19 MAY2025W MAN LEADERGLOBAL W MAN LEADERGLOBAL HR consulting methods, I immersed myself in positive psychology and organizational well-being. I discovered that workplace happiness wasn't just a feel-good concept, it had the power to transform businesses. When employees feel valued and fulfilled, they become more productive, engaged, and resilient. That realization became the foundation of Live 13.5, making us the first company in Latin America to focus on workplace happiness.Our mission is to help companies become both more human and more profitable by prioritizing employee well-being. We offer consulting, leadership training, and team-building programs that focus on people-first management. In 2020, we launched Empresas Más Felices (Happiest Organizations), a certification to measure workplace happiness, helping businesses create meaningful change. We have faced challenges, some companies misunderstood the concept, while others wanted to buy recognition. But instead of backing down, we made happiness assessments more accessible for organizations truly committed to improving employees' lives.In 2023, we took this mission even further by launching WOHAW, the largest well-being and happiness congress in the Spanish-speaking world. This experiential and disruptive event brings together top experts to share insights on happiness at work. This year, it will take place on October 1st and 2nd in Mexico City. Looking back, what once seemed like a setback turned into my greatest opportunity. Today, Grupo Live continues to grow, helping organizations create thriving workplaces where people feel happy, valued, and inspired. And I truly believe that is the key to lasting success.Every business leader faces challenges along their journey. What are the major challenges you encounter in your role, and how do you navigate them?My first challenge was making my business sustainable, especially with a concept like workplace happiness, which was not well understood. I did not listen to doubts or negativity, and stayed focused on my goal and purpose. I also had to manage my emotional intelligence. Hence, I prepared myself in various schools to become a better CEO. This helped me navigate uncertainties and kept my company from failing.Before the pandemic, many directors did not believe in happiness at work. But post-pandemic, things changed. I built an ecosystem, Live 13.5, Happiest Organizations, and Congress, to create awareness and credibility through scientific support.What do you consider the most significant milestones in your professional journey so far?One of the defining moments in my journey was standing in front of CEOs who firmly believed that employees existed solely to work and deliver results. Deep inside, I knew something was off. But instead of letting their skepticism discourage me, I saw it as an opportunity, to find a better way to communicate why employee well-being matters.The most pivotal milestone, however, was creating Happiest Organizations. Unlike other prominent companies, that evaluate workplace environments, no one was measuring well-being and happiness at work. Considering this, I partnered with scientists in Argentina to develop a tool that could do just that.Then came 2020, and the world changed. I faced a choice, either cancel the project or prove that companies prioritizing employee happiness thrived even in a crisis. I launched the project called Hero Organizations, now called Happiest Organizations and the response was extraordinary. Employees willingly took pay cuts to protect their colleagues. That moment reinforced what I had always believed, that happiness at work is not just a concept, it is a powerful force for change. Nancy Martínez is redefining workplace culture, proving that happiness, well-being, and productivity go hand in hand for lasting success
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