Leading for Wellness: How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives
Join us virtually for an interactive discussion on Leading for Wellness: How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives with co-authors, Patricia Grabarek and Katina Sawyer.
A troubling trend is emerging in today’s workplace: employee morale and overall satisfaction are in sharp decline, despite companies investing more in wellness initiatives than ever before. What’s missing?
Patricia Grabarek, PhD and Katina Sawyer, PhD – industrial/organizational psychologists and co-founders of Workr Beeing – have spent decades researching employee well-being. Their findings show that many organizations misunderstand wellness—it’s not a program or a box to check. True wellness stems from leaders who improve everyday conditions that directly impact employee satisfaction and performance.
In Leading for Wellness: How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives, Dr. Grabarek and Dr. Sawyer provide a science-backed blueprint for fostering healthier, more productive work environments. Drawing from two comprehensive studies and numerous real-life examples, they outline actionable steps for leaders to become “Generators”—those who cultivate genuine connections, create a positive team culture, and help employees achieve their work and life goals.
Their leadership strategies may seem simple—such as sharing personal struggles, honoring work-life boundaries, and prioritizing relationship-building—but the results are transformative. These methods boost not only employee well-being but also drive engagement and productivity.
At a time when low morale threatens both performance and retention, Leading for Wellness offers business leaders a clear, data-driven path forward, addressing critical topics like:
- Why employees and organizations define wellness so differently
- The tangible benefits of prioritizing employee well-being
- Signs that it’s time to ‘fire your work self’ and lead with authenticity
- The importance of focusing on the tone set in the workplace, not just hours worked
- How to support each employee's unique wellness needs
- How to create a culture where employees do the right thing…even when you aren’t watching
Importantly, while this session will talk about leaders, many tactics can be applied by individual contributors trying to make a difference in their work environments.
About the Speakers
Patricia Grabarek, PhD (left), is the co-founder ofWorkr Beeing and a seasoned Industrial/Organizational Psychologist specializing in workplace wellness, organizational culture, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development. With a background in both consulting and internal roles, Dr. Grabarek has led people analytics and talent management initiatives for more than 60 organizations across various industries. Her work focuses on research-based strategies to improve well-being, retention, performance, and diversity efforts.
Named one of Culture Amp’s Top 25 Emerging Culture Creators for 2024, Dr. Grabarek’s insights have appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Fast Company, CBS News, and CBC Radio. She holds a PhD and MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Penn State and a BA in Psychology from UCLA.
Katina Sawyer, PhD (right), an Industrial/Organizational psychologist, co-founder ofWorkr Beeing and an Associate Professor of Management and Organizations at the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management. A leading expert in work-life balance, leadership, positive workplace behaviors, and diversity, she has published more than 50 peer-reviewed studies, book chapters, and articles in outlets like Harvard Business Review.
Dr. Sawyer’s work has been featured in major media such as The Washington Post, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Atlantic, and Forbes. Receiving grants from the National Science Foundation and the Society for Human Resource Management, her groundbreaking research has established her as a thought leader in positive workplace behaviors.
Among Philadelphia Business Journal's “Top 40 Under 40” in 2017, Dr. Sawyer also consults with organizations, offering data-driven solutions to create healthier, more productive workplaces. She holds a BA in Psychology from Villanova University and a dual PhD and MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Women’s Studies from Penn State.
