Back in October, our sister event, the MAD World Festival of Workplace Culture, Employee Health and Wellbeing, hosted The Working Well Beings podcast. The recordings – made in a podcast booth provided by Obo Life are now live.
These include insights from some of the most inspirational names in workplace wellbeing. From practitioners across a variety of organisations to subject matter experts, this series is packed with practical tips, techniques, and advice to help you be the best wellbeing leader you can be including:
Clare Gowar – Global lead, Health and Wellbeing
Clare Gowar shares her journey from being the global lead for health and wellbeing at Philips to starting her own consultancy. She discusses her career path, the importance of stakeholder management in health initiatives, and the impact of grassroots champion networks in promoting mental health. Clare also reflects on generational differences in the workplace and the role of mental health champions, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Geoff McDonald – Mental Health Campaigner
Geoff McDonald discusses the evolution of the Working Well community, his journey from Unilever to mental health advocacy, and the role of storytelling in normalising workplace wellbeing. He highlights the need to shift focus to organisational culture, measure wellbeing effectively, and shares his personal CANDO approach to wellbeing.
Dr Clare Fernandes – Chief Medical Officer (Global) at BBC
Clare Fernandez, Chief Medical Officer at the BBC, shares her journey from medicine to workplace wellbeing, emphasising the link between health and work, scaling wellbeing initiatives in large organisations, and adopting a biopsychosocial approach. She also explores AI’s role in wellbeing and shares her personal wellbeing practices.
Cate Kalson – Chief People Officer, Opencast
Cate Kalson highlights the strategic importance of embedding wellbeing into organisational culture. She discusses the value of community for wellbeing leaders, the evolving language of wellbeing, and its integration with skills development. Cate also addresses career paths beyond people management and the key skills needed for effective leadership.
Dr Laura David – Award winning doctor-entrepreneur
Dr. Laura David, founder of Smart About Health, shares her journey from GP to workplace wellbeing advocate. She highlights preventative health strategies, the role of qualified professionals, and the importance of manager support. Laura also discusses the Wellbeing Champion Program and personal practices for a healthier work environment.
Kris Ambler – Workforce Lead, BACP
Kris Ambler highlights the importance of workplace counselling and mental health support, especially post-COVID-19. He discusses AI’s role in mental health, reducing stigma around therapy, and the need for holistic wellbeing strategies. Ambler also advocates for early intervention and school-based counselling to support young people.
Thomas Duncan Bell – The Bipolar Businessman
Thomas Duncan Bell, the Bipolar Businessman, shares his journey as a mental health advocate, highlighting the importance of human connection, vulnerability in leadership, and investing in employee wellbeing. He emphasises storytelling, neurodiversity, and a shift towards more humanistic business practices to foster inclusivity and productivity.
Katie Neeves – Trans Ambassador
Katie Neeves shares her journey of coming out as a transgender woman and her passion for diversity and inclusion. She highlights the challenges she faced, the power of positivity and storytelling in trans awareness, and the importance of authentic voices in D&I. Katie also addresses global perspectives and ongoing challenges in the industry.
Petra Velzeboer – Global Keynote and TEDx Speaker
Petra Velzeboer explores the importance of building mentally healthy workplace cultures through courageous leadership and community. She addresses challenges like remote work and technology’s impact on connection, while advocating for open mental health conversations, accountability, and self-care to create more supportive and inclusive environments.
Jack Dyrhauge – Founder of Neuropool & Neuro VC
Jack De Haugue, founder of NeuroPool, highlights the importance of humanising workplaces and creating equitable opportunities for neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with autism and ADHD. He discusses recruitment challenges, mental health impacts of unemployment, and the need for genuine neurodiversity initiatives, offering advice for those who may be undiagnosed but suspect they are neurodivergent.
Helen Payne – UK Director Human Sustainability, AON
Helen Payne explores human sustainability and its role in organisational wellbeing, emphasising leadership’s responsibility in supporting mental health as a business issue, not just an HR concern. She addresses generational differences, the impact of work culture on health, and the need for organisational accountability. Helen shares personal insights, highlighting collaboration and dialogue as key to driving meaningful change.
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