as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Ellen Langer as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Ellen Langer'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 Ellen Langer or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Ellen Langer speaking fee?
Ellen Langer 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 Ellen Langer 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 Ellen Langer.
How can I contact Ellen Langer?
We only work with Ellen Langer on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Ellen Langer and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Ellen Langer 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 Ellen Langer for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Ellen Langer for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Ellen Langer is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Ellen Langer for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
