Opening Keynote: Neil Pasricha
Does success lead to happiness? Or does happiness lead to success?
Find out along with the entire AAO Annual Session community for the Opening Keynote with best-selling author, Neil Pasricha.
New structures, new systems, new tools. Sound like a typical week in your practice? We are all working on unstable ground, so it’s no wonder Gallup reports only 13% of the global workforce is showing up ready to face the changing landscape. But… what if there were simple, research-based tools grounded in the emerging science that we could all use to be more productive, engaged, and agile individuals? It’s not a dream. It’s happening right now. Based on his groundbreaking research published in Harvard Business Review and New York Times bestsellers The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation, Neil delivers a unique blend of cutting edge research packaged with heartwarming stories and sidesplitting laughs that leave audiences not just ready to face the next wave of changes – but excited for them.
He’ll inspire you to take challenges and transform them into growth opportunities to lift performance and results to new heights.

Neil is the New York Times and #1 International Bestselling author of five books including The Happiness Equation and The Book of Awesome. Neil’s books have sold over 1,000,000 copies in over 20 languages including Japanese, Turkish, and Arabic. Neil has written five New York Times and #1 International Bestsellers including: The Book of Awesome, a catalog of simple pleasures based on his 50-million hit, award-winning blog, Awesome is Everywhere, an interactive introduction to meditation, and The Happiness Equation, a nine step guidebook to happiness based on new research. His books have been on bestseller lists for over 200 weeks and sold millions of copies.
Neil’s dynamic, entertaining, and interactive style makes him one of the most popular speakers on the TED and SXSW stages. Neil’s first TED Talk “The 3 A’s of Awesome” has been ranked one of the 10 Most Inspirational TED Talks of all time with over 3,000,000 views.
Neil’s work has been featured in hundreds of outlets including CNN, BBC, The Today Show, The Early Show, The Oprah Winfrey Network, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Fortune, and Forbes. He has degrees from Queen’s University and Harvard Business School and lives in Canada with his wife and sons.
Saturday, April 22, 2023 | 8:00am – 9:00am | McCormick Place West Skyline Ballroom BCD