2017 Happy Workplaces CEO Conference

Featuring talks from representatives of COOK, Webmart, Happy and many more, the Happy Workplaces CEO Conference was for Chief Executives who wanted to get away from traditional top-down, hierarchical organisations, and instead shift their businesses into high-trust, high-autonomy and high-performance teams.

Watch clips and read excerpts from the conference

Below are some of the highlights from the 2017 Workplaces CEO Conference. Find out more in this selection of related blogs and videos on topics covered at the event.

 


8 Principles From Some of the Best Workplaces on the Planet

In this 20-minute video from the 2017 Happy Workplaces CEO Conference, Pim talks about the eight trends that he and his fellow Corporate Rebels have noticed within some of the world’s most engaged workplaces, including two in detail, that you can learn from and try in your organisation.

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How Well Do Your Staff Know Your Organisation’s Finances?

How would your organisation be different if everyone knew the organisation’s finances in detail? In this two-minute video, Pim de Morre explains what happened in a cookie factory when the Director explained the costs that went into producing each bag and why he couldn’t give staff payrises.

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How to Run a Marxist Business Within Capitalism 

In this 35-minute video from the 2017 Happy Workplaces CEO Conference, Simon Biltcliffe talks about Webmart’s Marxist-capitalist principles, and some of the ways that he has maximised the company’s Intellectual, Emotional and Financial return for every member of staff.

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How Webmart Maximise Their Competitive Advantage

What areas of your organisation do you monitor? In this 2:40 minute video, Simon Biltcliffe explains how at Webmart, they monitor the company’s Intellectual, Emotional and Financial return for true competitive advantage.

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COOK: Creating Growth by Placing Relationships at the Heart of Business

In this 20-minute video, Rosie Brown talks about Cook’s journey to becoming a happy and a Sunday Times Best Companies listed workplace. Cook now has a very clear values-led strategy, give their people opportunities to grow in their personal and professional life, and have a particular focus on the importance of creating relationships at work.

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The COOK Model for Great Relationships at Work

How do you resolve conflict between colleagues at work? In this two- and a half-minute video, Rosie Brown talks about how Cook has implemented a model for relationships at work, and how this has helped teams to work together better.

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How to Build a Profitable Business Based on Servant Leadership

‘Can the employee and employer serve each other for the greater good – while still being a profitable business?’, asked Simon Lawson in his Masters dissertation. And at Lawsons, a family business that supplies building materials to the London area, Simon has achieved that.

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The Value of Vulnerability at Work

Would you invite 20 of your team round to your house for lunch? That is exactly what Simon Lawson, Chairman of Lawsons, has been doing regularly for the last six years. In this short video, Simon explains how the Values Lunches started, and how they have been contributed to creating a happy workplace.

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Can You Use Happy Manifesto Principles in a Charity? 

In this 20-minute video, Michelle talks about leading the charity through a period of growth and transformation, highlighting what she did to bring her staff team on the journey with her and what the impact has been on both the people they work with and their bottom line.

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Pre-Approval in Practice at TLC: Talk, Listen, Change

Are you making the most of your people’s skills and knowledge? Michelle Hill talks about how the charity TLC: Talk, Listen, Change has used pre-approval in practice in this two-minute video.

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Next Conference: Women in Leadership Online Conference

Save the date for our online conference on 12th November 2025, celebrating women in leadership.

You will hear from inspiring female leaders about how they have created happy and empowered workplaces.

There will be interaction, discussion, space for reflection and opportunities to network with other leaders.

Find out more

The Happy Conference Methodology

How do we make our conferences great, interactive experiences — where you don’t have to make an effort to meet people and you also get the chance to talk about what you hear?

Here's what you can expect from a Happy conference