Global reach, measurable outcomes and a growing movement for emotional intelligence: Six Seconds 2025 Impact Report

Change doesn’t happen just because we care.

It happens because we practice.

Across the Six Seconds Network, people are putting emotional intelligence into action, in classrooms, communities, workplaces, and systems around the world. This report shares what happens when EQ becomes a shared, lived practice.

Six Seconds is a global nonprofit working to ensure that people everywhere have the emotional intelligence skills to thrive. In 2025, our mission advanced dramatically, expanding access to EQ tools, strengthening youth resilience, scaling community programs, deepening research, and supporting leaders and practitioners worldwide.

1. At Six Seconds, we believe all change starts inside.

When people understand their emotions, they make wiser choices, build healthier relationships, and create environments where people can thrive. This ripple effect drives Six Seconds’ Theory of Change Model — from individual insight to stronger relationships and more human-centered systems.

Practicing EQ at scale
Student leaders facilitating at Climate of Emotions event for NYC Climate Week. EQ builds agency and gives momentum for positive action.

What happens when we practice emotional intelligence?

When people practice emotional intelligence, they often feel more aligned within themselves, more connected with others, and more inspired about the systems they’re part of. Emotions like trust, empathy, hope, and joy become more accessible and more shared.

This graphic is shared through our @6secondseq Instagram community, one of the ways we offer free emotional intelligence resources reaching millions of people each month and invite people around the world to practice together.

4. Practice puts goals into action.

At Six Seconds, impact grows through the shared practice of emotional intelligence.

What we practice

The Six Seconds models, tools, and learning philosophy help people understand emotions and make wiser choices in everyday life. They are practical and designed to be used across classrooms, workplaces, families, and communities.

How we practice

Practice shows up in small, human moments. People pause, notice what they are feeling, and choose how to respond with care. Over time, these moments strengthen relationships and shape culture.

Who we practice with

The Six Seconds Network is a global community of people applying these ideas in real life. When people come together across countries, cultures, and roles, they experience connection, support, and shared energy. That sense of belonging helps people keep practicing.

Why we practice

Practice begins with the self, extends into relationships, and influences systems over time. This is how emotional intelligence supports wellbeing and lasting change at scale.

6. Global Research & Thought Leadership

Research is a core part of our Impact work—providing validated data to guide programs, elevate global understanding, and demonstrate what supports wellbeing and performance.

Emotional Recession Study

Published in Frontiers in Organizational Psychology

8,192 views & downloads

In the top 5% of all research outputs scored by Altmetric

This peer-reviewed work uses six years of SEI data to map global emotional shifts and their organizational implications, bringing critical attention to the decline in emotional skills worldwide.

Read the research on Emotional Recession: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1701703

SEI Assessment Milestone

We surpassed 1 million Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence (SEI) assessments, making our dataset one of the most robust emotional intelligence databases globally—directly strengthening our capacity for evidence-driven impact.

7. Funding and Support

HOW WE STEWARDED RESOURCES (2024 VERIFIED FINANCIALS)

To deliver global impact Six Seconds invested in three integrated program pillars in the most recent verified financial year.

EQ IMPACT — $315,293

Youth wellbeing, POP-UP Festival, Climate of Emotions, EQ Cafés, research, global community programs

• 32,409+ participants
• COE outcomes demonstrate measurable emotional improvement
• POP-UP youth programs with UNICEF
• Research informing global understanding of emotional wellbeing

EQ PRO — $1,093,054

Certification trainings, tools, and capacity-building for EQ practitioners

• 737 certification participants (25+ countries)
• 2,724 active certified professionals
• 501,018 people supported through Pros’ programs, coaching & education

EQ BIZ — $617,903

Organizational partnerships, coaching, leadership development, and culture transformation

• 100+ organizations strengthened
• Improvements in psychological safety, engagement, wellbeing, collaboration, and retention

8. Help Us Reach Our Vision

We couldn’t have done it without your generous support

People across communities, workplaces, and schools are navigating unprecedented levels of overwhelm, loneliness, and uncertainty. Emotional intelligence is not “nice to have”—it is the foundation of wellbeing, connection, resilience, and effective leadership.

Six Seconds is building one of the world’s most accessible, research-backed ecosystems for emotional intelligence. Your partnership accelerates this movement and brings us closer to our vision of 1 billion people practicing EQ.

THANK YOU to all our donors and volunteers.