Co-founder of HappyHQ, Janine Jacobs, helps companies build people-first cultures that fuel sustainable growth. With global experience at LinkedIn, Hilton, and PepsiCo, and a background in positive psychology, she brings sharp insight and a passion for building happy, high-performing teams.
Which talk/panel did you speak at?
Beyond the Office: Adapting to the New World of Work
Can you share a bit about your background?
I’m a champion for people-first cultures and the co-founder of HappyHQ, a consultancy dedicated to helping companies build people-centred practices for sustainable growth. Before settling (for now!) in Shoreham-by-Sea, I was a bit of a nomad, living and working in Australia and Singapore. Before we launched HappyHQ five years ago, I was a PR Director, creating creative campaigns and working with global brands like LinkedIn, Hilton, and PepsiCo, both agency-side and client-side. I’m also a fractional People and Culture Partner for Collaborate Global (proudly recognised on The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list for two years running), I’m also a mum to two boys and have a lifelong fascination in Positive Psychology – learning about the science behind human flourish and how this replays in the workplace.
What inspired you to speak at EVOLVE [25]?
It’s my home city 🙂
What was the key message or idea you most wanted the audience to take away from your talk?
To build an engaged remote workplace, people need clarity around the ‘rules’ – the practices, systems, context, and boundaries (including where they can push). This clarity comes from well-defined values, which serve as the foundation for communication and action.
Were there any audience reactions or questions that really stood out to you?
Yes, it was ace to be invited back on a panel in November from an audience member who appreciated how human and practical the advice was.
How does the topic you spoke about connect to your current work or passion projects?
This topic is so close to my heart and connected to my work at HappyHQ. We see this challenge play out constantly – keeping a remote team engaged and connected to the culture is incredibly difficult without intentional, people-first practices. It’s why we focus so much on helping companies define their values and create systems that bring clarity, connection, and engagement, no matter where their teams are located.
What emerging trends or challenges in tech (or your field) are you most excited about right now?
It would be remiss not to mention AI and the digital platforms helping remote teams stay connected and engaged. Tools which help managers keep a pulse on team wellbeing, or scheduling across time zones. But it’s not all perfect – there’s a fine line between using tech to bring people together and accidentally creating more distance. I’ve seen teams get so reliant on automation that they forget to actually talk to each other. It’s a tricky balance, but I’m excited to see how this experimentation plays out as companies work to amplify connection without losing the human touch.
What advice would you give to someone looking to make an impact in your area of expertise?
Be yourself and find your people. In our case, we naturally connect with a lot of agencies and industries we’ve worked with because we’re ex-agency people ourselves. We’re informal, creative, and we get the pressures they’re under. That shared understanding builds trust and makes collaboration so much easier, so lean into it.
How do you see the future evolving in your industry over the next few years?
I don’t think anyone really knows, and that’s what makes it so exciting. The pace of change in our industry is wild. Remote work is still redefining team dynamics, and new tools are popping up every day. I think the future will be less about predicting what’s next and more about staying adaptable, experimenting, and being open to unlearning old ways of working. The companies that thrive will be the ones that stay agile and use the chaos as a chance to learn and adapt, rather than trying to control it.
What was your favourite part of the EVOLVE experience?
The people, always the people.
What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects, initiatives, or goals you’re excited to share?
Yes! I’ll be speaking at The Agency Hackers summit in Ibiza this September about how to give feedback that’s not a sh*t sandwich. It’s a topic we’re really passionate about – finding ways to make feedback honest, constructive, and actually useful without sugarcoating or making it awkward.
What’s one book, podcast, or resource that’s inspired you recently?
Don’t wait for employees to leave to uncover what matters most. Swap exit interviews for stay interviews. Here’s our free playbook: https://happyhq.co.uk/stay-interview-playbook/
How can people connect with you or follow your work after the event?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/janinejacobs1111/
Anything else you would like to share with our community?
Brighton, you’re pretty bl00dy awesome.