In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew Soren sits down with Danish philosopher and entrepreneur Morten Albæk, founder of Voluntās and author of One Life: How We Forgot to Live Meaningful Lives. With a career spanning from senior executive roles in banking and wind energy to launching the first firm to measure meaningfulness, Morten brings a rare mix of philosophical depth and business acumen to the question of what it means to live, and work, meaningfully.

Together, they explore what Albæk calls the “greatest paradox of our time”: while many metrics of progress are improving globally, our existential well-being is declining. Why is that? And what would it take to reverse the trend?

Key Takeaways

• We don’t suffer from a lack of progress, but a lack of pause. Despite global gains in wealth and health, many people report feeling more lonely, stressed, and disengaged than ever. Albæk argues that speed has become a modern god, and without reflection, we mistake noise for the melody of life.
• Work is not separate from life, but rather, it is life. Albæk calls the idea of “work-life balance” not just misguided but dangerous. Instead, we should strive for what he terms “the perfect imbalance” - an honest acceptance that different roles and contexts in life will always pull us in different directions.
• Satisfaction and happiness aren’t enough. Albæk distinguishes meaning from other positive emotions: “Meaning is the only emotion that can coexist with dissatisfaction and unhappiness.” That’s what makes it essential to a dignified life.
• Virtues over values. Albæk challenges the business world’s obsession with corporate “values,” arguing that virtues are moral aspirations we strive toward, not claims we declare.

Why This Episode Matters

This conversation invites us to challenge deeply held assumptions about work, life, progress, and productivity. By dismantling the myth of work-life balance and redefining how we measure success, Albæk helps leaders and individuals alike reimagine work as a key site of meaning rather than its opposite.

About Our Guest

Morten Albæk is a Danish philosopher, author, and founder of Voluntās, the world’s first advisory firm to systematically measure and consult on meaning.

He previously served as a senior executive at Danske Bank and Vestas, where he developed global initiatives like WindMade and Wind for Prosperity.

Albæk is the author of several best-selling books, and has been named one of the “100 Most Influential CMOs in the World” and one of Fast Company’s “1,000 Most Creative People in Business.”