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Executive Education

Leadership and Happiness With Dr. Arthur Brooks

Study directly with Dr. Arthur Brooks — Vanderbilt professor, bestselling author, and one of the world’s leading experts on human happiness. Registration is now open for Leadership and Happiness, an eight-session live course built for leaders accountable for their own performance and their team’s well-being, with an optional three-day in-person retreat to deepen the experience.

Headshot of Arthur Brooks
Dr. Arthur Brooks: Vanderbilt professor, New York Times bestselling author, and expert on the science of human happiness

Happiness is a
Leadership Skill

Most leaders treat well-being as something to think about after the work is done, if there’s time. Vanderbilt professor Arthur Brooks’s research suggests we may have it backwards.

Happiness is a set of skills that can be learned and practiced all the time. For leaders, those skills shape how you make decisions, build relationships, navigate pressure, and set the tone for the people around you.

In the live, eight-session virtual course, Brooks draws on psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy to explore what makes us happier and how to put that research to work in your life and leadership. Take it a step further by joining Brooks at an in-person retreat.

Who it’s for: Emerging and current leaders in business, nonprofits, and government. No background in psychology or philosophy required.

Study with Arthur Brooks Online, In-Person, or Both

Participants have the choice of attending a fully virtual program, an in-person three-day retreat in Boca Raton, Florida, or bundling both together for a deeper dive and cost savings.

Virtual Course

Eight live virtual sessions with Arthur Brooks, from anywhere.

  • Dates: Eight Mondays between Sept. 28 - Nov. 30, 2026
  • Time: 10 - 11:30 a.m. CT
  • Cost: $4,495 per person
Register Now

In-Person Retreat

Three days in person with Arthur Brooks at The Boca Raton Retreat in Boca Raton, Florida. 

  • Dates: Dec. 7 - 9, 2026
  • Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Includes: Workshops, room, and meals
  • Cost: $6,125 per person
Register Now

Virtual Course + In-Person Retreat

Dive deeper with both the virtual course and retreat. 

  • Course dates: Sept. 28 - Nov. 30, 2026
  • Retreat dates: Dec. 7 - 9, 2026
  • Includes: Virtual course; In-person retreat with workshops, room, and meals 
  • Cost: $9,895 per person
Register Now

Coursework and Details

  • Virtual Course

    EMBA Student working in ClassroomEight live sessions, one Monday at a time. Learn directly from Arthur Brooks as he walks through the research on happiness, unhappiness, love, meaning, and purpose — and gives you tools to apply it immediately.

    Topics:

    • Module 1: Introduction to Leadership & Happiness (what happiness is, what it isn’t, and how to pursue it well across work and life)
    • Module 2: What is Unhappiness? (what unhappiness means, and why leaders are susceptible to it)
    • Module 3: Romantic Love (how to understand and sustain long-term romantic love, no matter one’s busy professional life)
    • Module 4: Family and Friends (why leaders tend to be lonely, and how to prioritize relationships outside of work)
    • Module 5: Finding Life’s Meaning (how to grapple with life’s biggest questions)
    • Module 6: Your Calling (how to pursue your professional calling—the idea that I am meant to do this job)
    • Module 7: Transcendence (the best ways to transcend yourself, via faith, philosophy, or service to others)
    • Module 8: Life’s Protocols (how leaders can tangibly use the science to start their day with energy, end their day with rest, prioritize their relationships, and forgo device addiction)

    Cost:

    $4,495

    20% corporate and Vanderbilt family + friends discounts available: Email execed@vanderbilt.edu

  • In-Person Retreat

    Prefer to just participate in the immersive experience? Join Arthur Brooks and his team for three days of in-person instruction, workshops, and conversation at The Boca Raton — no virtual course required.

    Schedule:

    • 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. ET, Breakfast
    • 9:30 - 10 a.m. ET, Open
    • 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET, Morning session
    • 12 - 1:30 p.m. ET, Lunch
    • 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. ET, Afternoon session
    • 3:30 p.m. ET, End of day

    Location:

    The Boca Raton in Boca Raton, Florida

    Topics:

    Day 1: The Science of Emotions (4 hours of instruction)

    • Students will come to the session having taken The Happiness Scale, Dr. Brooks’ validated psychometric battery that assesses one’s overall well-being and “Affect Profile” (the extent to which one feels positive and negative emotions across the average day).
    • In the sessions, Dr. Brooks will explain the evolutionary biology of emotions, and the best techniques for emotional self-management across work and life.
    • In breakout sessions, Dr. Brooks and his research team will explore the group’s data and offer practical takeaways for boosting one’s strengths and managing one’s weaknesses.

    Day 2: Worldly Idols (4 hours of instruction)

    • The data (and philosophy) show that humans are uniquely tempted by one of four worldly idols: money, power, pleasure, or fame/prestige. When we place these idols as our top priority, we become unhappier.
    • Students will come prepared having taken four psychometric batteries, all assessing the extent to which each worldly idol is in control of one’s life. This self-knowledge is critical to avoid unintended misery.
    • In the sessions, Dr. Brooks will explain how leaders can pursue the world’s rewards as a proxy for the good of themselves and their families.

    Day 3: The Next 80 Years (4 hours of instruction)

    • In these concluding sessions, Dr. Brooks will explore big population data sets and explain how our personalities and happiness change over time—and, with the right habits, for the better.
    • Students will depart with a strategic plan for improving their well-being for the remainder of their lives.

    Additional Optional Events:

    • Welcome reception and dinner with Arthur Brooks: Sunday, December 6, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
    • Group dinner: Tuesday, December 8, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
    • Workshop sessions hosted by Arthur Brooks' team: Monday, December 7 and Tuesday, December 8, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

    Cost:

    $6,125

    20% corporate and Vanderbilt family + friends discounts available: Email execed@vanderbilt.edu

    Inclusions: 

    • Room and board
    • Breakfast and lunch on class days
    • Additional optional events (Welcome reception and dinner; Group dinner; Workshop sessions)

    Register for Retreat

  • Virtual Course and In-Person Retreat

    Take the eight-part virtual course, then go deeper. Spend three days with Arthur Brooks at The Boca Raton in Florida, turning the science into practice through focused instruction, workshops, and conversation with fellow leaders.

    Cost:

    $9,895

    20% corporate and Vanderbilt family + friends discounts available: Email execed@vanderbilt.edu

    Inclusions: 

    • Virtual course
    • In-person retreat
      • Room and board
      • Breakfast and lunch on class days
      • Additional optional events (Welcome reception and dinner; Group dinner; Workshop sessions)

    Register for Bundle

Rare Access to Arthur Brooks, Designed for Deeper Learning

The opportunity to learn from Arthur Brooks in person is at the heart of this experience. Rather than simply absorbing his ideas through a book, podcast, or pre-recorded course, you’ll be in the room with him, asking questions, engaging in conversation, and exploring how his insights apply directly to the challenges you face as a leader.

That kind of access is rare. The course takes place at The Boca Raton, a renowned waterfront resort that gives you the time and space to focus on the experience, continue conversations outside the classroom, and connect with Brooks and fellow leaders throughout your stay.

Learn More About the Resort

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who should take this course?

    Leadership and Happiness is designed for emerging and current leaders across the for-profit, nonprofit and government sectors — anyone responsible for their own performance and well-being, and often for the well-being of a team.

  • Do I need a background in psychology, philosophy or neuroscience to take this course?

    No. Dr. Brooks translates the underlying research for non-experts. No prior coursework in these fields is required.

     

  • What's the difference between the program options and which is right for me?

    There are three ways to join:

    • Virtual course: Eight live virtual sessions between Sept. 28 – Nov. 30, 2026
    • In-person retreat: Three-day retreat only from Dec. 7 – 9, 2026, in Boca Raton, Florida
    • Virtual course and in-person retreat: Eight live virtual sessions between Sept. 28 – Nov. 30, 2026, plus a three-day retreat from Dec. 7 – 9, 2026, in Boca Raton, Florida

    If your schedule favors flexibility, the virtual course delivers the curriculum without travel. If you want the deepest, most immersive experience, the virtual course and in-person retreat combines live virtual instruction with three days alongside Dr. Brooks and fellow leaders. If you'd rather skip straight to the in-person experience, the in-person retreat lets you join the retreat on its own.

    For further guidance on choosing the right participation option, please reach out to the Executive Education team at execed@vanderbilt.edu.

  • Is the virtual course live or self-paced?

    Sessions are live, real-time meetings with Dr. Brooks on the dates and times listed. Participants should plan to attend at the scheduled time.

     

  • What is included in the in-person retreat fee?

    The fee includes room and board, breakfast and lunch on class days, and all additional optional events (the welcome reception and dinner, group dinner, and team workshop sessions).

  • Can I attend the in-person retreat without taking the virtual course?

    Yes, you can register for the in-person retreat only without taking the virtual course.

  • Are discounts available?

    Yes. A 20% discount is available for corporate groups and for Vanderbilt friends and family. Please reach out to the Executive Education team at execed@vanderbilt.edu for details. 

     

  • How do I register?

    Registration is open at the links below: 

    • Virtual course: Eight live virtual sessions between Sept. 28 – Nov. 30, 2026
    • In-person retreat: Three-day retreat only from Dec. 7 – 9, 2026, in Boca Raton, Florida
    • Virtual course and in-person retreat: Eight live virtual sessions between Sept. 28 – Nov. 30, 2026, plus a three-day retreat from Dec. 7 – 9, 2026, in Boca Raton, Florida
  • Who can I contact with questions?

    Email the Vanderbilt Executive Education team at execed@vanderbilt.edu.

Headshot of Arthur Brooks

About Arthur Brooks

Arthur Brooks is one of the world’s leading experts on the science of human happiness, appearing in the media and traveling the world to teach people in private companies, universities, public agencies, and faith communities how they can live happier lives and bring greater well-being to others.

Brooks is a professor at Vanderbilt University and a senior fellow at the Harvard Business School. He is a CBS News contributor, columnist with The Free Press, and host of the weekly podcast “Office Hours with Arthur Brooks.”

He is the author of 16 books, including the #1 New York Times bestsellers The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness, Build the Life You Want (co-authored with Oprah Winfrey), and From Strength to Strength.

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