Name: Ms. Barbara Mutoni
Role: Human Resources Director, African Entrepreneur Collective/Inkomoko
QN: What does wellness mean to you ?
Wellness to me means a balance of mind, body and soul – all in sync. For me it’s not just about being well or a number on the weighing scale. It is showing up as my best self for me, my family, my job and for others. It is a state of a holistic physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of illness.
QN: Are you currently prioritizing your well being? Why? If Yes, how?
Yes I am. I prioritize my well-being by carving out small chunks of time where I am focused on doing things that help me reenergize and renew my mind, body and soul.
For example, when I feel tired or fatigued, I find that deactivating my internet and getting a proper sleep helps. I read a good book on days that I want to reconnect with my soul and when the weather is good, I go for a walk. On a day that I need a strong pick me up, watching my favorite real life Movies/reality TV shows does that for me. I also prioritize eating well and hydrating because that helps me feel good about my body and myself.
QN: What can we do to make employee wellness is a priority?
Leaders must take responsibility for ensuring wellness in their organizations because it can nurture heightened levels of employee engagement and foster a workforce of people committed to achieving organizational success. We can ensure employee wellness is a priority by;
- Building a robust organizational framework to promote wellbeing and foster a culture where people can seek help where needed.
- Carrying out risk assessments or audits on work-related illnesses across the workforce, as part of a preventive approach to identify its main causes.
- Developing an evidence-based understanding of the underlying causes of absence of wellness and unhealthy practices and addressing them.
- Line managers also should be trained to manage people well, ensure their workloads and deadlines are manageable, by providing clear objectives and giving constructive feedback, as part of a trust-based relationship with people.
- Ensuring that leaders are aware of the importance of workplace wellbeing, and that they embed actions to ensure that it’s taken seriously across the organization.
- At AEC/Inkomoko, we believe that a healthy work environment helps people flourish and reach their potential. We have an established culture that promotes a state of contentment for both employees and the organization at large. For example, we regularly conduct happiness audits as part of our open feedback culture. During these sessions, we gather feedback on what we should start, continue or stop doing. We prioritize all wellness related feedback and act on it in time. This exercise has been helpful in ensuring that the mental health of our staff is taken care of.
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Biography:
Barbara is currently a Human Resources Director at African Entrepreneur Collective/Inkomoko overseeing HR activities in Rwanda, Kenya and Ethiopia.
She has over 16 years’ experience in Human Resources with both International and local organizations.
Prior to joining AEC, she was part of the HR Management team at Bralirwa Plc. Part of the Heineken Company, serving as a Business Partner. She previously worked with World Vision International in Rwanda as the People & Culture Manager, KCB Bank as the Learning & Development Manager as well as the then BPR Bank and Price Waterhouse coppers as an HR Coordinator.
Barbara is proud to have actively contributed to HR strategic initiatives within her employment journey, specifically around Talent acquisition/development and HR Digital transformation.
Barbara attained her first Degree from Makerere University and has done postgraduate studies from Cornell University and Oklahoma Christian University. Throughout her career, she has been exposed to leadership development pathways and other opportunities that she believes have made her the leader she is today.