Education:
- Coaching Certification, Centre for Applied Neuroscience
- HR diploma, Durham College
- MA, Minnesota State University, Mankato
- PHD, University of Queensland
Location: Toronto, ON Teaches: Toronto, ON & Calgary, AB
Professional Experience:
Greg’s primary area of expertise is in the creation, implementation, and testing of positive psychology based intervention, programs and training. He serves as the interim chair of the Canadian Positive Psychology Association (CPPA) and has been on its board of directors since 2012. He is the founder of HEG, Inc, a company that promotes flourishing and performance in individuals organizations, schools, and communities through evidence- based assessment and strategies.
He is a consultant in organization and schools in the implementation of Positive Psychology based assessments and interventions within the Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. He is the leader of the Positive Education Mastermind Group and Ottawa Positive Psychology Series, and served as a member of the core planning committees that organized the 2nd and 4th Canadian Conferences on Positive Psychology.
In partnership with Ridley College, Greg co-authored a grade 11 open course curriculum entitled: The Foundations of Positive Psychology. He is also a Regular speaker, executive coach, and workshop facilitator in diverse industries, and has been selected to speak at events such as TedX, SXSW Interactive, Ignite, Educating for Resilience, the CPPA conference, and the CPA convention, among others.
My story:
I started my career by working with high performance athletes and teams. Through that work, it sometimes led me to question whether the clients’ athletic goals were leading them to more or less long-term happiness. I began to openly wonder if happiness or flourishing was the underlying point of those athletic pursuits, and, if flourishing is the ultimate objective, then doesn’t it make more sense to study “Olympic” level flourishers than high performance athletes? I was curious about the connection between psychological well-being and performance. It was these persistent questions that led me from sport and exercise psychology to the science and practice of positive psychology.
Favorite Quote:
“Ask yourself whether you are happy and you will cease to be so…those only are happy…who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness. Aiming thus at something else, they find happiness by the way.”
– John Stuart Mill
Words of Wisdom:
My Morning Ritual:
After basic needs, I understand that, generally speaking, happiness is more about our internal state or interpretations than external circumstances or material things. That being said, I won’t live in a world without coffee. I won’t do it.
A Little Known Fact About Me…
Juicy fruit is my favorite food. I think it should actually be a fruit.
What Students Are Saying:
“CAPP 30 was amazing and Greg was a fantastic leader and teacher. He allowed us to find our own voices with the material and encouraged us to fully listen to others as well as view different perspectives. He created a safe and supportive space for us to share and ask questions. It was his leadership that created such a special bond and community within this class. Greg is super is knowledgeable about pp and his passion for pp definitely shines through. There was something very special about CAPP 30.”
-Teresa Mazzella
“The strengths of the program were the instructor – Greg – his style – allowing room for discussion and reflection. The application to our own lives and developing friendships with classmates.”
-Nicole Cairns