---
title: Why I Joined YMCA WorkWell
description: Let me tell you a story about a person who is just embarking on her fifth career. Yep, that’s me! And this is why I am doing it with YMCA WorkWell.
---

[YMCA WorkWell Blog](https://www.ymcaworkwell.com/blog)

# [Why I Joined YMCA WorkWell](https://www.ymcaworkwell.com/blog/why-i-joined-ymca-workwell)

 Written by [Dr. Kate Toth](https://www.ymcaworkwell.com/blog/author/kate-toth) | May 31, 2021, 7:41:00 PM

Let me tell you a story about a person who is just embarking on her fifth career. You guessed it! This story’s about me.

I have spent the last nine years as a full-time college professor in the field of Human Resources. Prior to that, I was an HR generalist and manager in the post-secondary sector. Safe to say, I love educating people. I love to watch the “a-ha” breakthroughs in my students and bear witness to those moments when thinking changes.

When I would introduce myself to my new students each year and talk about my career path, I always said that I am “living the dream”. I loved my job as an academic and hadn’t even been considering a career change, up until just about a year ago.

## **The Change I Didn’t Know I Was Looking For**

That’s when the current pandemic turned the whole world upside down overnight, or at least that’s the way I felt. This was a time of great personal reflection for me and my family, as I’m sure it was for many of you. As an educator in a business school, watching how fast some fringe trends – like “work from anywhere” – became mainstream was fascinating.

I don’t believe we’re going to be putting that particular genie back into the lamp, and it’s going to involve a significant change in the norms of business, management practices, use of office space, and more. I was intrigued and – honestly – itching to be more on the frontline to help organizations embrace these new realities well.

About the same time, I saw a LinkedIn post from [Jim Moss](https://www.ymcaworkwell.com/why-well-being) about a position, and it said “And you’ll get to work every day with [Dave Whiteside](https://www.ymcaworkwell.com/why-well-being), which is pretty cool” (or something to that effect), and I thought, who is this Dave Whiteside? The job sounded amazing, the organization sounded even better, and as I checked out (creeped?) my new teammates on social media, I found that this job seemed tailor-made for me.

I connected with Dave on LinkedIn (a shout out to those of you who are willing to talk to complete strangers!) and I liked what I heard.

The first “interview” turned out to be more of a conversation with a team of amazing people who I learned are passionate about the same things I am. It just clicked. After each conversation, I got more excited about the opportunity to contribute to YMCA WorkWell’s mission to improve the state of workplace well-being in our communities.

I am a purpose-driven person; I need to feel like what I do every day makes the world a better place. YMCA WorkWell’s mission, vision, and values speak to me on a deep personal level, and according to a [recent article in Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2020/09/20/why-your-work-values-are-essential-to-career-satisfaction/?sh=3d8cb70518aa), employees whose values align with those of their organization experience greater job satisfaction.

I also loved the integration of YMCA WorkWell within the structure of the [YMCA of Three Rivers](https://www.ymcacambridgekw.ca/en/Index.asp) (a recent unification of three regional YMCAs, each of which have had a long history of supporting individuals and communities in their well-being journeys).

And being part of a charitable organization means there’s a focus on giving back to the community rather than making huge profits, which would allow me to lean in even further to my values.

## **The Right Move?**

We all know that who we get to work with makes a difference – a big one! In fact, a report from [Future Workplace/Virgin](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/13/why-work-friendships-are-critical-for-long-term-happiness.html) outlines that having someone that you would consider a friend at work is one of the biggest predictors of engagement, productivity and well-being.

No pressure, new colleagues – we just have to be friends for life! Seriously, though, I have felt privileged each day to get to know these remarkable people better. I expected YMCA WorkWell to have a great organizational culture – after all, we better walk the talk! But I have been blown away by the emphasis on trust, feedback, communication, community, and recognition in my new workplace.

For perhaps the first time ever I am truly able to bring my whole self to work and it is incredibly freeing.

Making the decision to leave a job I loved wasn’t easy. I have had the privilege of teaching amazing students and working with great colleagues, here and abroad, who are passionate about creating high-quality educational opportunities for future business leaders.

At YMCA WorkWell, I feel like my competencies and experience will help the organization to deliver on its mission while providing me an opportunity to grow in new ways and do things I haven’t done before.

Since growth is one of my key values, I need to be learning and challenged in whichever role I take on. So, how’s it going so far? I’m a month in and my new colleagues have been so supportive as I’m still making the transition.

I get to do the things that I love most every day: Use data and science to develop and deliver curriculum that helps to make our workplaces healthy spaces for employees. I get to help organizations tackle some of the toughest challenges that exist. I get to use insights to develop action plans that truly impact employee well-being.

So why should you choose YMCA WorkWell? I’d argue that it’s for all the same reasons I did. You care about your employees’ well-being.

You want to partner with a team of amazing human beings who really know their stuff, and live and breathe healthy organizational culture.

You want your organization to be the best it can be. [And you’re ready for a change. I’m all in, are you?](https://www.ymcaworkwell.com/contact)

[View full post](https://www.ymcaworkwell.com/blog/why-i-joined-ymca-workwell)

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