Become a specialist who helps people avoid burnout

Michael P. Leiter

Professor of Organizational Psychology (Acadia University, Canada)

One of the foremost experts in professional burnout and work psychology.

• 110,000+ Google Scholar citations
• Canada Research Chair in Occupational Health and Wellness
• Co-creator (with C. Maslach) of the ‘Areas of Worklife’ model

Michael P. Leiter is a professor of organizational psychology, researcher and consultant who has studied professional burnout, work engagement, the work environment and people's relationship with their work for more than 40 years. He is one of the most prominent scholars to have shaped the contemporary understanding of burnout. Together with Christina Maslach he created the ‘Areas of Worklife’ model, which made it possible to analyse burnout not merely as an individual problem but as the outcome of the relationship between a person and their work environment. The model identifies six core domains of work life: workload, control, reward, community, fairness and values. Leiter is also one of the leading experts in the Maslach Burnout Inventory assessment tradition and has amassed exceptional experience applying and interpreting burnout research methodologies. His scientific contribution is outstanding. His publications have been cited more than 110,000 times, and he has held the position of Canada Research Chair in Occupational Health and Wellness. Leiter has worked at universities in Canada and Australia, consulted organizations in various countries around the world, and for more than four decades researched what helps people stay engaged, productive and healthy at work. His research and practice span not only burnout but also work engagement, interpersonal relationships in organizations, respect in the workplace and organizational culture. He has also developed practical interventions that help organizations strengthen respect, collaboration and employee engagement.

Prof. Eugenijus Laurinaitis

Psychiatrist, psychotherapist, group therapist, Associate Professor at Vilnius University, Professor at Mykolas Romeris University

One of the first in Lithuania to speak publicly about burnout.

• President of the Lithuanian Psychotherapy Society
• President of the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP), 2013–2015
• Member of the World Council of Psychotherapy Executive Committee (2015)
• Psychotherapy teacher, lecturer and group therapist

One of Lithuania's best-known psychiatrists and psychotherapists, with more than four decades of work on the hardest cases of human exhaustion, depression and personality difficulties. A psychiatrist, psychotherapist and group therapist, he teaches at Vilnius University (Associate Professor) and Mykolas Romeris University (Professor). He has trained and supervised a large share of the country's psychotherapists. President of the Lithuanian Psychotherapy Society, President of the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP) (2013–2015), EAP Vice General Secretary (2015–2017) and General Secretary (2017), and a member of the World Council of Psychotherapy Executive Committee (2015). One of the first in Lithuania to speak publicly about burnout and its clinical diagnosis. He opens the programme's first topic – the historical perspectives on burnout research and practice, its causes, and how burnout is actually ‘diagnosed’ in clinical reality.

Ingibjörg Jonsdottir

Director of the Institute of Stress Medicine and Professor in Public Health at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg

The scientist who turned burnout into a real clinical diagnosis.

• Adjunct Professor of Public Health at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and Director of the Institute of Stress Medicine
• Research on biological aspects of burnout, stress-related exhaustion in adulthood and organizational work environment mainly in the healthcare system
• Frequently invited as a speaker, both nationally and internationally, on topics related to burnout

She is Director of the Institute of Stress Medicine in Gothenburg, one of Sweden's leading centres for research and clinical work on stress-related exhaustion (exhaustion disorder), where the condition is treated as a distinct diagnosis with a clear protocol and a return-to-work pathway. She has led the institute for many years and is affiliated as a Professor in Public Health at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. Her research covers not only stress-related exhaustion but also research on organizational and psychosocial work environment with focus on the healthcare system as well as gender aspects. Her work influences how healthcare systems in the Nordic countries understand long-term stress, and why exhaustion can no longer be written off as ordinary tiredness.

Lode Godderis

Professor of Occupational Medicine, Head of the Environment and Occupational Hygiene Department (KU Leuven), CEO (IDEWE)

One of the most influential voices in European occupational health policy.

• CEO of IDEWE – Belgium's largest prevention organization
• Head of Environment and Occupational Hygiene at KU Leuven
• Participant in the EU ‘Ephor’ project

He leads IDEWE as CEO – Belgium's largest prevention organization serving hundreds of thousands of employees. He is not only a professor of occupational medicine but also Head of the Environment and Occupational Hygiene Department at KU Leuven, demonstrating broad academic responsibility at the intersection of science and business. He participates in the European Commission's ‘Ephor’ project as a professor of occupational medicine, and his research on sustainable return-to-work has become the benchmark for companies that want to reduce burnout systemically, not with posters. He has written several books, including ‘How do you talk with sick employees?’, which directly addresses the dialogue around lost work ability and return to work.

Kristin Neff

Professor of Educational Psychology (UT Austin, USA)

The world's pioneer of self-compassion science and bestselling author.

• 30,000+ citations, h-index 47
• Author of the Self-Compassion Scale
• Co-creator of the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) programme
• Author of ‘Self-Compassion’ and ‘Fierce Self-Compassion’

She was the first in the world to define the self-compassion construct scientifically and to create the Self-Compassion Scale. Her 2003 article introducing the scale has been cited more than 2,500 times, while her overall body of work has attracted around 30,000 citations with an h-index of 47 – showing not only recognition but that her instrument has become one of the most widely used in psychology. Together with Chris Germer she created the international Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) programme, now taught in dozens of countries and established as a standard in clinical and coaching practice. She is also the author of several bestsellers, including ‘Self-Compassion’ and ‘Fierce Self-Compassion’. Her research proved what long seemed counter-intuitive in the helping professions: being hard on ourselves does not make us stronger – it depletes us. Self-compassion is today one of the best evidence-based protective factors against burnout, especially among doctors, psychologists and teachers.

Thomas Curran

Professor of Social Psychology (London School of Economics)

The generational voice on perfectionism and achievement culture.

• TED talk – 3 million+ views
• ‘The Perfection Trap’ – international bestseller
• Writes for TIME and Harvard Business Review

His meta-analysis, showing that perfectionism among young adults has grown dramatically over recent decades, travelled the world and reshaped the conversation about why burnout is becoming a generational phenomenon, not a problem of isolated individuals. His book ‘The Perfection Trap’ became an international bestseller, and his TED talk has gathered more than 3 million views. His work has been covered by the BBC, New Scientist, New York Times, CNN and Wall Street Journal, and he writes regularly for TIME and Harvard Business Review. He has also received the APA Division 47 dissertation award and the University of Leeds research excellence award.

Gail Kinman

Professor of Occupational Health Psychology (Birkbeck and University of Nottingham, UK)

One of the UK's best-known occupational health psychologists.

• Ian Beardwell Prize for always-on culture research
• Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS)
• Trustee of Council for Work and Health and Chair of Society of Occupational Medicine psychology group

For over three decades she has researched work–life boundaries, the impact of the always-on 24/7 culture on mental health, and burnout prevention in emotionally demanding professions – law, education, social work and healthcare. She is a professor at Birkbeck and the University of Nottingham, and together with Dr Almuth McDowall she received the Ian Beardwell Prize for research on the impact of always-on culture in UK workplaces. She is also a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS), a Trustee of the Council for Work and Health, and Chair of the Society of Occupational Medicine's occupational psychology special interest group. Her research directly influences UK employment policy, and she advises parliamentary working groups and professional bodies on workforce wellbeing.

Ugnė Juodytė

Psychologist, burnout prevention specialist, author of ‘Anatomy of Burnout’

Programme author.

• 20+ years of psychology practice
• Author of ‘Anatomy of Burnout’
• Speaker at Lithuanian and international conferences

For more than 13 years she has worked in psychology, combining Gestalt psychotherapy practice, cognitive behavioural therapy studies, and coaching. A decade ago she experienced burnout herself, working non-stop and sleeping four hours a night, until she realised it was not a superpower but a heavy price. This experience became the foundation for the book ‘Anatomy of Burnout’ (Alma littera, 2026), in which scientific research and real client stories are woven into a seven-step programme. She consults clients and organisations, leads training for management teams, and is a member of the Lithuanian Psychologists’ Union, the Lithuanian Trauma Association, and the Lithuanian Mindfulness-Based Psychology Association.

Dr. Aistė Dromantaitė

PhD in Social Sciences, MRU lecturer and researcher, organizational consultant

The union of science, coaching and psychotherapy with international recognition.

• Lecturer and researcher at Mykolas Romeris University
• Publications in international peer-reviewed journals
• 2021 CoachAwards nominee in career coaching
• 2017–2019 President of ICF Lithuania

Licensed psychotherapist and ACC-accredited coach. Since 2007 she has taught and worked as a researcher at Mykolas Romeris University, focusing on coaching, organizational behaviour and leadership. She publishes in international peer-reviewed journals – for example, an article in Sustainability (MDPI) examines leader growth in the context of organizational change. In 2021 she was nominated for the international CoachAwards in the career coaching category among 20 specialists worldwide, and from 2017 to 2019 she led ICF Lithuania, the national chapter of the International Coaching Federation. For over 15 years she has led coaching and psychotherapy sessions and workshops, helping people and organizations create a meaningful life, a healthy communication culture and a sustainable work environment where burnout prevention becomes a systemic – rather than an individual – responsibility.