Episode Details

In the corporate world, friendship is often treated as a consequence of long hours together, not as a strategy for success. But Jeff Hamaoui, co-founder of the Modern Elder Academy (MEA), argues that connection has critical operational implications.

In this episode, Jeff joins Corissa to discuss the 1-in-4 Crisis: the staggering reality that 25% of Americans have zero friends at work. They explore why professional distance is a liability and how prosocial leadership leads to higher retention, innovation, and a deeper sense of purpose.

A self-described skeptic who once rolled his eyes at "shamans in smocks," Jeff shares how the death of his young friend Zach forced him to move from a head-centric worldview to a heart-centered faith. He breaks down friendship not just as a social activity, but as a practice of managing the energetic field between people.

In this episode, we cover:

• Prosocial Companies: Why the data supports building friendlier workplaces to improve performance and innovation.
  
  
• The Skeptic’s Path: Jeff’s initial resistance to spiritual work and how grief became his most profound teacher.
  
  
• Managing the Field: How to view your relationships as an energetic entity that can be elevated or drained.
  
  
• Transcendent Connection: The sign Jeff’s friend Zach promised to send from the other side and how it realigned Jeff’s belief in the transcendent.
  
  

Notable Quotes:

"One in four Americans feels like they don't have a single friend at work... Just imagine how that feels." — Jeff Hamaoui 

"Loneliness sits in the same part of the brain as hunger. We hunger for each other." — Jeff Hamaoui

"There is a field that we co-create with people... the practice of friendship is about how do we manage that field?" — Jeff Hamaoui

Resources & Links:

Connect with Jeff at MEA: https://www.meawisdom.com/ 

Connect with Corissa:

• Explore the Advisory. https://corissasaintlaurent.com/advisory
• Inquire for Keynotes. https://corissasaintlaurent.com/speaking

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