Joe O’Connor

Keynote Speaker | Toronto, Ontario

Future of Work & Shorter Workweek Pioneer
Smart Work & Sustainable Performance Expert

Joe O’Connor Expertise Artificial Intelligence (AI), Future of Work, Health & Wellness, Innovation & Creativity, Peak Performance, Work Life Balance, Burnout Prevention, Employee Retention and Workplace Culture.

Joe O’Connor

About Joe O’Connor

Joe O’Connor is a globally recognized expert in four-day workweeks, smart work, and sustainable performance, and a leading voice on the future of work. His mission is to create a future of better work and balanced lives. He is the CEO and Co-founder of Work Time Revolution, a global consulting and research firm that helps organizations redesign work for the age of AI. His work focuses on building new models of work that reduce overwork, support employee wellbeing, and drive organizational effectiveness — enabling teams to achieve more while working less. Joe has designed and led the world’s most high-profile, large-scale shorter workweek pilots, supporting hundreds of organizations and tens of thousands of employees to increase their productivity and reduce their work time. He is also the co-author of Do More in Four, the definitive guide to making the four-day workweek work.

Joe O’Connor Videos

Joe O’Connor International Keynote Speaker

Joe O’Connor Interviews & Podcasts

The Pros and Cons of a 4-day Work Week

4-day Workweek Proved to Be 'transformative and Life Change'

Should We All Work a Four-day Week?

The Case for Working Less: How Reduced Hours Drive Productivity

JOE O’CONNOR BIOGRAPHY

Joe O’Connor is a globally recognized authority on four-day workweeks, smart work design, and sustainable performance. He is widely regarded as a leading figure shaping the conversation about the future of work.

As the CEO and Co-founder of Work Time Revolution, Joe O’Connor leads a global consulting and research firm that supports organizations in developing innovative work models for the age of artificial intelligence. His work helps leaders and teams reduce overwork, enhance productivity, and build sustainable human performance systems.

His forthcoming book, Do More in Four: Why It’s Time for a Shorter Workweek, will be published by Harvard Business Review Press in January 2026. The book presents the definitive framework for implementing and sustaining shorter workweeks across industries and is positioned as a central reference in the global movement toward smarter work practices.

Before founding Work Time Revolution, Joe O’Connor served as CEO of 4 Day Week Global, where he designed and led the world’s most comprehensive and influential shorter workweek trials. These programs supported hundreds of organizations and tens of thousands of employees in North America, Europe, and Australasia, demonstrating measurable gains in productivity, wellbeing, and organizational performance.

Joe O’Connor also pioneered Ireland’s first coordinated private-sector four-day week pilot. The initiative, developed with Boston College and University College Dublin, established a data-driven model for evidence-based work redesign.

His research experience includes serving as a visiting research scholar at Cornell University’s ILR School in New York City, where he led studies on work time reduction and the changing dynamics of labor in a digital economy.

Joe O’Connor’s approach integrates academic rigor with real-world application. His consulting work bridges research and implementation, providing leaders with frameworks to build agile, outcome-focused organizations capable of thriving amid technological transformation.

He has worked with startups, small to medium-sized enterprises, and Fortune 500 companies seeking to modernize their operations by aligning work structures with performance, focus, and wellbeing.

Joe O’Connor’s insights are grounded in more than a decade of leadership across think tanks, research institutions, and purpose-driven organizations dedicated to the evolution of work.

He frequently advises policymakers, business leaders, and media on strategies to create balanced, future-ready workplaces.

His expertise emphasizes the intersection of organizational effectiveness, human sustainability, and digital transformation, ensuring companies remain competitive while maintaining employee engagement and resilience.

Joe O’Connor’s leadership philosophy is centered on evidence, measurable outcomes, and system redesign rather than incremental change.

Through Work Time Revolution, he continues to influence how organizations adopt AI-enabled processes, measure human performance, and cultivate cultures of trust and autonomy.

Joe O’Connor’s mission is to create a world of better work and balanced lives, where productivity is achieved through design rather than duration.

He remains an active contributor to international discussions on work innovation, helping shape the policies, research, and business practices that define the next chapter in how we work.

 

Joe O’Connor Topic Presentations

Joe O’Connor Toronto, Ontario, Canada delivers keynote presentations, workshops, fireside chats, moderated Q&A, and other presentation formats on a wide variety of topics. Each presentation is unique, customized and tailored for audiences, industries, conferences and event formats.

Unlocking Human Potential in the Age of AI

Beating Burnout: Redesigning Work for Sustainable Performance

Do More in Four: Why It’s Time for a Shorter Workweek

Joe O’Connor Books & Articles

Do More in Four: Why It’s Time for a Shorter Workweek
Do More in Four: Why It’s Time for a Shorter

The five-day workweek is a pillar of modern life, but it isn't backed by science, ancient wisdom, or divine decree. It's simply a relic of...

This CEO is Putting in Overtime to Shorten Your Workweek
This CEO is Putting in Overtime to Shorten Your

Joe O’Connor wants to persuade your boss—and everyone’s boss—to reduce the workweek to 32 hours.

The Four-day Revolution Comes to Canada
The Four-day Revolution Comes to

Joe O’Connor explores how the pandemic has accelerated the movement toward shorter workweeks. Through global pilots and success stories,...

You Can Do More in a Four-day Workweek than Five, Authors of New Book Say
You Can Do More in a Four-day Workweek than Five,

In “You Can Do More in a Four-Day Workweek Than Five,” authors Joe O’Connor and Jared Lindzon share evidence from their new book Do...

Opinion: the Case for the Four-day Workweek
Opinion: the Case for the Four-day

As burnout and stress reach record highs following the pandemic, more companies are adopting a four-day, 32-hour workweek to boost...

Joe O’Connor Speaking Testimonials

"Joe O’Connor is a dynamic and insightful speaker who brings deep expertise and practical strategies to the future of work conversation. His engaging style, backed by real-world experience and data-driven insights, captivates audiences and challenges traditional workplace norms. If you’re looking for a speaker who can inspire change and drive meaningful discussions on the future of work, Joe is an excellent choice."

Verity Weedon

Conference Director
M-Media Events

"Joe O’Connor is an excellent speaker who is both engaging and informative. He was part of our Canadian Summit in 2024 and US Summit in 2025, and he demonstrated that he was a true thought-leader in this space with a highly knowledgeable and evidence-based presentation that received hugely positive feedback from our leadership audiences. I would highly recommend Joe for any speaking engagements in the future."

Chris Cummings

CEO
Wellbeing at Work World

"We have been fortunate enough to include Joe O’Connor in our speaker line up for both in-person thought-leadership conferences and webinars. In all cases, Joe has been a joy to work with and a true professional. We have been especially grateful for his time in tailoring his content to our professional services audiences and delegate feedback has subsequently been exceptional."

Sharon Cooke

Technical Director
20:20 Innovation

"I learned a lot from it, and it’s influenced my leadership and the strategies I have for how I am going to deliver stuff and help my team. When you work with Joe O’Connor, there is an absolute passion for trying to make a better place for people to work."

Accountex Canada

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Joe O’Connor is from Toronto, Ontario and is available for events across Canada. Conference speakers in Canada frequently travel nationally with defined travel terms. Corporate keynote speakers coordinate scheduling through structured agreements. Availability is confirmed through formal inquiry. Read More

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Joe O’Connor is available as a virtual keynote speaker for online conferences, corporate webinars, and hybrid events in Canada. Virtual keynote speakers in Canada deliver structured presentations adapted for remote audiences. Format, platform coordination, and timing are confirmed during booking. Virtual availability is documented through written agreement in Canada. Read More

Does Joe O’Connor deliver keynote presentations, workshops, training sessions, breakout sessions, fireside chats, or panel discussions?

Joe O’Connor may deliver keynote presentations as well as workshops and breakout sessions. Canadian business speakers for corporate training in Canada define session length and format during booking. Conference speakers may also participate in fireside chats or panel discussions depending on program design. Session formats are confirmed in writing. Read More

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Joe O’Connor is contacted through Speakers Bureau of Canada to confirm availability and event details. Event planners and meeting planners typically schedule a pre decision call to clarify format, objectives, and scope. Booking begins once event requirements are defined. Written confirmation follows agreement execution. Read More

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Joe O’Connor is booked through a structured agreement process confirming availability, fee structure, and logistics. Booking keynote speakers in Canada for conventions and trade shows includes written contracts and defined payment terms. Canadian business speakers for annual general meetings require scope confirmation before date holds convert to confirmed status. Booking is finalized upon agreement execution. Read More

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Joe O’Connor keynote speaker fees depend on event type, audience size, format, and location. The cost to book a keynote speaker in Canada varies based on preparation scope and delivery structure. Corporate keynote speakers in Canada confirm fees through a booking agent and written agreement. Final pricing reflects defined scope and contract terms. Read More

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Additional costs to hire Joe O’Connor may include travel expenses, extended sessions, workshops, meet and greets, emcee duties, or event host roles. Keynote speakers in Canada for business conventions often separate honorarium from travel and related logistics. Canadian business speakers confirm these components in writing before agreement execution. All additional costs are outlined contractually. Read More

How far in advance should I book Joe O’Connor for a conference, convention, or business meeting in Canada?

Joe O’Connor should be booked once event dates, location, and format are confirmed. Conference speakers in Canada often secure dates several months in advance. Corporate keynote speakers for annual general meetings may have limited availability during peak seasons. Early inquiry improves confirmation certainty. Read More

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Joe O’Connor is represented by Speakers Bureau of Canada for booking coordination and agreement management. Keynote speakers in Canada often work through an agency to formalize contracts and payment handling. Agent representation ensures structured communication between organizers and the speaker. Representation clarifies agreement terms before confirmation. Read More