In this keynote, Saffron Baggallay explores the cultural phenomenon of toxic positivity—the expectation that we must always be upbeat, extraordinary, and perfect. She highlights how social media perpetuates this illusion, presenting curated snapshots of life as though they are normal, leading many to feel inadequate by comparison.

Saffron argues that this obsession with positivity has created chronic low self-esteem, especially in younger generations, and a dangerous reliance on external validation. The pressure to always appear happy fuels anxiety, depression, addiction, and even cognitive dissonance—the tension we feel when our behavior conflicts with our values, such as compromising integrity for job security.

She emphasizes that positivity itself is not the problem. Instead, it becomes toxic when it is inauthentic, stressful, or inappropriate, creating harm rather than resilience. Authenticity, she insists, should take precedence over forced positivity. By aligning with our values and acknowledging difficult emotions, individuals can build genuine confidence and healthier self-esteem.

Her call to action is clear: in a world that pressures us to “always be great,” leaders and individuals alike must prioritize authenticity over appearance. This shift not only supports mental wellbeing but also fosters stronger, more human-centered leadership.

In her keynote, Saffron Baggallay challenges the audience to rethink how they understand leadership, resilience, and connection. She begins by pointing out that traditional education systems condition us to rely only on the cognitive brain, but neuroscience has shown that humans have three brains—the head, the heart, and the gut. Each plays a role in decision-making, emotional intelligence, and intuition.

Through interactive exercises, she demonstrates how people sense energy, feel compassion, or react quickly to injustice—signs of different personality codes. These codes, she explains, are essentially coping strategies and unconscious biases that shape how individuals behave, especially under stress. While these traits can be strengths, they also lead to burnout when overused.

For example, one personality type (the “Eight”) often fights fiercely for justice and protecting the underdog. While this passion is powerful, it can also drain energy and lead to exhaustion, especially when feelings of betrayal trigger deeper stress responses.

Saffron emphasizes that burnout is a global crisis costing the economy trillions, and it prevents people from building meaningful connections. Yet connection is not optional—it is a neurological need. To create high-performance teams, individuals must first connect with themselves by understanding their code. Once leaders understand their needs and can articulate them, they can build stronger, more authentic connections with others.

She concludes by encouraging audiences to “know your code,” not only for personal growth but also for building organizational and cultural awareness. In today’s digital world, authentic connection, not disconnection, is the key to survival and thriving.

In her engaging keynote, Saffron Baggallay introduces the concept of the three brains—head, heart, and gut—explaining how neuroscience confirms each plays a role in how we think, feel, and decide. Using live audience interaction, she shows how some people sense energy emotionally, others process through intuition in the gut, and others are driven by logical analysis.

She illustrates how these tendencies form our personality codes, which are essentially coping mechanisms or survival strategies. While these codes shape strengths, they also reveal vulnerabilities, particularly under stress. For example, she describes how one personality type—the “Eight”—channels passion into protecting the underdog, but at the cost of energy depletion and burnout when betrayal is felt.

Saffron connects this to a global crisis: burnout, which costs the economy $2.5 trillion annually. She argues that burnout severs human connection, which is not optional but a neurological necessity. Without connection, individuals cannot thrive, and teams cannot perform at their best.

Her message is clear: by understanding and “knowing your code,” you can identify triggers, communicate needs, and build authentic connections that prevent burnout. This self-awareness extends beyond individuals to organizations, cultures, and even countries—all of which have collective codes that influence behavior.

She concludes by encouraging audiences to discover their personal code, embrace authenticity, and recognize that human connection is the key to thriving in the digital revolution.