We are delighted to share that Sarah will be will be speaking in Calgary as part of our Wellbeing at Work Summit Canada next week. We caught up with her to find out how she’s feeling in the runup to the event.
Hi Sarah, we are thrilled that you will be speaking at the Wellbeing at Work Summit Canada next week. Our first and most important question is, how are you doing today?
I am doing fine! I am currently travelling and didn’t have the best night’s sleep (I blame the flat hotel pillows), but I’m enjoying spending time with my national teammates who are all here together this week.
As a leader based in the region, what are the main challenges you are facing when it comes to employee wellbeing and mental health?
I come at this from a couple of perspectives. Of course, as the leader of a team, I am always mindful of my team’s wellbeing and mental health. I try to ensure they feel supported, engaged, and that no one’s plate is too full (which is a recipe for burnout). I also advise clients on their workplace strategies, and employee health and wellbeing should be a key consideration for any solution. Providing a variety of functional spaces to accommodate diverse work needs and patterns; providing access to daylight and views; fostering a culture of inclusivity and transparency; there are many ways a workplace strategy can impact employee wellbeing, and we try to weave that into everything we do.
What strategies have you seen developing over the past 6 months, both internally and externally, that are moving the dial on wellbeing in the workplace?
We are assisting several organizations with return to office (RTO) mandates currently. This is generally unpopular with employees, who are now being asked to disrupt their work-life balance and schedules that have been in place for ~5 years. The positive thing that’s coming out of this is that employers are trying to “soften the blow” by addressing issues in the workplace to create a more positive experience.
Why is employee wellbeing so important to you personally?
We spend a lot of our time and brainpower at work. The busyness of life can be draining, and work stress piled on top of that can lead to disengagement and unwellness in a lot of ways. I’ve been through some tough personal situations over the past 5-10 years and have been fortunate to have the support of my leaders and colleagues throughout.
What impact is AI having in your organization and how are you managing that?
We are doing our best to use it responsibly and creatively in our practice. Much of my team’s work is highly advisory “deep thinking” work so AI is not a replacement for our brains, but we are using it to help with things like collating large amounts of data and assisting with analysis.
What areas do you think employers should be focused on over the next 12 months?
The world feels a bit overwhelming and crazy right now. People feel overwhelmed just getting up and reading the news. Organizations must continue to lead with empathy and ensure employees feel safe and supported.
Do you feel that investment in employee wellbeing in the region is increasing or decreasing and is that a direct reflection on HR leaders’ increasing ability to demonstrate effective returns of their strategies to leadership?
I don’t have hard data, but I expect with RTO efforts ramping up across most industries, employers right now are willing to spend a bit more on employee wellbeing and engagement to counteract the negative feelings about returning to the office more. I don’t know that this will be a long-term trend, though.
How has your organization been leading the way?
Colliers has been repeatedly cited as a “Best Place to Work,” largely due to leadership and HR’s efforts to drive culture, engagement, and inclusion. Corporate real estate is a tough, competitive industry, so it’s important to have a strategy and resources in place to support staff, maintain morale, and celebrate our shared successes.
Sarah will be speaking in Calgary at the Wellbeing at Work Summit Canada.
Our Toronto Summit takes place on October 21, 2025. Visit our Toronto webpage for further details.
Our Calgary Summit takes place on October 23, 2025. To find out more about our Calgary Summit and book your tickets please visit our Calgary webpage.
