Scott Schieman

For years, we've been told that work is changing. Remote work. AI. Automation. Four-day workweeks. Quiet quitting. Burnout.

But amid all the conversations about how work is changing, we've spent far less time asking a more important question: Why does work matter in the first place?

Drawing on more than two decades of research involving over 55,000 workers, Professor Scott Schieman challenges one of today's most common assumptions — that work is simply a means to a paycheque. Instead, he reveals how work continues to shape our identity, purpose, relationships, confidence, well-being, and sense of belonging.

In this thought-provoking keynote, Scott introduces his M.O.R.E. framework — an evidence-based model that explores the four dimensions people need to thrive at work: Mooring, Opening, Relating, and Exceeding. More than a framework for employee engagement, M.O.R.E. offers leaders a practical lens for building stronger cultures, helping people find greater meaning in their work, and creating workplaces where individuals and organizations perform at their best.

As organizations navigate AI, evolving employee expectations, and the future of work, one thing has become increasingly clear: technology will continue to transform what we do, but purpose will always shape why we do it.

This keynote gives leaders and teams the tools to build both.