"A blending of free-flowing confessional prose and scholarly research . . . Kelli Harding stands apart from the horde." –Washington Post
KELLI HARDING
Author of The Rabbit Effect
Assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University
kelli harding
TYPE
Kelli Harding, MD, MPH, is dedicated to creating a kinder and healthier world for all. An expert in mental health, medicine, and public health, she is on faculty at Columbia University in New York City. She’s also the author of the critically acclaimed book The Rabbit Effect: Live Longer, Happier, and Healthier with the Groundbreaking Science of Kindness. Dr. Harding has appeared on Today, Good Morning America, BBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Prevention, LA Times, Oprah Magazine, Parents, Medscape, and The World Economic Forum. Additionally, she has spoken at global events at the United Nations and World Happiness Summits. In 2023, she co-founded Our Kind of Club, a global community that promotes positive social connections with the science of kindness. Dr. Harding lives in New York City with her husband and three sons—an eleventh-grader, ninth-grader, and six-grader—and beloved rescue pup, Athena.
Speech topics
Live Longer, Happier, and Healthier with the Groundbreaking Science of Kindness
What are we missing when it comes to our wellbeing? What would truly help us to thrive? Dr. Kelli Harding explores groundbreaking scientific evidence and shares heartfelt personal stories to reveal how surprising hidden factors, such as kindness and connection in our day-to-day lives, can have a far greater impact on our overall health than anything that happens in the doctor’s office. At once transformative and inspiring, Dr. Harding shares a radical new evidence-based way to think about how we live. Her eye-opening talk will change the way you engage in your relationships, workplaces, organizations, and communities.
The Connection Rx: Supercharging Success with the Power of Positive Relationships
In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure workplaces, the relentless drive for results can overshadow the human element, leading to burnout and disengagement. In this inspiring keynote, mental health expert and Columbia University Professor Dr. Kelli Harding reveals how fostering positive connections builds resilience, driving productivity and purpose. Backed by cutting-edge science, she offers practical strategies to empower individuals and organizations to thrive through challenges and unlock greater long-term wellbeing and success.
The Play Ethic: How to Bring More Joy, Meaning, and Productivity to Your Work and Life
Every organization understands that a strong work ethic is essential for performance, yet under constant daily pressures, we often forget that work without play burns us out and ultimately makes us less productive. In this engaging keynote, mental health expert and Columbia University Professor Dr. Kelli Harding explores how the science of fun can help us tap into our natural resilience. Through actionable, research-backed strategies, Dr. Harding demonstrates how bringing more play into our everyday work lives can boost meaning, creativity, and joy--despite significant challenges.
The Power of Purpose: How to Make Your Days More Meaningful and Productive for Better Health and Happiness
The daily pressure for results in our fast-paced work environments can leave us feeling burned out and disengaged. In this uplifting keynote, Columbia University Professor Dr. Kelli Harding reveals the often hidden but critical role of purpose in overcoming challenges and building resilience. She empowers participants to rediscover their deeper sense of meaning by offering evidence-based tools and practical strategies that harness the power of purpose--fostering better health, happiness, and long-term success in both work and life.
Books
The Rabbit Effect: Live Longer, Happier, and Healthier with the Groundbreaking Science of Kindness
Discover an eye-opening and provocative new way to look at our health based on the latest groundbreaking discoveries in the science of compassion, kindness, and human connection.