Laura's energy and knowledge is something we always look forward to when we know she is presenting. She is professional, authentic and a true wellness expert. I am inspired after each time I hear her speak!
Laura Putnam
Award-Winning Author, CEO and Well-Being Expert Who Helps People and Organizations Get “In Motion”
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Laura Putnam
Biography
Laura Putnam, MA, author of the award-winning Workplace Wellness That Works, is CEO and founder of Motion Infusion, a leading well-being provider. Her work has been covered by MSNBC, The New York Times, FOX News, ABC News, US News & World Report, Entrepreneur, Business Insider, and NPR. She is a former urban public high school teacher, international community organizer, dancer, gymnast and now a movement-builder in the world of health and well-being. With a mission to get people and organizations "in motion," Laura is a frequent keynote speaker and has worked with a range of organizations from Fortune 500s to government agencies to academic institutes and nonprofits. She is a member of the Google Vitality Lab, serves on the Everside Strategic Advisory Committee and is a contributor to Journal of Compensation and Benefits. In addition, she teaches at Stanford University, is the recipient of the American Heart Association's "2020 Impact" award as well as the National Wellness Institute's "Circle of Leadership" award. A graduate of Brown University and Stanford University, Laura lives in San Francisco with her fiance and unruly cat.
Laura Putnam
Featured Videos
Laura Putnam
Featured Keynote Programs
Wellness Privilege
What is it and what can we do about it?
While the dime-a-dozen self-help book would have you believe that healthier habits are well within reach for anyone, the truth is that some of us are imbued with Wellness Privilege – and others are not. Privilege plays a role not only in access to the American Dream, but also in achieving optimal health and well-being. This session awakens attendees to the link between workplace well-being and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). We’ll unpack Wellness Privilege, how it manifests, how to bridge the gap, and what every organization, team and individual can do to make a difference.
Key points:
• Name three evidence-based reasons why the over-reliance on urging individuals to take personal responsibility is both insufficient and even harmful.
• Examine six domains of well-being in relation to Wellness Privilege, demonstrating how some of us are imbued with more Wellness Privilege than others.
• Identify specific ways that we can take action to tackle Wellness Privilege on an organizational level, on a team level and on an individual level.
The Multiplier Effect of Well-Being
What the best team leaders do differently.
While wellness may not be part of the job description, every manager is uniquely positioned to make or break their team members’ well-being. This session demonstrates the critical role that managers play in embedding wellness into the fabric of business as usual, the specific steps that each can take to become a Multiplier of Well-Being and how each can create an oasis of well-being for their team.
Key points:
• How to lead by example and (figuratively speaking) put on the spandex!
• How to change the conversation and authentically communicate well-being.
• How to create an infrastructure where well-being becomes normal for your team.
The Pandemic’s Second Act
Toll on Our Mental Health.
Over two years have passed since the onset of COVID, and governments, private businesses and civil society have made tremendous strides to protect our physical health. But, the pandemic’s second act is here: a raging mental health crisis. This may be a battle we’ll be waging for years to come. The good news is the topic of mental health is starting to normalize. However, leaders are falling back to old ways by targeting the individual when the problem lies more in the workplace itself. What can organizations and their leaders do differently? This session unpacks what and how.
Key points:
• Why most mental health interventions, while well intended, have delivered lackluster results.
• What organizations can do differently and how this begins with taking an “outside-in” approach.
• Key actions that we can take as individuals to maintain our emotional well-being.
Workplace Wellness that Works
10 steps to infuse well-being and vitality into any organization.
We know a healthier, happier workforce is good for people, good for the bottom line and essential for building a winning team. But, are workplace wellness programs actually working? Evidence suggests most don’t. This session outlines the 10 steps you can take to ensure that your workplace wellness efforts actually work.
Key points:
• How to excite leaders and employees to imagine what’s possible and start with what’s right.
• How to build a wellness initiative that moves across the organization, teams and locations.
• How to make workplace wellness sustainable, easy and a normal part of the day-to-day culture.
Laura Putnam
Featured Book
Workplace Wellness That Works
by Laura Putnam
A smarter framework for designing more effective workplace wellness programs
Workplace Wellness That Works provides a fresh perspective on how to promote employee well-being in the workplace. In addressing the interconnectivity between wellness and organizational culture, this book shows you how to integrate wellness into your existing employee development strategy in more creative, humane, and effective ways. Based on the latest research and backed by real-world examples and case studies, this guide provides employers with the tools they need to start making a difference in their employees' health and happiness, and promoting an overall culture of well-being throughout the organization. You'll find concrete, actionable advice for tackling the massive obstacle of behavioral change, and learn how to design and implement an approach that can most benefit your organization.
Promoting wellness is a good idea. Giving employees the inspiration and tools they need to make changes in their lifestyles is a great idea. But the billion-dollar question is: what do they want, what do they need, and how do we implement programs to help them without causing more harm than good? Workplace Wellness That Works shows you how to assess your organization's needs and craft a plan that actually benefits employees.
- Build an effective platform for well-being
- Empower employees to make better choices
- Design and deliver the strategy that your organization needs
- Drive quantifiable change through more creative implementation
Today's worksite wellness industry represents a miasma of competing trends, making it nearly impossible to come away with tangible solutions for real-world implementation. Harnessing a broader learning and development framework, Workplace Wellness That Works skips the fads and shows you how to design a smarter strategy that truly makes a difference in employees' lives--and your company's bottom line.
