Simon Cohen

Simon Cohen is a social entrepreneur and thought leader celebrated for his radical approach to business ethics and workplace wellbeing. The only person in living memory to give away his £1 million communications agency, he has worked alongside global figures including the Dalai Lama and Gandhi's grandson, and shares his philosophy regularly on BBC Radio 2's Pause For Thought. Recognised by PRWeek as one of the most influential professionals in the PR industry and named a Global Interfaith Visionary, Simon equips leaders with bold strategies to challenge conventional thinking, prioritise happiness and productivity, and build purpose-driven cultures that thrive without burning out.

At the age of 24, Simon Cohen founded an ethical communications agency in response to the unfair portrayal of Muslims in the media following the events of September 11th 2001. That agency, Global Tolerance, became a respected international firm working with clients committed to positive social change, from the Dalai Lama to Gandhi's grandson. Years later, in a decision hailed as one of the most courageous in modern business, Simon gave away his £1 million company after placing the entire organisation on sabbatical for a year so he could spend more time with his young family. His journey from theology graduate and recovering gambling addict to pioneering social entrepreneur has shaped a philosophy centred on happiness, meaning, and challenging the conventions that keep people and organisations trapped in unsustainable patterns.

Simon's credentials extend across media, interfaith dialogue, and corporate transformation. Recognised by PRWeek as one of the most influential professionals in the PR industry, he has also been named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Global Interfaith Visionary by the Temple of Understanding. His work in intercultural and peace communications positioned him at the forefront of ethical media practice, whilst his unconventional approach to leadership, including supporting employees to work as freelancers during the company sabbatical and permitting them to maintain client relationships, redefined what intelligent, emotionally led management could achieve. He shares his wisdom regularly with millions of listeners through his non-religious Pause For Thought segment on Chris Evans' BBC Radio 2 show, and his real-world experience spans advising global businesses on symbiotic communications, complex decision-making, and the intersection of technology, communication, and purpose.

Simon equips corporate audiences with practical strategies to break free from burnout culture and unlock higher productivity through radical rethinking of work-life balance. Drawing on compelling evidence, such as the fact that German workers log 600 fewer hours annually than their Greek counterparts yet achieve 70 per cent higher productivity, he challenges leaders to question inherited assumptions about time, output, and employee wellbeing. His keynotes inspire organisations to take time out in order not to burn out, offering a roadmap for building purpose-driven cultures where happiness and performance reinforce one another. Audiences leave with the confidence to make courageous decisions rooted in instinct and values, and the tools to create workplaces that prioritise fulfilment without sacrificing commercial success. Simon's message is as commercially vital as it is humanly urgent: thriving businesses are built not by working harder, but by working with greater meaning.