About GoodThink

The goal of GoodThink is to bridge the gap between academic research and the real world, so that our message is not only instructive and inspirational, but evidence-based.  We’ve gathered a team of world renowned researchers, speakers, and trainers to deliver this information to organizations around the globe.  But talent, degrees, and reputation alone do not ensure integrity.  Our team believes that research should be lived, so as a company we strive to embody what we teach.


Shawn Achor, Founder and CEO

Shawn Achor is the winner of over a dozen distinguished teaching awards at Harvard University, where he delivered lectures on positive psychology in the most popular class at Harvard. Shawn has become one of the world’s leading experts on the connection between happiness and success. His research on happiness made the cover of Harvard Business Review, his TED talk is one of the most popular all time with over 4 million views, and his lecture airing on PBS has been seen by millions. Shawn collaborates on research with Yale and Columbia University. Both of his books, The Happiness Advantage (2010) and Before Happiness (2013)are New York Times best-sellers.

In 2007, Shawn founded GoodThink to share his research with the world. Subsequently, Shawn has lectured or researched in 51 countries, speaking to CEOs in China, school children in South Africa, doctors in Dubai, and farmers in Zimbabwe. He has spoken to the Royal Family in Abu Dhabi, doctors at St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and worked with the U.S. Department of Health to promote happiness. In 2012, Shawn helped lead the Everyday Matters campaign with the National MS Society and Genzyme to show how happiness remains a choice for those struggling with a chronic illness.

Shawn graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and earned a Masters degree from Harvard Divinity School in Christian and Buddhist ethics. For seven years, Shawn also served as an Officer of Harvard, living in Harvard Yard and counseling students through the stresses of their first year. Though he now travels extensively for his work, Shawn continues to conduct original psychology research on happiness and organizational achievement in collaboration with Yale University and the Institute for Applied Positive Research.


Michelle Gielan, Partner

Michelle Gielan, Founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research, is an expert on the science of positive communication and how to use it to fuel success.  She works with Fortune 500 companies and schools to raise employee engagement, productivity and happiness at work.  Michelle is a member of Zappos’ Downtown Project Global Think Tank on Education.  She holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Michelle is an Executive Producer of “The Happiness Advantage Special” on PBS.  She formerly served as the anchor of two national newscasts at CBS News, as well as a correspondent for “The Early Show.”  In 2009, Michelle produced “Happy Week,” a series focusing on fostering happiness in the midst of the recession.  In 2011, she appeared in her own weekly health and wellness segment, “Manic Monday” on FOX News Chicago.

Michelle graduated cum laude in Computer Engineering from Tufts University.  Her research and advice have received attention from Forbes, USA Today, CNN, FOX and NPR.


Amy Blankson, Chief Operating Officer

Amy has consulted for over 15 years with businesses, foundations, and nonprofits around the country about how to create positive and productive leaders.  A serial entrepreneur, Amy brings both passion and practicality to GoodThink. Amy was appointed by President Clinton to serve a five-year term on the Board of Directors for the Corporation for National Service (which oversees AmeriCorps), and was named a Point of Light by Presidents Bush and Clinton.  Amy received her  MBA from Yale School of Management and BA from Harvard.


Jordan Brock, Partner

Jordan is responsible for the strategic direction and business initiatives for GoodThinkInc. With a passion for business and eCommerce, Jordan joined the GoodThink team in 2011 and applied his prior experience in sales and sales management from the technology sector with industry leaders like Dell and Rackspace. He received his MBA, summa cum laude, in eCommerce from Oklahoma Christian University, and holds a BA in business management from Abilene Christian University, where he received a football scholarship.


Alexis Bierman, Director of Communications

Alexis brings over 12 years of professional experience in informal education, project management and facilitation of strategic collaborations. She earned her BA with honors from the University of Iowa in psychology and anthropology with a minor in religion. She followed a love of teaching and sharing information into graduate school at The George Washington University with an MA in museum studies and anthropology. She held several fellowship and teaching positions, as well as a prized internship at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History where she later worked, as well as at the National Museum of the American Indian and the Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas. Alexis has curated and designed newsletters for various organizations, lead project development for video and CD projects, along with curricula for elementary and middle school students correlated to learning standards. Her work at GoodThink includes social media, PR, and web management.