Global Well-Being &
Impact Leadership CertificationÂ
Lead with Purpose. Transform Systems. Elevate Well-Being.
A joint Certification of the World Happiness Academy and the United Nations established University for Peace
 A Transformative Leadership Journey
Program Overview
The world doesnât change by itself. It changes because of people like youâvisionaries, innovators, and disruptors who refuse to accept âthe way things are.âÂ
This is your invitation to step up, challenge the system, and lead a global movement of transformation. Are you ready?The Global Well-Being & Impact Leadership Certification (GWIL) is a unique leadership program designed for business executives, policymakers, educators, and entrepreneurs committed to regenerating systems, fostering well-being, and leading large-scale transformation.
This joint initiative between the World Happiness Academy and the UPEACE Centre for Executive Education, provides a comprehensive and customizable learning journey, engaging in deep learning, practical application, and guided reflection through eight required courses over an 18-month period:
â 4 courses from the World Happiness Academy
â 4 courses from the University for Peace (UPEACE)
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GWIL is not just a certificationâYouâre joining a global movement of leaders, visionaries, and changemakers who are challenging the very foundations of the systems and beliefs that shape our world.
This program is more than just knowledgeâitâs a catalyst for radical transformation.Â
Our journey includes:
Capstone Project: Global Impact Blueprint
Participants will apply their learning through a real-world transformation initiative, ensuring meaningful impact in organizations, cities, or institutions.
Comprehensive Learning Pathway
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Hybrid Learning: Online or in-person at UPEACE Costa Rica
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Personalized Mentorship: Senior faculty, global leaders, and well-being experts
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Group Coaching & Mastermind Circles: Peer learning and case study discussions
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Executive Career Pathways: Direct access to leadership roles within the World Happiness Foundation & UPEACE ecosystem
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Why This Program?
â Globally recognized certification with impact-driven outcomes
â Cutting-edge leadership models beyond traditional approaches
â Network of world-class leaders, business executives, policymakers, and changemakers
â High-level knowledge, skills, and networks to influence organizations, cities, and global systems.
â Work alongside worldâs top business leaders, policymakers, and social innovators to create real impact in your respective fields.
â Accredited by UPEACE & WHF, ensuring international Globally recognized certification with impact-driven outcomes.Â
Who is this for?
 Social innovators, high impact leaders, and Educators leading transformational initiatives.
Visionary corporate leaders and entrepreneurs shaping regenerative business models.
Government, policymakers and community leaders prioritizing well-being-driven governance.
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Upon completion, you earn the prestigious Certified Global Well-Being & Impact Leader (GWIL) designation, provided by The World Happiness Academy and the UPEACE Centre for Executive Education and gain the tools, frameworks, and networks to lead in business, government institutions, educational organizations, and community development systems.
Curriculum & Learning Tracks
A cutting-edge curriculum combining academic rigor with practical application, equipping leaders with real-world solutions to create systemic impact.
World Happiness Academy Courses (You choose 4)
Chief Well-Being Officer Program (CWO)
April 17, 2025
Learn to design and lead well-being strategies across sectors using global frameworks and best practices.Â
Professional Coaching Certification (ACC-WB)
 April 15, 2025
Gain executive coaching skills with NLP, mindfulness, and the ROUSER Model for transformational change.
Regenerative Systems Leadership & Happytalism.
October 2025
Explore regenerative economic models, indigenous wisdom, and leadership for well-being-centered systems.
Strategic Impact & Policy Innovation
April 2026
Develop policies prioritizing well-being with case studies of governments integrating happiness and sustainability.
New Economic Systems & Global Well-Being
April 2026
Learn regenerative financial models, impact investing, and social entrepreneurship beyond extractive capitalism.
Soul¡Full Method Program
September 2025
Integrating consciousness, sustainability and happiness in every framework.
Capstone Project: Global Impact Blueprint.
October 2025
Apply program learnings to a real-world transformation project with guidance from global impact leaders.
UPEACE Executive Education Courses (You choose 4)
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In-Person Courses (Costa Rica)
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Empowered Communication
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Positive Leadership
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Gross Global Happiness
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Design Thinking
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Educatorâs Retreat
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Intercultural Communication & Collaboration
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Skills for Effective Negotiations
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High-Performance Teams
Online Courses
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Regenerative Leadership
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Monitoring & Evaluation Fundamentals
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace
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Tackling Finance in the Social Sector
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Skills for Effective Negotiations
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Ethical Marketing
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Global Citizenship Education
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Organizational Happiness Certification
Post-Program Experience & Implementation
Integration of the Soul¡Full Method
â Leading from wholenessâmoving beyond fragmented solutions
â Applying Soul¡Full leadership in policy, governance, and enterprise
Fellowship Track: Soul¡Full Leadership for Systemic Change
â Exclusive masterclasses and dialogues with global thought leaders
â Cohort-based, immersive learning journey
â Application of Soul¡Full principles in governance, business & education
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Exclusive Fellowship opportunity in Soul¡Full Leadership
The Fellowship Track in Soul¡Full Leadership is an enhancement to the GWIL program designed for commited participants who seek deep mentorship, immersive experiences, and high-level networking to amplify their leadership impact.
Benefits for Fellows
â Exclusive Masterclasses & Deep Dialogues with top policymakers and thought leaders
â 1:1 Personalized Executive Coaching & Mentorship for leadership refinement
â Immersive Leadership Experiences through in-person retreats & experiential learning
â Global Community of Changemakers for peer collaboration and systemic impact
â High-Level Access to Leadership Roles & Policy Networks
â Lifetime Fellowship & Continuous Learning through WHF and UPEACE projects
 Learn from the experience of thought provokers, scientists and activists realizing a world with freedom, consciousness, and happiness. For all.
Our teachersÂ
Luis Miguel Gallardo
Founder and Director | World Happiness Foundation
Founder & President of the World Happiness Foundation and World Happiness Fest. Author of Happytalism and The Exponentials of Happiness. Director of the Gross Global Happiness program at the United Nations University for Peace.
Luis Gallardo is a social innovator and entrepreneur with the higher purpose of elevating the vibration of the planet by developing ideas, connecting thought leaders, activists and communities and increasing awareness on the science of happiness, holistic education and smart innovation.
Over the years Luis has been an advisor to CEOs, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, Nobel Laureates, political and institutional game changers on strategic personal positioning and brand building. That access to the brightest and most conscious individuals has inspired him to understand that the world needs new lenses to realize growth and how humans and societies can thrive.
Julia Delafield
Director of the UPEACE Centre for Executive Education
Julia is the Director of the UPEACE Centre for Executive Education. She has dual masterâs degrees from UPEACE and American University in Washington DC in International Relations and Affairs and Natural Resources and Sustainable Development. Before joining the Centre, Julia spent three years working with a social enterprise dedicated to bringing volunteers and Spanish learners to Latin America.
She also is a co-founder of Lafaza, a sustainable vanilla importing venture with her brothers, and spent the first half of her career with Rainforest Alliance and Fair Trade USA working on development and environmental certification programs through Latin America. Julia is from the United States but has lived in Costa Rica since 2009, as well as spending significant time in Mexico and Brazil.
Mohit Mukherjee
Founding Director of the UPEACE Centre for Executive Education
Shakti Radhakishun, holds Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credentials from the Co-Active Training Institute (CTI) and International Coaching Federation (ICF), respectively. As a Co-Active coach, Shaktiâs pursuing her purpose of serving those with a desire to live life in fulfillment, balance and in line with their values and life purpose.Â
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Fully aligned with her purpose, Shakti is an active member of the Awareness, Courage and Love Global Project ("ACL") and a co-leader of the ACL Miami Chapter - where she leads as a change-maker, co-creating and holding space for individuals to be seen and heard in full awareness, courage and love.Â
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With a MA in Statistics from Columbia University and a BA in Mathematics from NYU, Shakti has 18+ years of multi-faceted leadership experience in investment banking/finance.
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She further deepens and expands her life experience in fulfillment and balance when enjoying the outdoors, practicing yoga and mindfulness, supporting her communities and volunteering with pet rescues.
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Paulina Nava
Head of People and Experiences | World Happiness Foundation
Paulina Nava is Head of people and Experiences of The World Happiness Foundation. Paulina is a passionate social entrepreneur, author, and speaker who uses creativity and disruptive thinking to challenge the status quo and transform what is established. With over 14 years of experience in human development, conscious leadership, sustainability, mindfulness, and relationships, Paulina has traveled over 20 countries since 2016, learning about social change, happiness, indigenous cultures, ancient philosophies, and personal growth.
Michelle Taminato.
co-founder of CollabSoul | Board member WHF
Michelle has over 22 years of experience providing consultancy in private, public, and NGO organizations in Brazil and abroad, with a special focus on governance, innovation, management, and leadership development. She is a co-founder of CollabSoul, an ecosystem that integrates innovation, collaboration, and happiness to drive cultural transformation.
Arthur Sherwood
Director of WWUâs Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programs.Â
Arthur Sherwood facilitates the onsite and online Positive Leadership. He is the David Cole Professor of Entrepreneurship, Director of WWUâs Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programs. He teaches and researches human-centered entrepreneurship and innovation education with a focus on well-being and coaching promoting flourishing practices for lifelong changemaking. He is an experienced entrepreneur and certified executive coach and is actively engaged as co-founder of Reimagine by Design, LLC and member-owner of Columinate, a cooperatively owned consulting business.
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Rodolfo Carrillo
Founder Director | SER Consulting
Rodolfo Carrillo Best-selling author, speaker, trainer, coach and consultant As Conscious Leadership Shaman, Rodolfo has developed the powerful SER model for achieving leadership of the fullest potential as well as, deep-sustainable personal mastery and business growth. Rodolfo is an MBA graduate that has been involved in mentoring transformational leaders, business consulting and training for 20 years and has participated as an independent director in more than 25 business boards. He has also been meditating and in a personal and spiritual development path since he was 7 years old. Rodolfo has a very interesting and unique combination of business skills, experience and spiritual wisdom that triggers profound transformation through his work, which is motivated by his purpose to raise consciousness in the World so all beings can live in harmony and greater wellbeing.
Lars Kure Juul NielsenÂ
International Trusted Advisor, HR Executive and Talent Management ExpertÂ
Lars Kure Juul Nielsen facilitates Organizational Happiness and the onsite workshop Positive Leadership. Lars is an International Trusted Advisor, HR Executive and Talent Management Expert working out of Copenhagen with a wide range of Leaders, International Organizations and Institutions across the globe. Larsâ educational background consists of a Masters of Law from University of Copenhagen and HR, Leadership & Talent Management from INSEAD and Harvard Business School. Lars is the creator of the model and tool, The Happiness Sweet Spot, and author of the book, HR Fitness on Strategy into Action.
Dr. Ellen Campos Sousa
Professor | University of Tampa. Mindfulness Expert
PhD in Marketing and Professor at the University of Tampa, is an expert in integrating mindfulness into marketing and business. She researches well-being and develops mindfulness programs, applying them to promote mental health and holistic growth. AÂ board member of the World Happiness Foundation, she leads initiatives to foster happiness and inspires with her lectures on stages for a more balanced and meaningful life.
Alonso MuĂąozÂ
Professor, Consultant and Entrepreneur.| University for Peace
Alonso MuĂąoz facilitates the Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Social Change course. Alonso is an instructor in the Department of Environment and Development at the University for Peace (Costa Rica), where he also coordinates the Programme in Responsible Management and Sustainable Economic Development (RMSED). He holds a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Costa Rica and a M.Sc. in Business Administration. He has worked in the private sector as a consultant and as an entrepreneur and has volunteered on various national and international projects regarding peace education, migration, environmental impacts of systems, and Social Enterprises. He is a novelist, a blogger, a peace advocate, an entrepreneur and passionate about social and environmental development.
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Gabriela Cevallos
Founder of The Life Experiment | Social Innovator
Gabriela Cevallos, facilitates the Designing Your Life course. Gaby is a social innovator interested in human development and education. She is the founder of The Life Experiment where she designs experiences for organizations to increase the well-being of their employees. She also helps individuals connect with themselves, their purpose, and design a life and online business they love through personalized workshops, coaching sessions and transformational online programs.
She is a Certified Life and Leadership Coach and has a background in Peace Education, Social Innovation Management, Communication and Positive Psychology. Gaby holds a B.A. in Organizational Communication and PR, an MBA and a Postgraduate in Social Innovation, Diploma in Social Innovation from UPEACE Centre for Executive Education.
Dr. Raj Raghunathan
Professor of Business at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Raghunathan is a Zale Centennial Professor of Business at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. He is interested in exploring the impact people's judgments and decisions have on their happiness and fulfillment.
Jessica Hinshaw
Global Health Education specialist in Nicaragua and the United States
Jessica Hinshaw, co-facilitates the Mission Impossible? Measuring Outcomes & Impact course. She received her Masters in Public Health (specializing in Global Health) from Vanderbilt University and is a current doctoral student in the Human and Organizational Learning program at the George Washington University.
Jessica has worked professionally as a Monitoring and Evaluation and Global Health Education specialist in Nicaragua and the United States, focusing on community-based organizations and community-based participatory research. She is currently the co-chair of the Community-Based Primary Health Care working group of the American Public Health Association.
Abhinav Khanal
Co-Founder & Executive Director of Bean Voyage
Abhinav Khanal facilitates the Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Social Change and the Design Thinking course. Abhinav is the Co-Founder & Executive Director of Bean Voyage, a non-profit social enterprise that provides training and market access to smallholder women coffee producers in Costa Rica and Nepal. He is also the Co-Founder & Chief Thought Officer at Little Big Fund, which provides knowledge, networks, and micro-grants to early-stage non-profit leaders around the world. He is a Cordes Fellow, Resolution Fellow, Trust Scholar, Watson Scholar, and a One Young World Ambassador. Abhinav has a B.A in Political Science from Earlham College
Dr. Dan Tamasulo
Academic director at Columbia University's Spirituality Mind Body Institute.
Dr. Tamasulo is the academic director at Columbia University's Spirituality Mind Body Institute. He holds a PhD in psychology and a master's in applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Recognized as a top influencer on depression, he is the author of American Snake Pit and Learn Hopefulness, praised by Deepak Chopra and Martin Seligman.
Accreditation & Certification
Graduates earn the prestigious Certified Global Well-Being & Impact Leader (GWIL) credential, accredited by:
- World Happiness Foundation (WHF)
- United Nations University for Peace (UPEACE)
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What You Gain:
â Internationally recognized credentials
â Access to an elite global network of policymakers, corporate leaders, and well-being experts
â Practical frameworks for applying systemic well-being solutions
â Opportunity to present at the Gross Global Happiness Summit
Next Leadership Program Starting July, 2025.
Take the First Step Towards Impactful Leadership
Join a global network of changemakers dedicated to well-being, sustainability, and leadership transformation.
The program benefits from the expertise of leading organizations
Participants and Guides
Join us to co-create a world of well-being, happiness, and systemic transformation.
The Global Well-Being & Impact Leadership Certification empowers you to lead with empathy and resilience, transforming workplaces and lives. Enroll today and become a catalyst for change in the global well-being movement.
