In recent years, happiness has ceased to be a concept reserved for philosophy or the intimate sphere to become an object of study, debate and application in very diverse fields. From psychology and neuroscience to education, business or public policies, well-being is increasingly seen as a key factor in understanding how we live and how we want to organize ourselves as a society. In this context, initiatives have emerged that seek to translate the idea of happiness into concrete tools, measurable indicators and practices applicable both personally and collectively.
At the same time, in lay and professional environments, there is a growing interest in integrating well-being into decision-making, organizational culture and daily life. Concepts such as mental health, purpose, connection or quality of life are now part of the usual language in companies, institutions and communities, moving away from merely abstract approaches and becoming tangible elements of transformation.
This is the framework for the activities of Luis Gallardo, president of the World Happiness Foundation and founder of the World Happiness Fest. Based on his experience, he addresses how this contemporary view of happiness is being articulated, what are the implications of trying to measure it and how it can be integrated into different levels of society, from everyday life to educational, business and urban systems.
FCBC: In addition to being president of the World Happiness Foundation, you are the founder of the World Happiness Fest... How was this initiative born and what makes it different from other forums or congresses?
Luis Gallardo: The World Happiness Fest stems from a very clear vision: we need to redesign the systems in which we live if we really want to increase human well-being. At the World Happiness Foundation, we have been working for years on a systemic approach to happiness, connecting science, public policies, education, business and personal development. Along this path, we saw that there was a need for a living space where all these conversations would converge and turn into action.
What makes the festival unique is that it's not just an event, but an expression of a global movement. It is deeply connected with the Happytalism paradigm, which we propose as an evolution of capitalism: a model where success is measured not only in economic terms, but in well-being, awareness and sustainability.
In addition, the festival is part of a larger ecosystem where we work with cities, schools, businesses and communities, helping them to transform into environments where people can truly flourish.
FCBC: What kinds of conversations and experiences do people who participate in the event encounter?
Luis Gallardo: The festival is a space where multiple levels of experience converge: intellectual, emotional and transformational. On the one hand, there are strategic conversations on topics such as mental health, conscious leadership, education, technology or public policy. But we also work from a practical point of view: how to implement well-being in organizations, in cities or in educational systems.
For example, we share concrete models that we are developing at the Foundation, such as the transformation frameworks for Cities of Happiness, Schools of Happiness and Companies of Happiness, which integrate indicators, culture and leadership around well-being.
And, at the same time, we offer experiential experiences—meditation, breathing, art, human connection—because we understand that happiness is not just a concept, but a direct experience.
FCBC: We live in a time of great challenges: climate crisis, economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions... How can we talk about happiness in a world that seems increasingly complex?
This is precisely why it is essential to talk about happiness. Happiness, deeply understood, is not evasion or naive optimism. It's the ability to develop resilience, clarity and compassion in the midst of complexity.
At the Foundation, we work with the idea that well-being must be integrated into decision-making at all levels: personal, organizational and social. In fact, more and more cities, companies and educational systems are incorporating happiness as a strategic axis, not as something accessory. In a complex world, happiness becomes a tool for transformation, not a luxury.
FCBC: What role does conscience play in building a happier society?
Luis Gallardo: Awareness is the starting point for any real change. Our purpose at the World Happiness Foundation is to help ensure that, by 2050, there are 10 billion free, conscious and happy people.
This involves developing the capacity to observe, understand and transform our individual and collective patterns. When a person increases their level of consciousness, their way of relating to themselves, to others and to the environment changes. And when that happens at scale—in schools, companies, or cities—culture is transformed.
FCBC: How can each person contribute, from their daily lives, to a happier world?
Luis Gallardo:Change always starts in everyday life. But it doesn't stop there. What we propose from the Foundation is to connect that personal development with larger structures. For example, when a person brings wellness practices to their company, or participates in initiatives in their city, they are amplifying their impact.
The key is to understand that happiness isn't just individual: it's relational and systemic. And we can all be agents of change within the systems in which we participate.
FCBC: The documentary “The Agent of Happiness” discusses the concept of Gross National Happiness developed in Bhutan. Do you think it's possible to measure happiness?
Luis Gallardo: Yes, but with nuances. Measuring happiness is necessary if we want to integrate it into public policies and organizational strategies. Without measurement, there is no management. At the World Happiness Foundation, we work on multidimensional measurement frameworks, which go beyond economic indicators and incorporate variables such as psychological well-being, meaning of life, relationships, health or social impact.
This approach is aligned with global initiatives such as Gross National Happiness or welfare indices, but it goes one step further by being applied directly to cities, schools and companies, with concrete and actionable indicators. The key is not just to measure, but to use that measurement to transform.
FCBC: Contemplative traditions and Buddhist philosophy have reflected for centuries on suffering and happiness. What can spiritual wisdom bring to contemporary conversations about well-being?
Luis Gallardo: It provides depth. Science gives us tools, but contemplative traditions give us direct understanding of the human experience. They teach us to relate to suffering, to cultivate compassion and to understand interdependence.
Today we are experiencing a very interesting integration between science and spirituality. Practices such as meditation, which have ancient roots, are being scientifically validated and applied in educational, business and clinical settings. This fits perfectly with the approach of Happytalism: a model that integrates the economic, the social and the spiritual.
FCBC: In your work, you often talk about compassion, purpose and connection. Do you think that deep happiness is more related to relationships with others than to individual achievement?
Luis Gallardo: Totally. Evidence—and also human experience—shows that sustainable happiness is deeply linked to connection. In our work with Companies of Happiness, for example, we see how organizations that prioritize healthy relationships, shared purpose and culture of care not only generate greater well-being, but also better results.
The same is true in cities and schools: when bonds are strengthened, well-being flourishes. Individual achievement has its place, but without connection it loses meaning.
FCBC: Finally, a final personal reflection: what makes you happy today?
Luis Gallardo: Today it makes me happy to see that this movement is growing. It makes me happy to see cities being transformed, schools incorporating well-being, companies redefining success. It makes me happy to see people waking up to a more conscious and connected way of living. And personally, I am happy with the simple thing: to be present, to learn, to share and to feel that we are contributing — even a little bit — to a better world.
