| | APRIL 2024MANAGEHRMAGAZINE.COM8In MyOpinionDanielle has over 15 years of experience in conscious leadership, mindfulness, and wellbeing. She is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and has worked with executives, professional sports teams, and athletes in designing customized trainings and practices for peak performance. In addition, she has been invited as a guest speaker and contributor to prestigious events such as Chopra Global events, Makers Conference, TEDx, Summit Tulum, World Happiness Summit, and national publications.Please tell us about the journey that you've had so far and your roles and responsibilities at Vancity.Over 15 years ago, I entered the wellness space, collaborating with Deepak Chopra, a pioneer in meditation and mindfulness. We collaborated on trainings, retreats, and wellness talks across organizations. My journey continued at Lululemon, where I spent nearly eight years creating and leading the Department of Mindful Performance. There we integrated mindfulness practices into onboarding for all employees, fostering a culture of mental health awareness.In my current role at Vancity, I continue to prioritize employee wellbeing. We incorporated breathing exercises and increased talks on mental health and self-care. Embracing a progressive approach to mental health, our HR department shifted from Chief HR Officer to Chief Equity and People Officer, who spearheaded a shift, decoupling mental health benefits. We've revamped our approach and since 2023 offer $10,000 to every employee and their dependents.Under our Chief Equity and People Officer, we've created conditions for well-being, introducing "Focus Time" from 9 to 10 AM, fostering reflection and priority-setting. In addition, every quarter, we observe a "Focus Week," dedicated to uninterrupted, deep-dive work without meetings. This initiative, aligned with equinoxes and solstices, respects diverse celebrations and promotes a holistic approach to mental health and overall well-being.What are some of the major challenges in the corporate wellness space?One of the challenges is navigating the challenges within the middle management space. Middle managers face the dual stress of being employees themselves while leading their teams, and balancing their own well-being with the responsibility of developing their teams can be demanding. At Vancity, we recognize this challenge and have initiated a program named "Thriving in Leadership" specifically designed for our people managers.This program focuses on training managers in areas such as emotional intelligence and team development. Our philosophy is rooted in regenerative leadership, guided by the principle that every employee leaving Vancity should be in a better state than when they first arrived. This improvement encompasses skillset enhancement, mental health, physical well-being, and overall personal growth. We also allocate care days every month, providing employees the flexibility to use them for family support or their mental health. Accumulatively, these days off empower our team members to prioritize self-care.In addition, we promote flexibility through our flex schedules. Every member of our team has the option to work BUILDING A CULTURE OF WELL- BEING IN THE CORPORATE LANDSCAPEBy Danielle Mika Nagel, Director, Leadership Development & Organizational Wellness, Vancity
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