REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Michelle Gielan Biography

Michelle Gielan is a positive psychology researcher, former national CBS News anchor, and bestselling author whose work shows how optimism can become a strategic advantage for navigating pressure, uncertainty, and change. She is the bestselling author of "Resilient Optimism: The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times" and "Broadcasting Happiness."

For more than 15 years, Gielan has studied how mindset predicts performance, resilience, and well-being. Her research has been tested with more than 25,000 professionals, published in Harvard Business Review, and conducted in collaboration with researchers at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania. She is the Founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research, an Executive Producer of "The Happiness Advantage" on PBS, and a featured instructor in Oprah’s happiness course.

Drawing on positive psychology, neuroscience, and her experience as a national broadcaster, Gielan translates rigorous research into practical strategies that help people maintain clarity, energy, adaptability, and optimism when it matters most. Her keynotes combine compelling stories, surprising science, and live interactive experiments that leave audiences with tools they can use immediately. Her work has been featured by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, CNN, the "TODAY" show, and Harvard Business Review.

Read more +

BOOK Michelle Gielan

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/15/2026.

Michelle Gielan Speaking Topics

  • Leading Through Uncertainty: Building Psychologically Resilient Teams in the Era of AI

    AI may be rewriting the rules of work—but resilient, optimistic leadership will decide who thrives in the next chapter.

    AI is transforming the workplace at a pace few organizations have experienced before. Alongside unprecedented opportunity comes uncertainty, disruption, and anxiety about what the future holds.

    The leaders who thrive in this environment won’t simply be the ones who adopt new technologies fastest. They’ll be the ones who can help their people stay engaged, adaptable, and confident through change.

    Drawing on the research and insights from Resilient Optimism, researcher and bestselling author Michelle Gielan shows leaders how to create stability without certainty, communicate change in ways that build trust, and cultivate cultures where people remain motivated, adaptable, and able to perform at their best even when the path ahead is unclear.

    Through practical tools, compelling stories, and interactive experiences, she demonstrates why resilient optimism has become one of the most important leadership advantages of our time.

    Leaders learn how to:

    • Communicate change in specific ways that increase clarity and commitment instead of fear and resistance.
    • Create psychological safety without lowering standards, helping people stay engaged, adaptable, and innovative.
    • Maintain momentum and morale during uncertainty by making progress visible and meaningful.
    • Help teams move from anxiety about AI and disruption toward a greater sense of agency, growth, and contribution.

  • The Optimism Algorith: The Psychology of Resilience in an AI-Powered World

    As AI accelerates the pace of change, psychological thriving is becoming a competitive advantage.

    Information is abundant. Change is constant. Many people find themselves overwhelmed by distraction, uncertainty, and the pressure to keep up. The modern challenge is now how to develop mental habits that allow us to adapt, innovate, and perform at our best as the world changes around us.

    Drawing on the science behind Resilient Optimism, researcher and bestselling author Michelle Gielan reveals why optimism is becoming one of the most valuable skills of the AI era. Far from wishful thinking, resilient optimism is the ability to see challenges clearly while maintaining the belief that our actions can influence what happens next.

    Through compelling stories, surprising research, and interactive experiments, Michelle shows audiences practical strategies for protecting their focus, responding more effectively to change, and transforming uncertainty into opportunity.

    Attendees leave able to:

    • Understand why optimism is becoming a competitive advantage in an era of accelerating change.
    • Protect their attention and mental energy in an environment of constant distraction and information overload.
    • Strengthen the habits that increase resilience, adaptability, and sustained performance under pressure.
    • Turn uncertainty into momentum by focusing on what they can influence, improve, and create.
    • Develop the mindset and practices that help them thrive in a world shaped by AI, disruption, and continuous change.

Read More +

Michelle Gielan Videos

Michelle Gielan Speaker Reel

Michelle Gielan Speaker Reel

Michelle Gielan is a positive psychology researcher, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and former national news anchor. For more than 15 years,...

Michelle Gielan - NBC/"TODAY"

Michelle Gielan - NBC/"TODAY"

Michelle Gielan explains how to be happier and feel more connected in your relationships.

See All Videos »

Resilient Optimism: The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times
Resilient Optimism: The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times
Broadcasting Happiness: The Science of Igniting and Sustaining Positive Change
Broadcasting Happiness: The Science of Igniting and Sustaining Positive Change

  • How do I book Michelle Gielan to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Michelle Gielan for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Michelle Gielan, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Michelle Gielan or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Michelle Gielan

    Speaking fees for Michelle Gielan, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Michelle Gielan are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and $20,000 - $30,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Michelle Gielan, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Michelle Gielan speak about?

    Michelle Gielan is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Belonging, Change Management, College, Communication, Corporate Culture, Creativity, Emotional Intelligence, Ethics & Integrity, Future of Work, Futurism, Happiness, Health & Wellness, Healthcare, Human Resources, Leadership, Mental Health, Mindset, Motivational, Neuroscience, Peak Performance, Personal Growth, Psychology, Resilience, Social Sciences, Stress Management, Success, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Work-Life Balance

  • Where does Michelle Gielan travel from?

    Michelle Gielan generally travels from Dallas, TX, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Michelle Gielan’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Michelle Gielan for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Michelle Gielan for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Michelle Gielan or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Michelle Gielan is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Leading Through Uncertainty: Building Psychologically Resilient Teams in the Era of AI, The Optimism Algorith: The Psychology of Resilience in an AI-Powered World and Broadcasting Happiness: Positive Communication That Drives Performance and Culture. The estimated speaking fee range to book Michelle Gielan for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Michelle Gielan generally travels from Dallas, TX, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Shawn Achor, Amanda Gore, Suneel Gupta, Jenn Lim and Nataly Kogan. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Michelle Gielan for an upcoming live or virtual event.

BOOK Michelle Gielan

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

Need Quick Answers?

We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.

1.800.698.2536

Our celebrity booking agents can:

  • Gauge interest and check availability for speaking engagements, appearances or corporate events

  • Provide you with the speaking fee to book Michelle Gielan or other celebrity appearance fees

  • Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities

  • Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

1.800.698.2536
Contact Us

TOP