Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Former NATO Secretary General (2009–2014) | Former Prime Minister of Denmark | Founder, Rasmussen Global & Alliance of Democracies Foundation
Simon Cohen
Founder & President, Henco Global | Shark on Shark Tank México | Author of Pleno | High Performance, Happy People
Simón Cohen built Mexico's leading container-freight company on a radical bet: that happy people outperform driven ones. After a near-fatal heart episode in 2006, he transformed Henco Global into a Harvard Business School case study and distilled his philosophy into his bestselling book Pleno. Now a Shark on Shark Tank México, he inspires leaders to pursue happiness and high performance — together.
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Simon Cohen biography
Happiness speaker Simón Cohen is a Mexican entrepreneur, bestselling author, and one of Latin America’s most sought-after speakers on happiness, high-performance leadership, and organizational culture. He is the founder and president of Henco Global, one of Mexico’s largest freight-forwarding and international logistics companies, and one of the investor “Sharks” on Shark Tank México. His story is not a conventional business success narrative — it is a lesson in what happens when a near-death experience forces a leader to ask what truly matters.
Happiness speaker Simón Cohen founded Henco Global in 1998 at the age of 22, with little capital and a conviction that exceptional service and genuine care for people could disrupt Mexico’s logistics sector. Over the following decade, he drove the company’s growth relentlessly — and paid the price. During a business trip to Hong Kong in 2006, he collapsed from an undiagnosed Wolf-Parkinson-White heart condition. That moment in an ambulance, miles from home, became the turning point of his life. He made a promise to himself: to lead Henco not just for growth, but for happiness.
What followed was a systematic transformation of Henco’s culture around his “High Performance, Happy People” philosophy — the conviction that employee wellbeing and business excellence are not in tension but are mutually reinforcing. The results were striking. Henco grew tenfold, earned multiple Great Place to Work certifications, and attracted the attention of two of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions. London Business School developed a case study on Henco’s strategic approach in 2010; Harvard Business School followed in 2020 with a case study on its culture of excellence. Both are now taught in MBA and executive education programs worldwide.
From Near-Death to Bestselling Author and TV Shark
Cohen distilled his philosophy into Pleno: Los secretos de un empresario que buscando el éxito, encontró la felicidad, which became a leadership bestseller on Amazon and earned praise from wellness luminaries including Deepak Chopra and Tal Ben-Shahar. In 2024, he joined the investor panel of Shark Tank México, bringing his brand of humanistic entrepreneurship to a national prime-time audience and returning for the show’s tenth anniversary season in 2025.
As a speaker, Simón Cohen combines the warmth of a storyteller with the credibility of a CEO who built and tested his philosophy inside a real company under real pressure. His keynotes draw on lived experience — a health crisis, a cultural overhaul, two Harvard and LBS case studies, and years of international conference stages — to deliver a message that resonates with audiences from Monterrey to Madrid: that happiness is not a reward for success, but its engine. Organizations that have seen Simón on stage consistently report that his talks shift mindsets and spark lasting cultural change.
Simon Cohen Speaking Videos
Simon Cohen - Leadership and Happiness
Simon Cohen - In the search of success I found happiness
Simon Cohen Keynote Topics
Drawing on his bestselling book and the real story of Henco Global's cultural transformation, Cohen makes a rigorous, data-backed case that happiness is not a feel-good bonus — it is a strategic competitive advantage. He walks audiences through the three pillars of his High Performance, Happy People philosophy — wellness, mindfulness, and happiness — and shows how embedding them into an organization's operating model drives retention, productivity, innovation, and resilience. Particularly powerful for HR, people & culture, and leadership audiences seeking frameworks they can implement the following Monday.
Cohen's most personal keynote — and often his most impactful. He recounts the moment in 2006 when a heart condition brought him to the edge of his life mid-business trip, and what he saw with crystal clarity from that ambulance: that he had been building the wrong things. The talk moves from that turning point through the systematic changes he made to himself, his family, and his company — and distills it all into a set of leadership principles that are as practical as they are profound. A standout opening or closing keynote for any event where the goal is to move audiences, not just inform them.
In an era obsessed with software, AI, and automation, Cohen argues that the true differentiator for any organization is its humanware — the people, culture, and relational fabric that no technology can replicate. Drawing on Henco's Great Place to Work certifications and the Harvard and LBS case studies, he offers a practical framework for leaders who want to build teams characterized by trust, accountability, and shared purpose. The talk addresses hiring, culture design, recognition, and the leadership behaviors that either build or erode the kind of team that sustains performance through uncertainty.
Based on his experience as an investor on Shark Tank México, Cohen shares what separates the pitches that earn investment from the ones that collapse under scrutiny — and how those same principles apply inside organizations navigating growth and change. He covers the qualities he looks for in entrepreneurs: resilience, self-awareness, clarity of purpose, and the ability to build cultures that attract talent. A practical and engaging keynote for entrepreneurship, innovation, and business leadership audiences that blends Cohen's two decades building Henco with his front-row seat to Mexico's startup ecosystem.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Simon Cohen
Why Simon Cohen?
Booking Simón Cohen is a decision that will make your event genuinely memorable. He is not a conventional motivational speaker who delivers polished platitudes — he is a real CEO who rebuilt a real company around a radical philosophy, survived a near-fatal health crisis, and turned both experiences into a framework that organizations around the world have adopted. His story is both deeply personal and immediately actionable: audiences leave with concrete tools for building high-performance cultures where people actually want to show up. Add to this his profile as a Shark Tank México investor and a Harvard Business School case study subject, and you have a speaker whose credibility is as compelling as his message. Aurum Speakers Bureau will guide you through every step of the booking process.
What is Simon Cohen's "High Performance, Happy People" philosophy?
High Performance, Happy People — or HPHP — is Simón Cohen's framework for building organizations where employee wellbeing and business performance are designed to reinforce each other rather than compete. Developed after Cohen's 2006 health crisis forced him to rethink his priorities as a CEO, HPHP is built around three pillars: wellness, mindfulness, and happiness. Rather than treating these as soft perks, Cohen integrates them into the operating fabric of Henco Global — from leadership practices and team rituals to how the company measures success. The results have been documented by both Harvard Business School and London Business School in case studies that are now taught in executive education programs worldwide.
Is Simon Cohen on Shark Tank México?
Yes. Simón Cohen joined the investor panel of Shark Tank México in 2024 as one of the show's new "Sharks," bringing his expertise as founder and president of Henco Global — one of Mexico's largest logistics companies — to the entrepreneurial competition format. He returned for the show's tenth anniversary season in 2025. On the program, Cohen is known for his humanistic investment philosophy: he evaluates not only the business model but also the entrepreneur's character, culture-building instincts, and long-term vision. His participation on the show has significantly expanded his public profile across Latin America.
What topics does happiness speaker Simon Cohen cover?
Speaker Simón Cohen addresses the themes that matter most to organizations navigating growth, culture change, and leadership development: how to build a high-performance culture without sacrificing employee wellbeing; the business case for happiness as a strategic asset; leadership lessons from a near-death experience and a 27-year entrepreneurial journey; how to attract, retain, and inspire exceptional talent; and the mindset shifts that separate leaders who sustain success from those who burn out chasing it. His talks are equally at home at HR and people-culture conferences, CEO forums, innovation summits, and entrepreneurship events. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to explore the right format for your audience.
How to book Simon Cohen as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Simon Cohen as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Simon Cohen'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 Simon Cohen or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Simon Cohen speaking fee?
Simon Cohen 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 Simon Cohen 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 Simon Cohen.
How can I contact Simon Cohen?
We only work with Simon Cohen on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Simon Cohen and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Simon Cohen 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 Simon Cohen for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Simon Cohen for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Simon Cohen is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Simon Cohen for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
