“The way we define happiness at work is that it's about how you feel in the workplace. Does work typically make you feel good or does work typically make you feel bad? And of course, nobody's happy at work every single day. If somebody's happy all the time, there's something wrong with them. We all have good days and bad days at work.”
S04E09 of the Rethink Culture podcast shines the spotlight on Alex Kjerulf, Chief Happiness Officer at Woohoo Inc., a global thought leader in workplace wellbeing. With a background in tech and a passion for happiness at work, Alex shares insights from over 20 years of experience helping companies like Microsoft, IKEA, and Hilton build cultures people love. From the dangers of toxic leadership to the power of emotional check-ins, Alex offers practical strategies for creating workplaces that foster joy, purpose, and performance. He also shares personal stories, from swing dancing to launching a comedy show, that reflect his belief in leading with humanity.
📢 Do you want to build a high-performance culture? It all starts here: www.rethinkculture.co
Production, video, and audio editing by Evangelia Alexaki of Musicove Productions.
Listen to this episode to discover:
• Why toxic leaders harm people and kind leaders drive results
• The two drivers of happiness at work: results and relationships
• Why effort deserves recognition, not just outcomes.
• How storytelling gives even routine jobs deeper meaning
• Why emotions matter and how to check in with them
• How peer accountability builds trust and performance
Further resources:
• Alex’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiefhappinessofficer/
• Woohoo Inc.: https://www.woohooinc.com
• Blog: https://positivesharing.com
• Comedy Show: https://becomedanish.com
• Happy Hour is 9 to 5: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20642240-happy-hour-is-9-to-5
• Leading with Happiness: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36629449-leading-with-happiness
Chapters
00:00 — Introduction to Alex Kjerulf
01:58 — Introducing Alex’s journey to Woohoo
03:00 — Reflecting on a career turning point
03:44 — Getting leaders to care about happiness
04:52 — Toxic success stories in business
06:54 — Comparing leadership styles
09:32 — Who seeks help for toxic culture
10:31 — Who drives change in organizations
11:37 — HR’s limits in shaping culture
13:16 — Defining workplace culture terms
16:40 — Happiness as a performance driver
17:07 — What leads to happiness at work
18:16 — Actions that build results & relationships
19:51 — Effort vs. results in recognition
21:05 — Rewarding what truly matters
24:38 — Creating purpose in any industry
31:15 — Lessons from leadership mistakes
32:43 — Exploring personal growth and impact
34:35 — Leadership lessons from swing dancing
37:18 — Building accountability through peers
40:32 — Emotions as a workplace compass
46:04 — Where to connect with Alex online