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The Power of Purpose: How to Drive Performance through Meaningful Work
February 19 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET
Employees today want more than a paycheck from their employer; they want jobs that align with their values, career goals and life stage. They want work that is fulfilling and satisfying. It could be an opportunity to contribute to the community, support their family, grow their career, or another priority unique to them. Meaningful work, while deeply personal, is also incredibly motivating.
In one Canadian study, 90% of respondents were willing to trade a portion of their income for greater meaning. Similarly, 86% of Gen Z and 89% of Millennials in a SHRM survey said purpose was important to their job satisfaction. When people find meaning in their work, they bring more energy, creativity, and loyalty to the workplace. Fulfilling work also strengthens trust, improves collaboration, and supports adaptability during periods of change. It drives employee engagement and performance.
This desire for purpose is a clear business opportunity, yet leaders are seldom taught how to help employees find meaning in their work. The task is also challenging because purpose is dynamic as well as personal. It shifts depending on a person’s circumstances. Only through strong relationships can leaders understand what motivates each person and help them find meaning in their work.
Join us February 19 for a 1-hour free webinar hosted by Donald Thompson, author of The Employee Engagement Handbook, A Leader’s Guide to People, Purpose, and Performance. Thompson is an award-winning CEO and multi-exit entrepreneur, honored as EY Entrepreneur Of The Year®, named to Forbes Next 1000, and a 3x Inc. 5000 Chief Executive. Currently the Managing Director of the Center for Organizational Effectiveness at Workplace Options, he is also the host of the High Octane Leadership podcast.
Along with a panel of experts, Thompson will explore how leaders can intentionally foster meaningful work while driving measurable business results.
What You’ll Learn:
- What “meaningful work” means and how to talk about it
- How to cultivate strong relationships and workplace trust
- Practical ways to support meaning, such as career growth and recognition
- How to link business objectives to individual priorities
Discover how cultivating meaning and purpose in the workplace can help organizations engage employees and create high-performing teams.
Meet the Panel
Donald Thompson
Managing Director, Center for Organizational Effectiveness
Donald Thompson is an award-winning CEO and multi-exit entrepreneur, honored as EY Entrepreneur Of The Year®, named to Forbes Next 1000, and a 3x Inc. 5000 Chief Executive. Currently the Managing Director of the Center for Organizational Effectiveness at Workplace Options, Thompson is a sought-after speaker on innovation, culture and growth. His books include Underestimated: A CEO’s Unlikely Path to Success, now available as an audiobook; The Inclusive Leadership Handbook; and The Employee Engagement Handbook, coming in February 2026. He hosts the globally recognized podcast “High Octane Leadership,” and has published widely on leadership and the executive mindset.
Michelle McGurrin
Global Talent Acquisition and Workforce Strategy Leader
For more than 25 years, Michelle McGurrin has dedicated her career to how organizations attract, develop, and empower talent. With deep expertise in global talent acquisition and human resources, she has spent her career helping individuals identify meaningful next steps, unlock their potential, and pursue work that aligns with both their skills and their passions.
Over the last decade, Michelle led global talent acquisition teams within major healthcare organizations, shaping hiring strategies and developing systems that attract and retain top performers. Her commitment to merging professional capability with personal passion—and her insistence that organizations honor diverse backgrounds and lived experiences—has been a defining element of her leadership style. Her leadership blends data‑driven strategy merged with human‑centered philosophy.
Michelle completed her formal education in Montreal before moving to the United States in the mid‑1990s. In 2021, she accepted a leadership role in Germany, where she spent 2.5 years before returning to the U.S. to lead a global talent acquisition team through 2025. In January 2026, Michelle, her husband, and their golden retriever, Phil, relocated to Lyon, France, where they are now settling into their new chapter. She is also the proud mother of three adult children.
Josh Haymond
Managing Partner, Vaco
Josh Haymond is Managing Partner at Vaco, where he leads one of the firm’s Triangle, NC presence, delivering talent and consulting solutions to growth-oriented organizations. A Raleigh native and CPA, Josh began his career in public accounting before transitioning into professional services and entrepreneurship in 2013. For the past two years, he has been the top salesperson across the $1B+ organization, while continuing to anchor his time in team leadership. His work focuses on helping companies scale through project-based consulting and outsourced services across accounting, finance, HR, and IT. Outside of Vaco, Josh is the founder of Beyond Basketball, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit preparing student-athletes for life beyond sports, and LMH Capital, an early-stage investment firm. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.
Pre-Order Today!
The Employee Engagement Handbook: A Leader's Guide to People, Purpose, and Performance
Engaged employees are not just happier at work—they are the engine of innovation, resilience, and long-term growth. Companies that get engagement right outperform their peers in profitability, talent retention, and adaptability. Yet too many executives still struggle to build workplaces where people feel valued, trusted, and empowered to deliver their best.
The Employee Engagement Handbook changes that. It distills years of research, hard data, and real-world case studies into a practical roadmap for building high-performing, future-ready teams. This playbook cuts through the noise and focuses on what actually works: inclusive leadership, psychological safety, and people-first strategies that drive employee success and business results.