Physician-poet Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa shares insight in advance of her Oct. 7 IMEX America keynote, “Workplace Wellness that’s Smart for Business,” sponsored by New Orleans and Company and brought to you by Speakers Spotlight.
What do you hope attendees will take away from your IMEX America keynote on the business benefits of workplace wellness?
I want attendees to see that wellness is not separate from success, it is the soil from which innovation grows. Neuroscience shows us that when our minds are grounded and supported, we are 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.
What do you think are the most impactful trends affecting workplace wellness initiatives, insight or action in 2025?
One of the most exciting trends is the growing application of neuroscience to leadership and workplace design. 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. 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.
How can or should event professionals best adapt to the benefit of their business and attendees/stakeholders?
Event professionals are curators of collective energy. By designing experiences that honor well-being, through intentional pauses, restorative spaces and inclusive practices, they not only protect mental health, but they also create conditions for brilliance. The most powerful events are the ones where people leave not only inspired but renewed, ready to innovate together.
Is there one piece of mental health advice you think more people need to hear?
Rest sustains ambition and success. 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.
What are you most looking forward to over the next year?
I am preparing to welcome my third child. Soon I will have three under five, and I am looking forward to a home brimming with love, laughter and joy. This season will call me to lean into self-compassion more than anything else, and I know that is where my true energy blossoms. At the same time, I am deeply excited to continue my psychiatry residency and, when the timing feels right, return to the stage for keynotes that weave together science, leadership and human potential.
