Gianna's Gems: The Happiness Formula - Creating Events That Feed the Soul

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Hi there,

Summer’s a great time to ponder the meaning of happiness…and how to get more of it.

This week I've been obsessed with a question that’s been on my mind since a conversation I had recently with a happiness researcher: What if we could actually engineer joy? Not the fleeting, superficial kind that comes from a perfect Instagram moment, but the deep, lasting happiness that transforms how people feel about themselves and the world around them.

As event planners, we're essentially happiness architects—but are we building the right foundation? After diving deep into positive psychology research, I've discovered something that's completely revolutionized how I approach event design: true happiness isn't one-size-fits-all. It's actually made up of three distinct ingredients that people need in different proportions, like a custom cocktail (or mocktail) for the soul.

Gianna’s Gem: Let me introduce you to The Happiness Trifecta: the Engaged Life, the Pleasant Life, and the Meaningful Life. Understanding these three pillars and weaving them into your events doesn't just create better experiences—it creates transformation.

The Engaged Life: When Time Disappears

The Engaged Life is about flow states—those magical moments when you're so absorbed in an activity that you lose track of time entirely.

You know that feeling when you're completely absorbed in something challenging yet perfectly within your abilities? That's engagement. It's the programmer at 2 AM who forgot to eat dinner, the musician who plays for hours without noticing, the puzzle solver who can't put it down. In events, this translates to experiences that challenge attendees' skills while keeping them in their sweet spot of capability.

How to Build Engagement Into Your Events:

  • Interactive Problem-Solving Sessions: Instead of passive presentations, create collaborative challenges. At a recent tech conference I designed, we replaced traditional breakout sessions with "CSI style breakouts" where teams of 4-6 people worked together to solve real business challenges like cyber-security hacking using new tools they learned that day. The energy was electric—people were so engrossed they didn't want to break for lunch.

  • Gamification That Actually Works: Skip the basic point systems. Create compelling narratives. For a sales summit, we designed a "Mystery of the Missing Revenue" experience where attendees gathered clues throughout different sessions to solve a complex case study. Each session revealed new pieces of the puzzle and points, keeping people fully present and engaged. Everyone was able to redeem points for swag at the end. Win-win for all!

  • Skill-Building Workshops: Offer hands-on learning experiences that stretch attendees just beyond their comfort zone. Think coding bootcamps, improv classes, or collaborative art projects. The key is calibrating difficulty—too easy and people zone out, too hard and they shut down.

  • Live Music and Performance: Not as background entertainment, but as participatory experiences. I once organized a "Corporate Talent Show" rather than A-List talent which ended up being the most engaging and popular concert we ever had plus inspired awe and inspiration at people’s talented colleagues - and new connections made through shared talent that was revealed during the tryouts and performances.

The Pleasant Life: Indulgence as Strategy

Pleasant experiences aren't frivolous—they're neurologically necessary. They create positive emotional states that make people more creative, collaborative, and open to new ideas.

The Pleasant Life is about sensory delight and luxury experiences that make us feel pampered and cared for. This isn't shallow—it's strategic. When people feel physically comfortable and emotionally elevated, they're primed for better learning, networking, and decision-making.

How to Curate Pleasure at Your Events:

  • Elevated Food Experiences: Move beyond standard catering. Create food stations that surprise and delight—think liquid nitrogen ice cream made to order, home-made chocolate chip cookies cooked fresh at your booth, or a "build your own charcuterie masterpiece" station with a professional guide. The act of creating something delicious together creates positive emotional anchors. And an excellent espresso lounge - always the most popular activation at any conference is certain to draw in attendees and keep them alert for your content.

  • Sensory Luxury Touches: Incorporate unexpected moments of luxury. Hand or neck massages during networking breaks, essential oil stations, weighted blanket relaxation pods, or even a champagne and chocolate pairing during registration. These small indulgences signal that attendees are valued and help them relax so they will stay at your event longer to be pampered rather than retreat to their hotel room.

  • Entertainment That Elevates: Instead of generic background music, curate experiences that truly entertain. I recently hired a mentalist who worked the networking hour, creating moments of wonder and delight that became conversation starters for weeks after the event. Or consider the custom leather-branding station or engraved water bottles for a personalized swag moment that draws people in and helps them remember you after the event.

  • Beautiful Environments: Invest in creating Instagram-worthy moments not for social media, but because beauty genuinely elevates mood. Fresh flowers, live soft music, delicious smells, interesting mood lighting, unexpected art installations—these details create an atmosphere where people feel special simply by being present.

The Meaningful Life: Purpose as the Ultimate Connection

Meaningful experiences connect people to something larger than themselves. They transform attendees from passive participants into active contributors to positive change.

This is where events can become truly transformational. When people feel they're part of something bigger—whether that's solving important problems, helping others, or contributing to positive change—the experience resonates long after they've left your event.

How to Weave Meaning Into Your Events:

  • Give-Back Components: Partner with local charities or causes that align with your event theme. At a leadership summit, we organized teams to shop for the wish list of local Napa fire victims—it became the most talked-about part of the entire event. People connected with each other through service and it made us all feel gratitude.

  • Mentorship Circles: Create structured opportunities for experienced attendees to share knowledge with newcomers. Not just networking, but intentional knowledge transfer that makes both sides feel valued and connected to a larger community. I did this with Googles Women Leadership Summit and took it a step further by having female Google women leaders bring copies of their favorite books and sign them for a local women’s shelter with words of encouragement to the recipients.

  • Problem-Solving for Good: Design sessions where attendees use their skills to tackle real social or environmental challenges. A marketing conference I organized included "Pro Bono Fridays" where teams created campaigns for local nonprofits. The energy was incredible because people felt their expertise was making a real difference.

  • Google Marketing Events Academy: When we had an event cancel abruptly and our team felt lost with so much time on their hands, I created a marketing events academy where members of my team each presented on a specific event topic they had expertise in (i.e. brainstorm sessions, product launches, influencer marketing). It became a great way for our team to learn and grow during the slow period and kept us all feeling productive and engaged.

  • Legacy Projects: Give attendees ways to continue making an impact after the event ends. Create collaborative documents, resource libraries, mentor programs, or ongoing volunteer opportunities that extend the meaningful connection beyond the event itself.

The Magic Formula: Blending All Three

Here's where it gets interesting: everyone needs different proportions of these three types of happiness. Some attendees crave the high-energy challenge of engagement, others need the comfort and pleasure of luxury experiences, and others are motivated most by meaningful connection and purpose.

The secret? Layer all three into every major event touchpoint.

Opening Session Example:

  • Pleasant: Welcome attendees with exceptional expresso and wellness smoothies, and a beautiful environment that engages all the senses.

  • Engaged: Interactive opening exercise (ie standing yoga or group breathing) that gets brains working immediately

  • Meaningful: Frame the event's larger purpose and how attendees will contribute to positive change

Networking Breaks Example:

  • Pleasant: Elevated food and drink experiences, maybe featuring local artisan vendors or something attendees can engage in with all their senses like make your own trail mix

  • Engaged: Structured networking lounges or demo stations

  • Meaningful: Opportunities to meet with a coach or mentor, or share with others through unconference style attendee-led share circles

Closing Experience Example:

  • Pleasant: Celebration with live music, champagne toast, or gift store

  • Engaged: Collaborative reflection on key learnings and next steps such as choosing one person who attended each breakout to share a one-two sentence summary for the rest of the attendees on stage in rapid-fire lightning format.

  • Meaningful: Have attendees write a note to their future selves about something they want to remember from the event and mail it to them afterwards.

The Ripple Effect of Happiness-Centered Events

When you intentionally design events that feed all three dimensions of human happiness, magic happens:

For Attendees: They don't just gain information—they gain energy, connection, and a sense of purpose that extends far beyond the event. They become advocates who can't stop talking about their experience.

For Organizations: You create deeper engagement, stronger loyalty, and more powerful word-of-mouth marketing. People don't just attend your events—they actively look forward to them and bring others along.

For Society: You model what's possible when we prioritize human flourishing alongside business objectives. Your events become examples of how commercial gatherings can contribute to positive change.

Making This Your Method

Start by auditing your next event through the Happiness Trifecta lens. For each major element, ask:

  • How does this engage people's skills and create flow?

  • How does this create pleasure and positive sensory experiences?

  • How does this connect to meaning and larger purpose?

The goal isn't to check boxes, but to weave these elements together so naturally that attendees feel the full spectrum of human happiness without even realizing it's by design.

Remember, we're not just planning events—we're creating experiences that can genuinely improve how people feel about their work, their relationships, and their ability to make a positive difference in the world.

What if your next event didn't just inform or entertain, but actually made people happier long after they went home? That's the kind of magic worth creating.

What I’m Loving this week:  For all my favorite vendors, partners and products, visit: https://www.giannagaudini.com/gianna-recommends

Don’t Be a Jerk Podcast: I am obsessed with leaders who care about making the world better and lead by example.  Healey Cypher, CEO of Boompop, a friend and genuine example of said leader, just launched his own podcast, aptly named “Don’t Be a Jerk”, a great follow on to this blog about how to create a better life and make others’ lives better as well. In his words: My brother once said all CEOs are inherently bad—and I get it. Headlines glamorize ruthless success, but there’s another story: leaders who win because they’re good people. “Don’t Be a Jerk” explores real-world examples and tactical insights proving kindness and integrity aren’t just nice—they’re strategic advantages. Each episode reveals actionable lessons to build success without compromising values. Let’s rewrite the narrative of leadership, one story at a time.

XX,

Gianna

P.S. Check out my book, The Art of Event Planning or book a session with me here 👉 intro.co/giannagaudini