We recently connected with Suraiya Kara and have shared our conversation below.

Suraiya , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

At Holistically Healthy Workplaces, my mission is to revolutionize work environments by prioritizing psychological health and safety. I am dedicated to creating a culture where employees thrive emotionally, mentally, and professionally. Through a personalized approach, I offer strategies and programs that empower both individuals and organizations to prioritize well-being, reduce stress, and foster a sense of inclusivity.

My purpose goes beyond conventional HR practices, aiming to instill a deep understanding of the intersection between employee well-being and organizational success. I am committed to providing leadership training that promotes empathetic understanding, emotional intelligence, and resilient workforces.

The core philosophy of Holistically Healthy Workplaces is grounded in the belief that a psychologically healthy workplace not only benefits individual employees but contributes significantly to the overall growth and prosperity of the organization. Through collaborative initiatives, we work towards cultivating environments that not only attract top talent but also retain them by creating a workplace where they feel valued, supported, and encouraged to be their authentic selves.

This mission is deeply personal for me. I’ve traversed through poor workplace environments, endured inadequate leadership, and witnessed HR and People professionals who were present only on the first and last days of employment. Experiencing workplace bullying and discrimination on various levels, from peers to those in leadership roles, has driven home the critical need for a profound shift in workplace culture.

My commitment to creating psychologically healthy and safe workplaces stems from the belief that we spend a substantial portion of our lives working. Having personally faced unhappiness, unfulfillment, and a sense of being undervalued in professional settings, I understand the profound impact it can have on our overall well-being. These negative experiences don’t just stay confined to the office; they seep into our personal lives, affecting who we are as individuals holistically.

The realization that our professional and personal existences are interconnected and no longer exist in silos drives the urgency behind building holistically healthy workplaces. It is unacceptable for individuals to endure dissatisfaction and devaluation in their professional lives when the repercussions extend far beyond the office walls. I am passionately committed to transforming workplace cultures, creating environments where individuals not only flourish professionally but also find fulfillment, happiness, and a true sense of value in their broader existence.

Holistically Healthy Workplaces is not just a consultancy; it’s a response to the imperative need for positive change in how we experience work and life.

Suraiya , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I offer a wide range of services, including mental health awareness and first aid programs, policy development, leadership coaching, and inclusive practices training, Holistically Healthy Workplaces strives to be a catalyst for positive change in the professional landscape.

I am a seasoned HR leadership professional driven by a background in Social Work, where I dedicated years to providing one-on-one counseling support to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, individuals facing trauma, and those dealing with suicidal ideations. My journey also involved supporting individuals experiencing a decline in mental well-being, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed with a mental health disorder.

My time in Social Work was a profound exploration of human behavior, motivations, and the intricate challenges individuals grapple with daily. More significantly, it provided me with a front-row seat to witness organizational deficiencies, particularly the treatment of frontline workers. Witnessing burnout, inequities, and the distressing prevalence of bullying and harassment by those in leadership roles, became my catalyst for change.

This experience was not just a professional chapter; it was a pivotal turning point. It fueled my commitment to shifting gears into the People & Culture space with a resolute determination to address systemic issues at their root. I recognized that the key to transforming workplace cultures lay in understanding the human experience at its core.

Today, as a leader in HR, I bring a unique perspective driven by my time in Social Work. I understand the nuances of human interactions, the motivations that drive behavior, and the challenges that individuals face, and I apply this to business and corporate settings. This insight is not just theoretical but is deeply embedded in my approach to crafting workplace cultures that are not only supportive but transformative.

My work is not just about policies and procedures; it’s about creating environments where individuals feel valued, where their well-being is a priority, and where equity is not just a buzzword but a lived reality.

In essence, my journey from Social Work to HR is not a departure but a continuum—a seamless transition that allows me to bring the depth of human understanding into every facet of building thriving and psychologically healthy workplaces.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Approximately 15 years ago, I found myself ensnared in the clutches of cyber-bullying—an experience that many women unfortunately share. The attacks were relentless, targeting my appearance, body size, and bodily autonomy. Cyber-bullying, particularly when directed at women, stems from deeply entrenched misogyny, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and reinforcing oppressive narratives prevalent throughout history and still persisting today. Targeting a woman’s appearance, body size, and sexuality are not isolated incidents; they represent manifestations of ingrained gender biases and systemic misogyny deeply embedded in societal structures.

The repercussions of what I experienced echoed through every fiber of my being, leaving scars on my self-perception, self-worth, and self-esteem. It bore a crater in my confidence and altered how I viewed both myself and the world, and created a significant struggle with experiencing imposter-syndrome in all aspects of my existence. I withdrew into solitude, trusting no one, and vanished from social media. It took over a decade to summon the courage to reemerge, to reclaim my voice.

In the aftermath, I sought therapy, delving into trauma-specific EMDR therapy to process the haunting memorries. The journey demanded profound inner work and an unwavering support system to unravel the complexities of what I had endured. It was an arduous process to recognize that I am not the distorted image painted by my tormentors.

My resilience, perhaps my greatest strength, is rooted in the crucible of trauma. The ability to bounce back and persevere emerged as a necessity, a survival instinct born from the experiences that left me no choice but to adapt and navigate the darkness. Resilience is a deeply personal trait, and not everyone possesses the same levels of resiliency at all times, or the same triggers for its activation.

In shedding light on the insidious long-term effects of cyber-bullying, I aim to extend beyond personal narrative to illuminate a pervasive societal issue that demands collective attention. My story serves as a testament not only to personal resilience but as a call to action against the broader implications of cyber-bullying across various forms. By openly discussing these experiences, I seek to foster a community where victims of cyber-bullying are not only heard but supported in reclaiming their agency and self-worth.

Furthermore, this open dialogue serves as a source of empowerment for those who have endured similar experiences. By sharing the journey from victim to survivor, the narrative becomes a beacon of hope, encouraging others not to let their voices be silenced and their identities diminished. Advocating for change is not just a personal endeavor but a commitment to fostering a safer, more inclusive digital and societal environment for everyone.

Any advice for managing a team?

There is no, one, cookie-cutter leadership model, because every leader often has their very own unique approach. Leaders are different than managers. Managers maintain the status quo, while leaders inspire, invigorate, and often help develop intrinsic motivation within their team members.  Here are some qualities I recommend all leadership professionals practice in order to maintain high morale within their teams:

Trust for your people – if you hired them and all of a sudden feel the need to micromanage them – that’s a reflection of you not trusting your own judgement.

Empathy – As leaders, we need to be making the lives of our people a little bit easier and more manageable – how do we do that? by trying to understand what it means to be living in their shoes. If you dont know, ask, respectfully and within your boundaries.

Vulnerability – Be human, shed a tear, tell a story about a time you struggled, or a time you didn’t think you had a path and how that changed. Share your wins and share your struggles. There’s power in both!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.holisticallyhealthyworkplaces.com
• Instagram: @holisticallyhealthyworkplaces
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-kara-peopleandculture/

Image Credits
Ashley Hassard