Changing the Narrative of Employee Wellbeing with WCWI

Inspiring Positive Organizational Culture with CultureCon Co-founders Zach Blumenfeld and Nick Lombardino

WCWI interviewed Zach Blumenfeld and Nick Lombardino, co-founders of CultureCon, a Madison-based organization on a mission to inspire positive change in organizational culture. This conversation with Zach and Nick embodies the spirit of one of WCWI’s guiding principles in action – bravely act together. WCWI and CultureCon align on our philosophies that if we can be conduits for people to share ideas, inspire one another, unite and support connections, and empower people to be culture change agents and wellbeing leaders within their organizations – we’ll continue to see a ripple of positive impact in our workplaces and our wider communities. Nick and Zach are full of good energy and awesome insight with Nick’s passion for social impact and Zach’s entrepreneurial ambitions – and their shared passion for making work more fun and fulfilling for everyone. They’ve dedicated the purpose of CultureCon to create space for everyone interested in making positive change in organizational culture. We talk about what organizational culture is and how organizations and individuals alike can bravely act together on the continuous culture journey. Enjoy this thought-provoking conversation with Nick and Zach! 

Connect with CultureCon: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cultureconusa/

Website: https://www.cultureconusa.org/   

Connect with Nick & Zach:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nlombardino

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyblumenfeld

Connect with WCWI: 

Website: https://www.wellnesscouncilwi.org 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellness-council-of-wisconsin/  

Email: wcwi@wellnesscouncilwi.org  

Each Person Owns their Story – Listening and Responding to Impact Wellbeing with Kathy Chambers and Jessa Kinnamon of Dean Health Plan

WCWI interviews Kathy Chambers and Jessa Kinnamon, Health Transformation Consultants at Dean Health Plan. This conversation brings light to one of WCWI’s guiding principles in action – craft the narrative. Who better to learn from than two people who are listening to, supporting, and coaching hundreds of plan members and employees in their wellbeing journeys? Kathy and Jessa are passionate professionals sharing important perspectives on what employees’ needs are, the methods they’ve found to truly impact wellbeing, and the success stories they’ve witnessed. These women are a wealth of energy and knowledge with Jessa’s background in public education and Kathy’s background in mental health counseling. Throughout the conversation, Kathy and Jessa enlighten us about what they’re observing as the highest wellbeing needs for people. They also dig in on the conversations about what wellbeing means, what wellbeing success looks like, and how to really listen with transparency, connection, and full attention. Their experiences inspire a continued practice of listening and responding to the needs of our people because that’s where the impact happens. Enjoy this delightful conversation with Kathy and Jessa!

Connect with Dean Health Plan:

Dean Health Plan LinkedIn   

Dean Health Plan Website 

Connect with WCWI:

WCWI Website 

WCWI Partner Sponsors 

WCWI LinkedIn 

Email: wcwi@wellnesscouncilwi.org 

Elevating the Focus on Employees and Sharing Accountability for a Healthy Culture with Sue McKenzie Dicks

In this episode, Marissa interviews Sue McKenzie Dicks, Vice President of Healthy Culture at Rogers Behavioral Health. Sue is a storied leader in the health and mental health field. Sue cares about supporting the whole person and she leads through acting in compassion and with curiosity. In this discussion, Sue takes us through her experiences and insight of digging deep into culture work. She talks about how Rogers is working to elevate the focus on their employees at all levels and is actively figuring out the really difficult business decisions that have to be made in order to stay true to elevating the focus on their employees. Sue is humble as she describes her experience in the culture work at Rogers and shares how her own leadership centers on cherishing people and their growth through all their complexities. This conversation digs into her insight and what she’s learned through the many phases of progress to form a safe, inclusive, and healthy culture and environment where everyone belongs.

Sue has led the development of educational programs and collaborative projects in the health field at a local, state, and national level. She provided national training under grants from CDC, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Department of Education. As the Vice President of Healthy Culture at Rogers Behavioral Health, she provides leadership to internal culture efforts including equity, resilience and wellbeing and she facilitates WISE (Wise Initiative for Stigma Elimination) which is a nationwide coalition of organizations and individuals promoting inclusion and support for all affected by mental illness. Her collaborative work on culture change through compassion resilience has reached audiences across the world. Innovative program design, collaborative leadership skills, and tenacity are key assets she brings to Rogers and WISE. I learn a lot from Sue in this conversation and know you’ll enjoy it too. Listen in to this information-rich, purpose-driven, and hopeful conversation with Sue!

Connect with Sue:

LinkedIn

Compassion Resilience Toolkits 

Rogers Behavioral Health 

WISE

Connect with WCWI:

WCWI Website

WCWI Partner Sponsors 

WCWI LinkedIn 

WCWI Email 

November WCWI Enrichment Session

If We Don’t Ask, We’re Missing Something with Kimberly Kane

In this episode, Marissa interviews Kimberly Kane, President and CEO of Kane Communications Group. Kimberly is an executive leader who deeply cares about people. In this discussion, Kimberly describes the Kane Insights statewide study that she led with her firm – she saw the need to specifically study women’s experiences in the workplace in Wisconsin. The results of the study describe the state of working women and provide the data-driven findings that employers need to know. We cover a lot of ground – touching on her own career journey and what drives her leadership, and discussing how employers must listen intently to the needs of their people, ask questions, avoid making assumptions, and do the research in order to create the change needed in the workforce – to support wellbeing for women and all people.

Kimberly is an award-winning journalist and public relations practitioner. Her team at Kane works across multiple communication spectrums to develop strategies that define organizations and inspire business results. After 15 years in television news, Kimberly entered the business community, working in business development, communications and government affairs before starting Kane Communications Group. She is not only involved with her firm and their clients, but is active on numerous boards, advisory boards and committees, regularly emcees events, and is a public speaker – on topics that include crisis management, strategic communications and leadership. Listen in to this information-rich and action-focused conversation with Kimberly!

Connect with Kimberly:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kimberlykane

Kane Communications Group: https://www.kanecommgroup.com/

The State of Working Women in Wisconsin: https://www.kanecommgroup.com/kane-insights

Connect with WCWI:

https://www.wellnesscouncilwi.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellness-council-of-wisconsin/ 

wcwi@wellnesscouncilwi.org 

WCWI’s 32^nd Annual Employee Wellbeing Conference: https://www.wellnesscouncilwi.org/WCWI/Programs/Annual-Conference-Experience/WCWIs-Annual-Conference-Experience.htm

WCWI’s Employee Survey: https://www.wellnesscouncilwi.org/WCWI/Resources/DataCenter/WCWIs-Employee-Burnout-Survey.htm

Exemplifying a Strong Belief in Valuing Your People with Nikki Capelle of Woodman’s Food Markets

In this episode, Katie interviews Nikki Capelle, Wellness Coordinator at Woodman’s Food Markets. Nikki has been part of the employee-owned Woodman’s Food Markets for 24 years and worked in many different areas. Her various positions and extensive time spent at Woodman’s positions her to best understand the needs and experiences of those who work at Woodman’s. Since 2015, in her role as the Wellness Coordinator, Nikki works directly with senior leaders and the wellness champion network to plan and implement strategies to improve and maintain the overall wellbeing of Woodman’s team members, their families, and customers. Nikki sets the tone for wellbeing at Woodman’s by believing in the significance of wellbeing as simply the right thing to do. And she embraces wellbeing as just who they are at Woodman’s. This interview digs in to the tangible wellbeing work and impact such as their Be Well Cares initiative, their WOW Fundamentals, and their team of collaborators and wellness champions that sustain wellbeing across their diverse and unique retail locations. 

Nikki is a passionate and curious wellness professional that hopes to inspire others to live their best lives. She loves to learn and share, teach and guide, connect and laugh. Nikki was a participant of WCWI’s first TECH Training program back in 2019! She exemplifies the strengths, skills, and growth mindset of leading from right where you are, calling on your bravery, and encouraging us all to focus wellbeing around understanding the needs and valuing your people. Listen in to this inspiring and actionable conversation with Nikki.

Connect with Nikki:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-capelle-893754179/

Connect with WCWI:

https://www.wellnesscouncilwi.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellness-council-of-wisconsin/ 

Email: wcwi@wellnesscouncilwi.org

Unpacking the Significance of Wellbeing with Derek Bell

In this episode, Marissa connects with Derek Bell, the Director of Well-being & Joy of Practice for the Ascension Nursing Center of Excellence. Derek’s leadership exemplifies a belief in the significance of wellbeing and he describes the values, beliefs, and actions that form the compassionate approach to wellbeing at Ascension – which uniquely centers on joy. This interview covers a lot of ground – touching on the why and how this joy-centered strategy was developed, discussing the very real hardships and challenges facing healthcare professionals and the workforce as a whole, and exploring the antidotes to these challenges such as connection, aspiration, holistic growth, and psychological safety.

About Derek - With over 20 years of experience in the field, Derek aims to make Ascension the best place to practice nursing by transforming how people take care of themselves and others through creativity, contribution, care, connection, and amplifying the voice of the nurse. Derek leads nursing podcasts for Good Day Ascension as well as through his own "Highway to Well," series. And you may recognize him from his work with other wellness leaders in promoting joy, purpose, and well-being. Derek obtained his bachelor's degree from Knox College and his Master's from the University of Wisconsin -Stevens Point, where he also teaches "Organizational Well-being and Your Purpose," in the MBA program. 

Listen in as we unpack the significance of employee wellbeing.

Connect with Derek:

Derek Bell Wellness Website + Podcast: https://www.derekbellwellness.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-bell-64040172

Instagram: @derekbellwellness

Connect with WCWI:

https://www.wellnesscouncilwi.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellness-council-of-wisconsin/ 

wcwi@wellnesscouncilwi.org 

The Ingredients for a New Era of Leadership

In this interview, Marissa Kalkman talks with Beth Ridley, Leadership and Organizational Culture Expert, Speaker, Author, and one of WCWI’s Expert Contributors. Beth describes what she calls a new era of leadership and how the pandemic has brought forward the crucial distinctions between a good leader and a great leader. So are you going to be intentional about it or are you going to just let it happen?

The Ripple Effect of Leading with Curiosity – a Conversation with Heather Turner Loth

In this episode, WCWI sits down with Heather Turner Loth, Workplace Strategy and Practice Leader at EUA and a WCWI Expert Contributor, about the intersection of the workplace environment and employee wellbeing; and how these concepts should be strategically connected to make the employee experience better. 

Confidence – a Key Attribute to Your Wellbeing Leadership with Shawn Gulyas

In this episode Shawn brings forward the idea that confidence is a key attribute for your wellbeing leadership. He shares insights from his own background and experience, and describes three recommendations for finding your own confidence boosters to support you in growing as a leader who is driving meaningful change and impact through your work. 

Changing the Narrative of Employee Wellbeing with WCWI - Trailer

Join us for compassionate, people-centered conversations about reframing employee wellbeing as a foundational strategy and business priority.