Available to book
Nic Marks
Happiness
Workplace Culture
Team Building
Nic Marks helps organisations build happier, higher-performing teams through evidence-based wellbeing strategies. A statistician and workplace wellbeing pioneer, he is the founder of Friday Pulse and the Happy Planet Index, has delivered a viral TED Talk, and wrote the bestseller Happiness is a Serious Business.
Personal Wellbeing
Psychology
Thought Leader
Author
TEDx
Business Consulting
STEM
Positive Psychology
Mental Health Awareness
Professional
Nic Marks is a statistician and pioneer in the field of workplace wellbeing, showing organisations why happiness is a serious driver of business performance, not a soft extra.
Nic read mathematics at Cambridge before training in organisational change and psychotherapy. He founded the Centre for Wellbeing at the New Economics Foundation, where he created the Happy Planet Index and the Five Ways to Wellbeing, and later founded Friday Pulse, a platform now used by hundreds of organisations to track team happiness.
Nic's research shows that happier employees are 20 to 30 percent more productive and considerably less likely to leave, meaning happy teams deliver more than twice the value of those merely getting by. His talks combine statistical evidence with warmth and humour, helping leaders see why culture and wellbeing belong on the same agenda as strategy and structure. An engaging speaker, his TED talk on the Happy Planet Index has been watched more than 2.8 million times, and he was shortlisted for the Booker's Choice at the 2026 Speakers Awards.
Audiences leave Nic's sessions with a clear business case for happiness at work, practical frameworks for building trust and engagement, and simple habits managers can use immediately to move teams beyond OK.
Book Nic to give your audience the evidence and the tools to build genuinely happy, high-performing teams.
Topics, sessions and talks
Most teams aren't failing, they're just stuck in OK: not unhappy enough to raise alarms, but not energised enough to thrive. Nic Marks shows the cost of this low-energy state, with OK teams facing twice the staff turnover, three times the burnout, and four times the risk of missing targets. Drawing on his book Happiness is a Serious Business, Nic sets out the conditions organisations can create to support happy, high-performing teams.
Artificial intelligence, political instability, and fast-moving markets are rewriting the rules of work. Nic Marks argues that as external conditions grow harder to predict, our inner world becomes the deciding factor, shaping how well we adapt to change. He shows why organisations with emotionally connected, resilient teams pull further ahead of competitors precisely when conditions get harder, giving leaders a clear reason to invest in people first.
Nic Marks sets out that happier organisations outgrow, outlast, and out-adapt their rivals because their people have the emotional reserves to cope when pressure rises. He reframes culture as one of the biggest hidden risks, and opportunities, on any leadership or investment agenda, leaving audiences with a sharper lens on where real risk sits.
Happiness at work is too often written off as a nice-to-have with no bearing on results. Nic Marks overturns that assumption, using data, real-world stories, and the frameworks from his book Happiness is a Serious Business to show exactly how happier teams outperform the merely OK. He gives leaders a rigorous, practical case for making happiness central to performance, retention, and long-term resilience.
High-performing teams are built through deliberate choices, not happy accidents. Nic Marks draws on years of research and his experience founding Friday Pulse to unpack the habits, conversations, and leadership behaviours that separate thriving teams from the rest. He leaves managers with practical, evidence-based tools they can apply immediately to lift their people well beyond OK, into territory where performance and wellbeing reinforce each other.
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frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Email nic.marks@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Nic's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Nic Marks structures his talks around statistical evidence drawn from his own research and the Friday Pulse platform, presenting specific figures — such as twice the staff turnover and 20 to 30 per cent productivity gains — to build a business case for workplace happiness before offering practical frameworks managers can apply immediately.
Nic Marks structures his talks around statistical evidence drawn from his own research and the Friday Pulse platform, presenting specific figures — such as twice the staff turnover and 20 to 30 per cent productivity gains — to build a business case for workplace happiness before offering practical frameworks managers can apply immediately.
Nic Marks structures his talks around statistical evidence drawn from his own research and the Friday Pulse platform, presenting specific figures — such as twice the staff turnover and 20 to 30 per cent productivity gains — to build a business case for workplace happiness before offering practical frameworks managers can apply immediately.
Nic Marks speaks on the business cost of low-energy "OK" teams, organisational culture as a hidden risk, and leading people through uncertainty and change. His TED talk on the Happy Planet Index has been watched more than 2.8 million times, and he was shortlisted for the Booker's Choice at the 2026 Speakers Awards.
Nic Marks speaks on the business cost of low-energy "OK" teams, organisational culture as a hidden risk, and leading people through uncertainty and change. His TED talk on the Happy Planet Index has been watched more than 2.8 million times, and he was shortlisted for the Booker's Choice at the 2026 Speakers Awards.
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Speaker fees vary by profile, format, and location. In the UK and Europe, virtual keynotes typically start around GBP 2,000, with top in-person speakers reaching GBP 25,000+; in the US, fees run from about USD 5,000 to USD 100,000+. Share your budget at getapeptalk.com and we'll shortlist to fit.
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You'll receive a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours of sharing your brief. Each suggestion comes with profiles, fees, and PepTalk's recommendation on the strongest fit. If you need options sooner for an urgent event, say so and the team will move faster. Start at getapeptalk.com.
Most bookings can be rescheduled with reasonable notice. Cancellation terms vary by speaker and are set out clearly in the contract before you confirm, so there are no surprises. PepTalk's team supports you through any change. Contact hello@getapeptalk.com as soon as plans shift.
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Speaker fees vary based on factors like event location, format, and availability. The 'typical fee range' figure gives you a baseline of someone's local, in-person rate sits, and we'll confirm the exact fee when you get in touch.
Before your speakers arrive, confirm AV is tested, a green room is ready, and printed schedules are on hand. Prepare warm introductions for each speaker and brief your team on timings. PepTalk speakers come fully briefed, making event-day logistics smoother and stress-free from the start.
A keynote speaker delivers an inspiring or informative talk. An MC hosts and guides the event, keeping things on track. Entertainment — like a band or comedian — creates atmosphere and fun. Each serves a different purpose, and PepTalk can help you book the right talent for all three.
Life happens! Most speaker bookings can be rescheduled with reasonable notice. Cancellation terms vary by speaker, but PepTalk handles all the details & contracts transparently upfront so there are no surprises. Our team supports you through any changes, making the process as smooth as possible.
Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. Alongside direct talent, we work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies, to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.
When booking a comedian, share your event format, audience size and demographics, any sensitive topics to avoid, and the tone you're after. PepTalk makes this easy — their booking process guides you through a simple checklist so nothing gets missed and your comedian is perfectly matched to your crowd.
When booking a speaker, you'll need your event date, audience details, format, key objectives, and budget. Having these ready makes the process smooth and straightforward. PepTalk's team uses this information to match you with the perfect speaker quickly and efficiently.
Yes! At PepTalk, you can absolutely bundle entertainment and speakers into one seamless package. It's a great way to create a fuller event experience while enjoying simplified booking and better value. Our team handles everything together, making the process effortless for you.
Sorry, we do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, or any non-commercial contact with the speakers, comedians or entertainers.
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Book a motivational speaker at least 3–6 months in advance, especially for popular speakers or large events. Top speakers get booked quickly, so earlier is always better. For major conferences or peak seasons, booking 12 months ahead ensures you secure your first choice.
Yes. Most PepTalk speakers deliver virtual and hybrid sessions with live Q&A, and virtual keynotes usually cost less than in-person because there is no travel. Tell us your platform and format and we'll match speakers experienced in online delivery. Start at getapeptalk.com.
Share your organisation's top 3 strategic priorities, current challenges, and the audience's role in delivering them. A simple one-page brief works perfectly. PepTalk speakers use this context to tailor insights that feel genuinely relevant — making your event far more impactful.
Yes! Most event entertainers are happy to tailor their act to your brand, industry, or theme. From weaving in company jokes to incorporating your branding into their performance, personalisation makes all the difference. PepTalk's entertainers specialise in bespoke experiences that feel made just for your audience.
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