Developing Leaders for Today's World - Gus O'Donnell

Discover why governments and leaders are failing at wellbeing and how we can fix it. Drawing on his experience as former Cabinet Secretary to three Prime Ministers in the UK, Lord Gus O'Donnell argues that we must move beyond GDP to create a society that truly serves its people. Key topics from his keynote at World Happiness Summit 2026 (WOHASU): -Beyond GDP: Why relying on economic growth as the only success measure doesn't work and what we should use instead to measure societal progress. -Government Failure: A look at why political leaders talk about wellbeing but often fail to follow through with meaningful policy changes. -The Power of Language: How shifting to "building better lives" can make wellbeing and happiness more accessible and relevant to everyone. -AI and Humanity: Exploring whether artificial intelligence will be used to replace human roles or be optimized to augment and improve human wellbeing. A New Vision for Leadership: The specific skills and vision required for future leaders to prioritize life satisfaction.