Alexia Georghiou
Author of THE FUTURE OF WORK IS HUMAN AND THE FUTURE OF SUCCESS IS HAPPINESS
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
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For decades, I worked in clinical and administrative roles in mental health, eating disorders, and substance abuse, serving children, teens, families, and adults through individual sessions, group work, and community initiatives.
2019 was a transformative year for me. I founded the Knoxville Happiness Coalition, hosting meetings until March 2020, when the pandemic halted in-person gatherings. Our events featured speakers from diverse backgrounds who had discovered happiness. This inspired me to study happiness and positive psychology, earning a certification from the Fellowship's premier masterclass on organizational culture and completing a leadership and management certification through Wharton Online.
In 2019, I began teaching at the University of Tennessee’s Center for Professional Education & Lifelong Learning. I lost my role as a program coordinator due to layoffs.
In 2019, I also joined the Knoxville Association of Women Executives (KAWE), quickly accepting a board position. I became president in 2022 and led initiatives such as awarding scholarships to college students, recognizing women leaders with the Notable Woman Award, composing press releases, and managing marketing campaigns on social media. I supported board transitions in 2023 to ensure continued success with community projects and leadership development.
In 2020, I joined the board of the Oak Ridge Human Resources Association (ORHRA), leading programs to advance local HR initiatives. By 2022, I helped form the Oak Ridge Human Resources Alliance as ORHRA merged with the Oak Ridge Chamber. I continued as an advisor since 2023, to shape HR policies benefiting the community.
My vision for community improvement expanded through Life Betterment Through God, an initiative offering culture and leadership training for ministry leaders. Over the past five years, I’ve written extensively, podcasted, and launched a newsletter, Happiness Driven Leadership, featuring three columns and a library of 900+ resources for organizations and ministries. My mission is to transform communities one person, church, and organization at a time.
My book, The Future of Work is Human and The Future of Success is Happiness, helps professionals develop positive psychological capital in the work setting.
My signature V.A.L.U.E.S. Model—Vision, Action, Leadership, Unity, Engagement, Synthesis—based on empirically proven Positive Psychology practices expands organizational capacity. At the heart of my approach is storytelling, a powerful catalyst for organizational development and transformative advocacy.
Badges
Area of Expertise
Topics
Keynote: The Immigrant Daughter’s Voice: When Quiet Leadership Shapes the Future of Work
This keynote blends a powerful personal story with urgent workplace lessons. As an immigrant daughter who grew from selective mutism to keynote speaking at 50, I share how resilience, authenticity, and reinvention transform both lives and organizations. Drawing on science-backed happiness strategies and lived experience, this talk challenges stigma around women’s mental health and menopause, reframes adversity as fuel for leadership, and shows how quiet voices can shape stronger, more empathetic workplaces.
Keynote Learning Objectives
Reframe Adversity as a Leadership Asset
Attendees will learn how to transform personal and professional challenges—including stigma around mental health, menopause, and career reinvention—into fuel for resilience, authenticity, and stronger leadership in uncertain times.
Apply Science-Backed Strategies for Wellbeing and Performance
Attendees will discover practical, research-based happiness and resilience strategies they can immediately apply to reduce burnout, strengthen team dynamics, and sustain energy during rapid industry transformation.
Harness the Power of “Quiet Voices” in a Changing Profession
Attendees will explore how amplifying diverse, often-overlooked perspectives (immigrants, women, introverts, those navigating life transitions) can foster more empathetic, innovative, and future-ready workplaces in the accounting profession.
20 minutes to an hour
Op-ed Knoxville News Sentinel
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/changes-visa-program-could-deprive-090402481.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr
Empathetic Leadership in Layoffs
Layoffs are one of the most difficult challenges any organization can face. They don't just affect those who are let go, but also deeply impact the morale and engagement of remaining employees. Without proper leadership, the aftermath of layoffs can lead to low morale, decreased productivity, and increased turnover. This talk is designed to equip leaders with practical, empathy-driven strategies to support employees through the emotional challenges of layoffs, ensuring that remaining staff stay engaged and committed. Learners will identify how to navigate the stages of grief in the workplace, apply successful retention strategies, and foster a resilient, trusting workforce in the face of uncertainty.
SHRM Florida article
https://shrmfloridanewswire.org/empathetic-leadership-in-layoffs/
Happiness Habits for Enhanced Employee Engagement and Productivity
Many organizations struggle with low levels of employee engagement, burnout, and declining productivity. A significant driver of these issues is employees’ mental and emotional well-being. When employees are stressed, unmotivated, or disconnected from their work, it leads to a ripple effect of decreased productivity, lower job satisfaction, and high turnover rates. The core problem is not just the nature of the work but how employees feel about their work and workplace.
The Solution:
Happiness Habits serve as a proactive approach to address these challenges by boosting employee well-being. Research shows that when employees are happy, they are more engaged, perform better, and have healthier relationships at work. This session introduces habit-forming strategies to increase natural endorphins, improve mental well-being, and create long-lasting positive changes in the workplace culture.
Strategic Leadership: How to Create the Culture You Need to Manage all of the Changes
Culture by Design: Build the Workplace You Want Turn values into action. Turn action into results. Your culture is shaping your organization—whether you guide it or not.
This training equips you to lead culture intentionally, creating an environment where people feel trusted, valued, and motivated to excel.
Through proven frameworks, including Harvard Business Review’s 8 Types of Organizational Culture, you’ll learn to assess your current culture, identify areas for growth, and implement strategies that drive engagement, belonging, and lasting success.
For all Levels: Emerging Leaders, Mid Level, and Senior Leadership
Speaking REEL SHRM25: https://vimeo.com/showcase/11817177
Selected Speaking History
2025
➸ University of TN Innovative Technologies Symposium-Burnout Prevention and Cognitive Resilience for IT Professionals,1.29.25
➸ Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning-V.A.L.U.E.S. framework—Vision, Action, Leadership, Unity, Engagement, Synthesis—as a practical tool for enhancing organizational capacity based on empirically proven Positive Psychology practices—2.18.25
➸ United Nations sanctioned University for Peace Executive Education-Costa Rica-Transforming Insecurities Into Collective Empowerment, 3.9.25
➸SOAHR SHRM-Atlanta-Happiness Habits for Enhanced Employee Engagement & Productivity, 3.25.25
➸SHRM TALENT 2025-Nashville-Happiness Habits for Enhanced Employee Engagement & Productivity, 3.26.25
➸Book Signings—SHRMStore—SHRM25 & TALENT— THE FUTURE OF WORK IS HUMAN AND THE FUTURE OF SUCCESS IS HAPPINESS
➸DisruptHR-Knoxville,TN-Happiness Isn't a Perk—It's a Habit, 6.5.25– Closing Speaker
➸ SHRM25-San Diego-Empathetic Leadership in Layoffs, 7.01.25
➸ HR TENNESSEE CONFERENCE & EXPO-Nashville-Happiness Habits for Enhanced Employee Engagement & Productivity, 9.10.25
Cultivating Hope: Turning Workplace Challenges into Opportunities—Roundtable Format—in partnership with Alphonsus Obayuwana M.D., Ph.D., CPC., developer of The Hope Index used by Fortune 500 companies, Literary Titan Gold Award-winning author of The Happiness Formula—2024 Forbes Top 5 Must Read Books for the High Achiever.
University of Tennessee Leadership and Supervisory Management Certificate Courses— http://bit.ly/3YOSWrf
2024
➸ United Nations sanctioned University for Peace Executive Education-Listening for PEACE March 9
➸Alternative Balance Webinar January 22–Happiness Habits for Practitioners
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9jxQ3hZrEE
➸Udemy Community Champion Webinar: Ask Me Anything on Learning Design July 11th
2021
➸Arkansas PMI—Project Management Institute
➸American Nephrology Nurses Association Annual Conference
➸The 36th Annual San Diego International Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment, Rady’s Children’s Hospital
2020
➸Knoxville Association of Women Executives: https://rumble.com/v25l4ev-live-talk-diversity-of-thought-and-normalization-of-emotions.html
➸Knoxville Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance
➸TCSW-Tennessee Council of Social Welfare Annual Leadership & Networking Conference
➸World Happiness Fest 2020-2024
Growth in Grief— https://youtu.be/7U_XSqbNUkE
Testimonials
Dr. Shirley Raines, President Emerita, University of Memphis, Speaker, Author, Leadership Development Consultant: “From my experiences with Alexia Georghiou, she is an exemplary leader and a dedicated learner. For example, she became an exemplary community leader as President of the Knoxville Professional Women. Alexia is very bright and took courses at Wharton. Ms. Georghiou also leads in human resource organizations in the area. As an engaging instructor, her virtual and in-person courses are in demand. Alexia's consulting strengths with organizations are in building positive and productive culture and strong teams.”
Lawrence Kitambi, PMP, Vice President - Programs Central Arkansas Chapter
Positives: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
“Alexia, presentation to our PMI Central Arkansas Chapter had good content and insights into practical ways of how to deal with conflicts. The members' response was very positive and as a group of leaders we learned a lot. In general, the delivery was very good, and she was passionate and came across as a high level expert in this field.”
Kathryn Schrader, Founder & Principal Strategic Tax and Business
Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
“Alexia spoke at our Annual CPE Conference for the Knoxville chapter of the Accounting & Financial women's alliance. Her presentation was well organized, interesting and of value to the audience. The reviews of her presentation were excellent. Alexia will be asked to speak again at one of our future events!”
Short BIO—Alexia Georghiou is a recognized leadership and organizational development consultant who partners with executives to implement values-driven strategies that strengthen culture, enhance performance, and sustain organizational resilience.
Bring Alexia Georghiou to Your Stage—Request Form for Keynotes, Trainings, Workshops https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeH6sGnoN3vXeu2VSOIDOKCZjAJi0wgyLYF6WaM_waiOH6sEA/viewform
Leadership Coaching Inquiry Form
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexlPgF2D1DXpW-jkxKKar2STXiGbmakLNADBgs0xi9LoK6AQ/viewform
Speaking Sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YiVrnG2XUJqCK9ThVIAubZDjPUVlc4ly/view?usp=sharing
Get your copy of The Future of Work is Human and the Future of Success is Happiness https://a.co/d/fUvDieg
Email for author events/book club meetings ageorghi@utk.edu
Knoxville Happiness Coalition is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.
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