Ikigai: More Energy and Job Satisfaction

Expert, Mental coach

1 hour

IT, NL, EN

Working / Happiness at work,
Mental health,
Work life balance,
Sustainable Lifestyle

Team Building,
Connect,
Happiness at Work

What gives you energy at work—and what makes you think at the end of the day, “This was worth it”? In this interactive lecture, Ikigai expert and author Brenda Serrée introduces employees to the Japanese philosophy of life known as Ikigai. An inspiring journey through meaning, energy, talents, and job satisfaction—filled with personal stories, Japanese wisdom, interaction, and practical insights that will change the way you view your work starting the very next day.

When was the last time you felt, “This is why I do my job”?

We’re often busy focusing on performance, meeting goals, and pushing forward. But somewhere along the way, joy, energy, and meaning can fade into the background.

In Japan, there’s a beautiful concept for this: Ikigai—that which gives your life value and makes you want to get out of bed in the morning.

During this interactive talk, Ikigai expert, speaker, and author Brenda Serrée will take you to Japan and back to your own daily life and work.

This isn’t a heavy-handed discussion about meaning, but a warm, energetic talk featuring Japanese wisdom, personal stories, relatable examples, and surprising audience interaction.

Participants will reflect on questions such as:
What truly energizes me?
What am I good at, and what do I enjoy?
What do I value in my work and life?
Which patterns actually drain my energy?
What small step can I take as early as tomorrow?
What are the benefits of the lecture?

Participants go home with new insights into what gives them energy, joy, and meaning. They become more mindful of their work, their choices, and what is truly important to them.

The talk aligns well with themes such as workplace happiness, vitality, sustainable employability, personal development, talent development, and meaningful work.

Why Brenda?

Brenda has been studying Ikigai and Japanese philosophy of life for many years and translates these concepts into our way of living and working in an accessible way.

She has spoken to organizations in the business sector, government, healthcare, and education, including UWV, Rabobank, De Nederlandsche Bank, DUO, Takeda, Arcadis, Richemont, Omron, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Saxion, Noloc, and Cordaan.

Her talks are personal and interactive. You won’t just listen to a story about Ikigai—you’ll also explore your own Ikigai along the way.

Suitable for: employee days, conferences, HR events, wellness weeks, team-building days, kick-offs, and gatherings focused on workplace happiness and personal development.

Duration: 30–60 minutes
Language: Dutch or English
Number of participants: from small groups to large conferences

Looking for a talk that encourages people to pause for a moment and then sets them in motion again with renewed energy? Then Ikigai is a wonderful starting point.

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