Workplace wellness that’s smart for business
By Michael Pinchera
Physician-poet Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa wants event professionals attending her IMEX America keynote (today, Tuesday October 7 at 8:30am), Workplace Wellness That’s Smart for Business—sponsored by New Orleans and Company and brought to you by Speakers Spotlight—to recognize that wellness isn’t separate from success.
“It’s the soil from which innovation grows,” she says. “Neuroscience shows us that when our minds are grounded and supported, we’re able to imagine boldly, collaborate deeply and lead with clarity. Workplace wellness is the spark that allows us to bring our fullest ideas to life.”
She highlights the growing use of neuroscience in leadership and workplace design as one of the most exciting trends she’s following.
“We know, for example, that chronic stress impairs the brain’s prefrontal cortex—our center for decision-making, creativity and empathy—while environments that foster psychological safety and recovery enhance these capacities,” Dr. Chika explains. “The challenge is that some organizations still treat wellness as an add-on rather than a core strategy, missing the opportunity to align well-being with innovation and performance.”
Viewing event professionals as “curators of collective energy,” she describes how “designing experiences that honor well-being—through intentional pauses, restorative spaces and inclusive practices” protects mental health and creates the conditions for excellence and brilliance to thrive.
“The most powerful events are the ones where people leave not only inspired but renewed, ready to innovate together,” she says.
To achieve that, however, it’s essential that event professionals stay vigilant about their own mental health and workload.
“Rest sustains ambition and success,” Dr. Chika says. “We often wait until exhaustion to justify slowing down, but neuroscience reminds us that recovery primes the brain for creativity. To lead others into innovation, we must first model the courage of caring for ourselves.”
Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa at IMEX America
Back to IMEXscoop
