In a polarized world, where do people find their happiness?
Global leaders are grappling with widening divisions across countries and cultures amid geopolitical crises, economic uncertainty, and lower trust in institutions. The consequences: greater political polarization, weaker familial relationships, and overall lower life satisfaction.
Semafor, in partnership with Gallup and in coordination with the World Happiness Report editorial team, will present the latest data and insights at the 2025 World Happiness Report launch.
Conversations with top decision-makers and leaders will focus on the report's key themes around kindness, generosity, and happiness, allowing global leaders and citizens to better understand happiness and kindness trends, ways to improve social connections, and policies that enhance well-being.
When
March 20, 2025
Doors: 8:30 a.m. ET
Programming: 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. ET
Where
Washington, D.C.
Speakers
Dr. Catalina Crespo-Sancho
Costa Rican Ambassador to the U.S.
Amb. Leena-Kaisa Mikkola
Finnish Ambassador to the U.S.
Amb. Svanhildur Hólm Valsdóttir
Icelandic Ambassador to the U.S.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Founder, Art of Living
Gretchen Rubin
Author; Founder, The Happiness Project
Melissa Stevens
Executive Vice President, Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy
Robert Egger
Founder, DC Central Kitchen and Founding Board member, The World Central Kitchen
Sara Konrath
Associate Professor of Philanthropic Studies, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
Gerardo Bethin
Interim Co-President; Vice President, International Programs, Freedom House
Hilary Silver
Professor of Sociology, International Affairs, and Public Policy and Public Administration, George Washington University
Jon Clifton
CEO, Gallup Organization
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve
Director, Wellbeing Research Centre
Russell Shaw
Head of School, Georgetown Day School
Karen Guggenheim
Co-Founder, World Happiness Summit
EJ Dionne
Senior Fellow, Brookings
Chika Morishima
Executive Officer & Vice President, Aijnomoto
Former Congressman Carlos Curbelo
Member of the Board of Directors for the Coalition to Empower our Future
Moderators
Justin B. Smith
Co-Founder and CEO, Semafor
Morgan Chalfant
Deputy Washington Editor, Semafor
Bennett Richardson
General Manager, Global Head of Public Affairs, Semafor
Amna Nawaz
Co-Host, PBS News Hour & Semafor Contributor
Dr. Alden Lai
Assistant Professor, NYU & Board Member, Wellbeing for Planet Earth Foundation
Location
901 F Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20004
Doors Open: 8:30 a.m. ET
Programming: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET
Media Information
Please note that external recording devices, including professional camera equipment with detachable lenses, external flash, monopods, bipods, tripods, are not permitted at this event.
Please contact communications@semafor.com if more information is needed.
What is Happiness?
Since the World Happiness Report debuted in 2012, the Gallup World Poll has provided the data behind the annual happiness rankings featured in the report and insights into global wellbeing and happiness.
Replay last year's World Happiness Report Launch Event to see how people around the world defined happiness in 2024.