In our new series, Bazaars multiplatform beauty director speaks to inspirers in the wellness world about the rituals and routines that work for them. Here, Bridget March meets Elle Macpherson, the world-renowned supermodel and founder of WelleCo, which produces premium plant-based supplements born from her personal self-care journey. Below, the 59-year-old reveals the things that make the biggest difference to her wellbeing.

Elle Macphersons moniker The Body may have originated as praise of her physicality, but its long been a business asset for the supermodel with body wellness brands central to her career off the catwalks. Since finding fame as one of the original 'Supers' in the 1980s, the Australian star went on to produce a series of workout videos, front her own lingerie collection and launch a range of bath and body care products. But its her brand of wellness supplements, WelleCo, thats her most personal project to date. Founded in 2014 with formulator Dr Simone Laubscher, she started WelleCo to share the solutions that helped her flourish Macphersons health upon starting out being less desirable than one would imagine...

When I went to Dr Laubscher [a functional nutritionist and naturopath], I was sugar- and coffee-addicted, malnourished yet putting on weight, and bloated. I wasn't sleeping well, didn't have energy and was uninspired, she tells me. A specialist in longevity, Dr Laubscher curated a multivitamin and mineral supplement packed with nutrients for Macpherson, which materialised as WelleCos hero product,

From self-loving affirmations to infrared saunas, here Macpherson reveals what it is exactly that makes her feel so well.

Elle Macpherson (right) with supermodels Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Christie Turlington in 1995

I start the day with self-loving affirmations. Its a sensation of gratitude, really. I say things to like: I am awake, I'm vital, I am inspired, I'm excited for my day, rather than immediately just scrolling through Instagram, which so many people do. I don't touch my phone until I'm ready to address whatever is there.

I get up and drink a big jar of water that I prepare the night before with freshly squeezed lime and a quarter of a teaspoon of Celtic sea salt so before anything Im completely hydrating my body. And then I like to make an oat-milk matcha (Elmhurst Barista has a really good clean oat milk, with a ceremonial grade matcha) and then I go and sit out in the sun at around seven oclock for 10 minutes. I put my face up to the sun, close my eyes and listen to the sounds of nature, preferably with as little clothes on as possible depending on the weather.

And then I might do some yoga poses like sun salutations. Zach Bush has a fantastic four-minute workout [shared below], which releases nitric acid into the body, so it helps your muscles function properly. I also try to put my bare feet on the ground not cement.

Then I'll have my shower and get dressed for the day.

I just like movement; I do what I feel like on the day, which could be hiking, biking, swimming, yoga I have a gym at home so sometimes I get on the elliptical or the bike and put on a documentary. Then I'll maybe hang upside down, do squats or use my chi machine, which moves your body, circulating your lymphatic system. I don't really work out to sculpt my body I work out because I believe that breath and movement is so important for our health and wellbeing. And when you do that consistently, it really shows.

Something I much prefer to do over a workout class is a Russian banya. If I'm in London, I like to go to The Bath House. Ill do a steam and cold plunge and the Parenie treatment, where they gently brush your body with birch leaves to improve circulation and the immune system. Its kind of a tribal experience.

After getting dressed I have my greens The Super Elixir, which combines 50 multivitamins and minerals, adaptogens, probiotics and prebiotics. Then from 10am I have a snack of something light but nourishing, like a chia pudding, coconut yogurt or fruit with sprouted almond butter. Then I take supplements for whatever I'm working on: good hair or skin, or immunity, for example.

At around 2pm I often have a big smoothie with everything I can find to put in it, like frozen banana, protein, coconut milk, chia seeds, flax, toka. And then I have my major meal around 4pm. I'm plant-based and follow an Ayurvedic type of diet. I do this not for any weight control, but because I love to be easy on my digestive system and I want the nutrients I consume to be readily available. So, I might have a big brown-rice bowl with avocado and sprouts and sunflower seeds, a curry, pho or sushi. I try to support regenerative farmers and choose things that are organic the quality of the food that I have directly affects the way I feel.

I work quite late with WelleCo because of the time difference with living in Miami, and my head office being in Melbourne. After I finish, I sit in my Therasage portable infrared sauna for an hour. I find this the best time to do body brushing. And then after I've done that I'll do a cold plunge. That's great for the immune system.

The winding-down process at night is important; you cant go from hero to zero quickly. I have a self-loving routine at night which includes turning off devices or wearing blue light-blocking glasses, which is really important for your circadian rhythm. I also make myself The Evening Elixir, which is part of that sleep preparation.

I read a book in bed and then, just before I go to sleep, I fill my whole body with thoughts that support me, such as I'm in perfect health, I am loving consciousness. I also go through the day and recall things that made me laugh, or that touched me, and congratulate myself on the little things that I've accomplished. Don't fill yourself with what you didn't do: fill your heart and soul with all the beautiful things that you want to percolate on while you sleep. They say that the last five minutes before you sleep, and the first five minutes before you wake, are the most important for resetting your subconscious.

Meditation is really just finding that quiet, still space within yourself. I used to do guided meditations because I didn't know how to do that. Now I close my eyes and I practice Reiki; I often go to sleep breathing into the Reiki positions.

Some people like 'box breath' meditations; some people like listening to a piece of classical music and just being transported by it. There are lots of different modes of meditation, but for me meditation is really about connecting with yourself, and with the divine.

Investing in WelleCo! And not just for my health, because there's a purpose to it thats greater than my own wellbeing I want other people to experience the life-changing understandings that I came into 10 years ago. When we are truly nourished from within with high-quality ingredients, we not only have better digestion, better sleep, better hair and better skin; we become more vibrant in our life and therefore more beautiful because we are inspired, courageous, confident and energetic. When we bring that into the world, the world becomes a better place.

WelleCos The Evening Elixir is available now from retailers including Harvey Nichols and online at harveynichols.com. To find out more about WelleCo, visit welleco.co.uk.

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Self-care rituals with Elle Macpherson - Harper's Bazaar UK

We live in a soft world where the slightest sign of discomfort can be regarded with concern and even panic.

Did someone say something you found hurtful?

Time to go to a therapist, who can make you feel worse about your issues because now youre talking about them emphasizing them.

Therapy has its place, especially if you need that initial pull out of the quagmire of overthinking by someone who can provide a third-party view.

Most of us have been so conditioned to avoid conflict that we skip having needed conversations with people out of habit.

But the difficult, open, and honest discussions often solve your problems.

Poor communication will ensure people remain resentful and confused with bottled emotions.

Take some courage, say the hard thing to those who need to hear it, and feel the relief rise.

RELATED:How To Have Peaceful Conversations With People You Totally Disagree With

Reacting to things is allowing external stimuli to guide your behavior without thought.

Someone triggers you, and you fly into a rage.

Someone dumps you, and youre miserable for weeks, crying into endless tubs of ice cream.

To react is to die slowly.

The alternative is always to create and its what humans were built to do. Its the expression of your humanness.

So create and live.

Make something of your predicament. Dont react and die.

Much of the time, if were feeling low and we cant describe why its a sign were allowing fear to control our lives.

Were trapped and limited by our self-imposed limitations.

Dont allow this to go on.

Identify your fears. Call them out by name.

Then ask, Whats one tiny step I can make today that will bring me confidence in this area?

No matter how simple, do it. Practice always diminishes fear.

This is a priority because breaking free of limits always matters.

RELATED:The Singular Fear That's Destroying Your Relationship And 8 Ways To Stop It

A huge chunk of the population believes there is some value to worrying. It keeps them safe.

No. No, it doesnt. It keeps you miserable.

And you already know this. So, instead of ruminating on whats wrong with your life and what you need to fix about yourself, redirect your attention to things youcancontrol.

You can choose gratitude.

You can also choose to quit worrying and take up a new hobby.

You can choose to be present and in the flow of action. Your choice.

Salvation from pain lies here.

Im not talking about being reckless.

But there is something to be said for activities that contain some considered risk.

How can we ever feel alive if we dont ever taste an echo of death?

Be willing to take some calculated and pre-determined risks.

Go on a motorcycle trip to India. Climb a mountain. Ask someone out. Write the book youre scared to write. Run a class. Go on regular adventures that push you out of comfort, leaving you exhilarated.

This is the best kind of vaccine for weakness there is.

RELATED:Stop Worrying About People Who Arent Worried About You

We all have that thing we know we should do that we keep holding off and avoiding.

Maybe you need to finally clean the circus that is your kitchen.

Or perhaps you need to sign up for that class so you can finally get some socializing time this year.

Whatever it is, we all have that thing that eats at our soul because we arent doing it.

What is that thing? Put the dang thing in your calendar, and get it done.

Now THATs therapy.

A sense of sadness or even depression is often attached to the idea that difficult things are happeningtous.

A far more empowered self-vision is to view things happeningbecauseof us.

This is to immediately assume a leadership position, and it instantly feels better.

Dont allow yourself to melt into misery by feeling sorry for yourself.

Why?

Snap out of it.

Life sucks for all of us. Youre no different.

Life is how you make it. So make it great and turn your attention to leading, mentoring, and helping others.

Forget you, for Gods sake, please. If you feel anxious, help others feel calm. If youre lonely, go and make someone else feel good. If you feel stuck, go and help a friend get unstuck.

Its all about where you put your attention. Leaders dont self-obsess they lead.

Photo:Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels

RELATED:Why Having Mentors Can Help Your Career Take Off

AlexMathersis a writer and coach who helps you build a money-making personal brand with your knowledge and skills while staying mentally resilient.

This article was originally published at Medium. Reprinted with permission from the author.

Excerpt from:
7 Unconventional Forms Of Therapy That Will Make You More Alive Than 98% Of People - YourTango

Rebecca Peters, Research Adviser

Rebecca joined the Research team in 2019, specialising in the area of health and wellbeing at work as both a practitioner and a researcher. Before joining the CIPD Rebecca worked part-time at Kingston University in the Business School research department, where she worked on several research-driven projects. Additionally, Rebecca worked part-time at a health and wellbeing consultancy where she facilitated various wellbeing workshops, both externally and in-house.

Rebecca has a masters degree in Occupational Psychology from Kingston University, where she conducted research on Prison Officers resilience and coping strategies. The output of this research consisted of a behavioural framework which highlighted positive and negative strategies that Prison Officers used in their daily working life.

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Self-care behaviours for leaders to drive health and performance - Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

The Rev. Clifford Boss Chambliss Jr. was just 25 when he was tapped to lead a new job training initiative that more senior Black ministers were organizing to help people find work and escape poverty.

Newly graduated from the Virginia Union University seminary, Rev. Chambliss seized the opportunity he was offered in 1967.

Over the next three decades, he would transform the Richmond Opportunities Industrialization Center into one of the largest Black employment assistance programs in the Richmond area creating a fresh opportunity for the unemployed and underemployed to find success.

The Suffolk-born minister, who a year later also was installed as the ninth pastor of Springfield Baptist Church in Henrico County, enabled more than 20,000 youths and adults to change their lives by preparing them for work in construction trades, offices and factories, and in food service and retail stores.

He believed that the best social program was employment that offered men and women, dads and moms, the ability to support their families, said Cassandra Calender-Ray, a former OIC employee who now is executive director of the adoption program Virginia One Church, One Child.

Rev. Chambliss led the OIC for 33 years, but left in 2001 after the citys leadership pulled financial support from the program. He would later see the program reborn in 2014 under then-Mayor Dwight C. Jones as the city Office of Community Wealth Building, though on a smaller scale and without any mention of the OIC.

Rev. Chamblissimpact on Richmond through the OIC and other civic endeavors is being remembered following his death Thursday, March 9, 2023. He was 81.

Family and friends celebrated his life Saturday, March 18, at GarlandAvenue Baptist Church, where he served as pastor from 2001 to 2011 after stepping down from the pulpit at Springfield Baptist after 32 years of service.

The OIC was a self-help program that was energized by the new employment opportunities for Black people that opened following the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Black churches across the country were galvanized by the training program that the Rev. Leon H. Sullivan launched in Philadelphia in 1965, and Richmond was one 63 communities where church leaders sought to emulate the Sullivan model and affiliate with a program that is largely forgotten.

Under a board that included some of the now deceased giants of Richmond ministry, notably the Revs. Robert L. Taylor and Bernard S. Giles, Rev. Chambliss, a Shaw University graduate, sought to build a program that would allow both adults and youths to train and benefit from the wide array of job possibilities that were now within their reach.

After outgrowing its first location on Belvidere Street near Monroe Park, OIC found a permanent home at 21 E. Leigh St., a then vacant 1909 school building that initially housed Armstrong High School.

In reflections at Rev. Chambliss funeral, Ms. Calender-Ray recalled serving more than 1,700 students in the Summer Youth Employment Training Program. We engaged youth in the program by going to the schools to enlist them; we didnt wait for them to come to us.

Ms. Calender-Ray also noted that OIC became a place where dropouts could earn their high school equivalency degree with a heaping helping of Black history.

Rev. Chambliss knew that self-worth comes from knowing who you are and where you came from, she said.

In his role as executive director, Rev. Chambliss stressed to the staff the importance of their work in helping people reach self-sufficiency, she said.

During his tenure at OIC, Rev. Chambliss also led the first ever yearly cleanups of the Cannon Creek Greenway along the Richmond-Henrico Turnpike, seeing a North Side gem instead of the informal, illegal dumping ground that it had become, Ms. Calender-Ray said.

In partnership with the Richmond Department of Public of Works, each summer Rev. Chambliss would enlist adults and youths from the OIC to clean out the rubbish, mattresses, tires and other debris, an initiative that was forgotten and never credited by the time City Hall got around to turning the 1.9-mile greenway into a walking and biking trail and park space he had envisioned.

Rev. Chambliss also served on the board of the Congress of National Black Churches, was a past president of the Henrico Ministers Fellowship and a longtime member of the Baptist MinistersConference of Richmond and Vicinity, the Jackson Ward and Vicinity Clergy Association and the American Baptist Churches of the South Ministers Conference.

He served on the state Minority Economic Development Advisory Committee under Gov. Linwood Holton and was a member of the Governors Job Training Coordinating Council during the tenures of Govs. Gerald L. Baliles and L. Douglas Wilder.

Rev. Chambliss also was a former board member of the North Richmond YMCA and the Bethlehem Community Center, and was a past president of the Historic Jackson Ward Association.

He also served as a jury commissioner for the Richmond Circuit Court, and was a 62-year member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, which he joined while attending Shaw University.

Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Nancy G. Chambliss; three children, Clifford B. Chambliss III, Melanie L. Chambliss and Bryant G. Chambliss; and six sisters, Edna Thompson, Exyie Ryder, Wilma Jones, Varese Swan, Margaret Edwards and Lynnette Horne-Hardt.

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Rev. Clifford B. Chambliss Jr. dies at 81 - Richmond Free Press

Tia Mowry is a bonafide self-care maven. From promoting self-love through her Instagram and TikTok videos, to recently developing a standout hair-care line thats all about ease and joy when managing curls, Mowry is intentional about wellness. Its necessary because as you can imagine, things become pretty hectic in the stars home as shes constantly wearing multiple hats.She doesnt let that stop her from carving out me time.

I have a hectic life. I am a mother to two incredible children constantly pulling, tugging, and wanting my attention and affection. Im running multiple businesses and navigating living life. It can be a lot, but I need to schedule and make time for self-care, she tells ESSENCE. This means I will choose one day out of the week for me. I usually go to therapy on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. unless I travel.

She continues, Or Im scheduling float therapy, which is more of a deeper intense form of meditation, where youre floating in this capsule, in the dark, listening to music for an hour. Or when Im creating social media content, I feel inspired and Im having a good time; theres a smile on my face. When my content resonates with my audience, it inspires me.

Something shes presently passionate about is expanding her new natural hair care line, 4U By Tia. Its science-backed, nature-made, and clean for your curls, health, and the environment. The line has also become part of her self-care routine, which is simple and effective. Sunday is wash day for the whole family, she shares. To accomplish a successful wash day, she turns to the following products: Clarifying Shampoo formulated to deliver a clean scalp without sacrificing slip, Moisturizing Conditioner, Multiuse Hair Oil, and the Leave-In Curl Cream.

4U By Tia was created to be a self-care experience, as Mowry wants women of color to embrace their authentic selves and to know that they are worthy of feeling confident. One of the main reasons she decided to name the brand 4U was because she wanted her audience to have an experience and feel valued.

We spoke to the renaissance woman about how she balances her fruitful career and being a mother with making time to practice her self-care routine.

ESSENCE: Why do you love self-care? How does it fill out your life?

Mowry: Self-care is everything to me. And I didnt realize the importance until later on in life. I learned the hard way. I felt the effects of not providing myself adequate care and felt depleted from the narrative that we, Black women, must do it all. Then I started to realize that, no, I dont have to do it all. There is a thing called giving yourself grace, and there is a thing called forgiving yourself if you dont check off everything on your to-do list. I also meditate.

And its not cliche to say you have to fill your cup so that you can be present for your children, be present for your job, and present for the multiple hats that you do tend to wear as a woman. Thats what I have been doing for the past couple of years and its been amazing. Im not just talking about bubble baths, getting your nails done, getting your hair done; Im also talking about mental health. Thats why I mentioned meditation, or, you know, even therapy. I have therapy once a week, and my kids know that mommys in therapy on Tuesdays at four. I used to feel guilty about it but not so much anymore because I see the benefits.

And why did you feel guilty about therapy?

In our Black community, I feel like therapy is still very taboo. And I feel like we dont talk about mental health enough. Sometimes growth and healing come with being vulnerable. Breaking down and crying and allowing yourself to feel and heal, and therapy, helps with that. Religion and psychology sometimes dont necessarily mix well within our community. Im only speaking from personal experience because my mother is very religious. She was unhappy when I told her I was studying psychology or going to yoga. I have a lot of self-help books, and shes like, Wheres your Bible?

Whats great is my generation is becoming more aware of the benefits of therapy and how it coincides with religion. The person you should be going to is God and only God, which I do, and prayer is very important to me. But breaking down your traumas, understanding why you behave the way you do, why youre a people pleaser, or why you see yourself repeating unhealthy and toxic patterns will teach you how to grow as a human being.

Im so glad that you were transparent about self-care being rooted in doing the introspective work. How are you curating this multifaceted self-care routine?

I become aware of what I need and then unapologetic about it. I determine what will give me peace and happiness and to feel good mentally, physically, and spiritually, and then I do it.

First, it starts with that perspective. I love creating. I love creating content on TikTok and Instagram because what also makes me feel good is inspiring, encouraging, and sharing my journey. When I do that, my community fills my cup, and I fill theirs.When Im creating content, I feel inspired and Im having a good time. Theres a smile on my face.

We love how open you are about your kids reactions to your videos. With your content, youre inspiring mothers to maintain their identity before their children sometimes as well. And with that said, who in your village steps in with your kids to allow you to enjoy time alone?

Oh, thats a good question. I am very open about crying in front of my children and showing them my natural state of emotions because I want them to understand that its normal not to be okay. Its normal to be sad. And then for them to see that it doesnt always stay. So its very important for me not to hide anything from my kids regarding real life because thats how they learn and grow.

I have an incredible village. I wouldnt be where I am today without them. My dad has been an incredible force in my life. Hes always very present, asking me what I need. If I need for him to stay, you know, with Cree longer because my girlfriend just asked me to go out on a Friday night, hes encouraging me to have that cocktail. I have incredible caretakers for Cairo, an amazing assistant who helps me with my scheduling, and shes also very adamant about my self-care. The type of people you have in your village is important. I have incredible friends that are that constant. I dont have many of them; its quality versus quantity. But I have friends who just check on me, or if they havent heard from me, all of a sudden flowers are delivered to my house or slippers with hearts that say I love you. Im very grateful for my village.

Any tips for our readers to help them start curating their self-care routines?

Dont be afraid to start. You have to start somewhere. And sometimes thats the biggest leap is just starting. Once you start, you have to give yourself grace when it comes to missing a day of working out or meditation, or maybe you just didnt feel like waking up earlier that day. Give yourself grace and forgive yourself. Dont allow that feeling to stop you from continuing to move forward.

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Self-Care Series: Tia Mowry On Finding Joy In Therapy, Social ... - Essence

and Khoo Ee Ping, chief corporate development officer of Sheares Healthcare. Courtesy of ThoughtFull

Singapore-based mental health startup ThoughtFull announced Thursday it raised $4 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by Sheares Healthcare Group, owned by the city-states sovereign-wealth fund Temasek.

Participating in this round were returning investors the Hive Southeast Asia, Vulpes Investment Management, and founding members of Southeast Asian tech giants, including superapp Grab and e-commerce site Zalora. The pre-Series A brings the four-year-old startups total funding to $5.1 million.

ThoughtFull's approach to scaling seamless, end-to-end mental healthcare aligns with Sheares' mission to invest in companies that are shaping the future of healthcare through innovative and patient-focused care, said Khoo Ee Ping, chief corporate development officer of Sheares Healthcare, in a statement. ThoughtFull is taking meaningful steps to close the gaps in today's mental health ecosystem and we are excited to partner them on their journey.

ThoughtFull marks Sheares first investment in mental healthcare in Asia. Sheares previously led the $30 million Series C funding round of Singapore-based senior caregiving provider Homage, which was featured on last years Forbes Asia 100 to Watch list.

Through its app, ThoughtFull connects its users to trained mental health professionals for personalized support, including video therapy sessions and self-guided exercises. Monthly subscriptions for individuals start at $169 SGD ($127.5), based on a six-month term.

The startup claims its user base spans 95 provinces, towns and cities worldwide, while its provider network spans 57 such locations across Asia. It plans to use its fresh capital to further scale its business across Asia, develop its product offerings, and conduct further clinical research.

Fueling the startups expansion is its partnerships with insurance firms. Last December, Hong Kong billionaire Richard Lis insurance firm, FWD Insurance, announced a partnership with ThoughtFull, giving customers access to self-help tools and virtual therapy. In Malaysia, ThoughtFull partnered with AIA last May to include mental health support in its corporate solutions portfolio, so employees subscribed to its plan could access one-on-one therapy.

More broadly, a March report from the World Health Organization found that the Covid-19 pandemic has triggered a 25% increase in depression and anxiety worldwide. Yet reaching out for mental health support remains an issue in Asia, where the very concept of mental illness is repeatedly undermined. A 2020 academic review of stigma against mental illness in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Korea and Thailand found that these illnesses were viewed as personal weaknesses and therefore were less socially acceptable, among other issues.

In the aftermath of the pandemic, Asian mental health startups have piqued the interest of investors. In early March, Singapore-based Intellect also featured on last years Forbes Asia 100 to Watch list secured an undisclosed strategic investment from Asias largest private healthcare group, IHH Healthcare. Last July, it raised $20 million in a Series A funding round led by Tiger Global. Metas first investment in the Asia-Pacific region was Ami, in its seed funding round last May.

Im a reporter at Forbes Asia based in Hong Kong, covering startups, sustainability and financial inclusion. You can email me at catherine.wang [at] forbes.com.

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Temaseks Sheares Healthcare Makes First Mental Health Investment With Singaporean Startups $4 Million Funding Round - Forbes

World Cinema, a trusted provider of video, advanced connectivity and professional services to guest-centric properties worldwide, announced a collaboration with ServiceNow to deliver seamless customer experiences through automation, digital workflows, and unprecedented transparency. World Cinema will use ServiceNow to consolidate customer service inquiries onto a single platform for clear and consistent communication and fast time to resolution, while reducing costs.

We are excited to work with ServiceNow to transform the customer experience, said Robert Grosz, President at World Cinema. Today more than ever, experiences are going to be remembered, and we are building a new category to create a unique platform for deploying and supporting all technology for guest-centric property owners. We are focused on staging experiences and delivering that experience every time, no exceptions.

World Cinema will use ServiceNow Customer Service Management (CSM) and Field Service Management (FSM) to quickly respond to customer inquiries, such as WiFi connectivity issues at a hotel. ServiceNow will help streamline operations for customer service agents, field technicians, and customers, enable self-service across channels and empower agents with real-time information and intelligence. FSM will help ensure that when a technician is required on-site, the right person with the right certifications, tools, and resources required for installations, repairs, and maintenance, is sent to complete the job.

World Cinemas mission to deliver exceptional technology and service experiences to hotels worldwide aligns with ServiceNows commitment to simplify complex processes and connect people and systems on a single platform, said John Ball, senior vice president and general manager, customer and industry workflows at ServiceNow. Together, we will enable hotels to streamline their customer service operations, resolve issues quickly, and ultimately provide the connected and frictionless experiences that guests expect and deserve.

World Cinemas investment in transforming service reflects the companys bold mission to be of service to empower technology solutions at every guest-centric property in the world. Through this journey, systems will be aligned to automate requests, proactively address issues, and deliver effortless experiences.

Technology and connectivity is a pervasive foundational component for todays guest-centric environments. The complexities of the ever-changing, but commoditized, universe of property technologies must be simplified through well executed collaboration. Establishing omni-channel communications to provide transformational customer service and improved customer self-help tools will re-define what it means to be a critical solutions provider to these properties, allowing the delivery of a premium experience that property operators and owners covet. To learn more about World Cinema, visit http://www.wcitv.com.

World Cinema, Inc. (WCI) is a trusted provider of video, advanced connectivity and professional services to properties and enterprises on a global basis. With a dedication to customer service, WCI leads the way in delivering innovative technology solutions that enhance the resident, guest, and staff experience. From managed services to digital transformation, WCI is a single point of contact for all of a property's technology needs.

Founded in 1974, WCI is a privately held company headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company serves over 7,000 properties with nearly 900,000 rooms under management. For more information, visit http://www.wcitv.com

Founded in 1974, WCI is a privately held company headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company serves over 7,000 properties with nearly 900,000 rooms under management.

For more information, visit http://www.wcitv.com.

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World Cinema and ServiceNow Spearhead Technology Service ... - Hospitality Net

Rep. Gary Gates, R-Richmond except for the half-year he spends in Colorado is back for a second legislative session with his self-help bill. This time some of his opponents are saying his moves ought to be illegal.

As Gates has acknowledged, his HB 183 would help him destroy several state-created management districts in parts of Houston where he owns sprawling apartment complexes.

As a commercial property owner, Gates and his companies must pay an annual tax of about 10 cents on every $100 of property value to the district in which his property lies. In return for the 0.1 percent levy, the districts provide economic development services such as extra police patrols, surveillance cameras, graffiti and litter abatement, neighborhood beautification, long-range planning, etc.

State law gives property owners the right to petition for the strangulation of a district with signatures that represent two-thirds of the value of the commercial property within its boundaries.

Gates deploying a team of young and persistent employees to seek such signatures in person and by phone, e-mail and postal mail has tried and failed to hit the two-thirds goal in districts that serve the Chinatown area in southwest Houston and the Hobby Airport area in southeast Houston. Both areas have heavy Hispanic, Asian and Black populations.

So, he wants to lower the threshold from two-thirds to half.

In 2021 testimony to the House Urban Affairs Committee, of which he is vice chair for the current session, Gates freely admitted the bill is intended to make his destruction campaign easier.

I happen to be in a number of these districts because of some of the property I own and I have actually been trying to disband (them), he said.

But its been too tough a climb, he continued, partly because some of the owners might live abroad and/or speak languages besides English.

You also have challenges in finding the owners of many of these businesses . . . and the owner may live in another city or maybe another state or maybe even another country, he said in 2021. And then you run into problems with trying to get people to sign that speak different languages and different cultures.

But Gates took a different tack when he testified to the same committee on March 14 of this year.

Almost all of his remarks focused on how elections and most legislative votes are decided by a majority rather than by two-thirds. His secondary line was commercial property owners are being taxed by unelected officials.

(Under state law, management district board members are appointed by their mayor and approved by their city council. District members operate like all other government agencies that must hold meetings in public and maintain open records).

Another factor thats different this year is that some Houston management districts are pointing out what they say are Gates true motives.

In a letter to Urban Affairs members, Gulfton Area Management District Chair Tammy Rodriguez pointed out that some of Gates companies have been suing for years to block her district from operating based on alleged legal flaws in the way it was formed. The district denies the allegations.

Gates did not disclose the lawsuit in his testimony to Urban Affairs.

Please do not involve yourself in this lawsuit by giving Rep. Gates additional leverage over our district, Rodriguez wrote. If Rep. Gates use of his position as a House member to further his personal and business interests is not prohibited by the law or the House rules, it ought to be.

The Gulfton district is among the many districts that have paid for an increased police presence and other anti-crime tools in its area. Gulfton is thought to be the states most dense and most diverse area, with a significant population of immigrants and refugees.

In the adjacent Southwest Management District, which includes Houstons suburban Chinatown, district Chairman Kenneth Li wrote a similar letter, saying Gates legislation was an act of self-dealing that should be prohibited.

Li beseeched the committee to please do not involve yourself by giving Rep. Gates additional leverage over our district. To be sure, Mr. Gates does not reside in (the district) and does not represent any part of it in the Legislature.

While the Urban Affairs Committee is now aware of Gates crusade against the District, some of his employees at the apartment complexes he owns apparently are unaware.

Late last year, photos published online by the Southwest Management District show Alice Lee, then a district staffer, providing anti-crime materials to Gates leasing office employees at two such complexes where the district had already deployed security cameras and private security patrols at the request of Gates people.

Gates might have missed such events because of the time he spends in Colorado. Coloradocitizenscoalition.org, the website for a group he founded, says he owns a home in Crested Butte CO, and is active in the community and a church there.

Until ReformAustin reported about it several months ago, the website had said Gates spends about half his time in the state to the north of Texas.

As of this writing, Gates HB 183 was pending in Urban Affairs, where the city of Houston filed a letter against it.

Continued here:
Rep. Gates Vendetta Bill Runs Into Opponents Of Self Help - Reform Austin

The Broker-Dealer / Investment Adviser (BDIA) Division is continuing an annual online examination for certain registered Investment Advisers, in accordance with DFPIs authority under California Corporations Code Section 25241, subdivision (c). This mandatory examination consists of an online examination for Investment Advisers registered with the DFPI, who have their principal place of business in another state.

The online examination for this year is scheduled to commence on April 3, 2023. If selected the advisory firm will be notified on April 3, 2023, and required to complete and submit the online examination by May 19, 2023. The Division is structuring the exam to be conducted on this population on a four-year cycle. However, an Investment Adviser may be selected for a future examination sooner or later than the estimated four-year cycle.

To communicate the online examination, as well as any follow-up communication, the Division will use the Investment Adviser email as disclosed on the current Form ADV. The business e-mail address must be dedicated to receiving DFPI communications and be monitored by the executive staff of your firm, to ensure prompt attention is paid to communications from DFPI.

If you have any questions or inquiries, please contact the Division atCADFPIexams@dfpi.ca.gov.

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March 2023 Monthly Bulletin | The Department of Financial ... - California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation

Every March, the nation celebrates National Womens History Month to honor and celebrate the undeniable contributions women have made throughout time. Look for the stories of other exceptional women at thebottom of this report.

Growing up, Jessica Johnson always knew she would have a career helping others and working in health care.

The Brooklyn-born Tar Heel has lots of memories shadowing her mom during her schools Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day experiences both of Johnsons parents had careers in health care.

I learned early on that a job in health care meant you got to make someones day a little better. I didnt know exactly what I wanted to do then but knew I wanted to work in a hospital and take care of patients and hopefully make a difference in peoples lives, said Johnson.

Fast-forward to 2013, having completed her Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she soon saw her path. During her junior year of undergrad, she volunteered at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, which helped her to realize the business side of health care beyond the direct clinical roles that supported her strengths and interests, especially problem-solving.

This side of health care felt more like an organic place for me to make an impact. It didnt feel forced, and I didnt feel stressed out about getting through the hard science courses anymore.It was the best decision I made for my career and life path, she said.

It wasnt until the summer of 2014, when Johnson put her career on hold and bought a one-way ticket to Vietnam, that she discovered her true passion. She took a temporary break to travel and study specific areas of the world she was interested in and immerse herself in life and cultures.

During that time, she connected with a grassroots health care group whose focus it was to discuss health care barriers for various Vietnamese patient groups and offer solutions. Problems with HIV/AIDS cases around the country, especially those affecting infants and children in orphanages, touched her heart. Although the country was striving to provide universal health care to residents, in reality, she found that Vietnams health care system was poor and almost nonexistent in rural areas.

I may not have been a clinician with this group, but I had the experience and interest to help them organize, schedule services, coordinate efforts to help these patient groups. It was a small part compared to the labor of love demonstrated by these committed professionals. Honestly, thats how I see my role today Im here to remove barriers for our clinicians and ensure our health care teams are able to show up to be their best selves in their jobs, she said.

Johnson returned to America with newfound energy, direction and a purpose. She shifted her perspective to create new personal goals: Dont sweat the small stuff. Focus on what you can control. Make it easy for people to do the right thing and remove barriers.

With a renewed mindset, she committed to making contributions that would change health care in manageable ways.

She worked in revenue cycle in New York City before accepting a strategic services associate operations manager position at Duke University Hospital in 2016. The opportunity was a homecoming, returning her to the Research Triangle area, while she worked closely with several of Duke Hospitals experienced leaders.

From 2018 to 2021, she served as Duke University Hospitals director of medical, surgical and critical care services and then as administrative director of surgery for Denver Health. Shes particularly grateful for the mentoring and guidance she received during her career.

Rarely does a person get things done by performing high-level tasks quickly and efficiently without recognizing and bringing people along the way. Theres nothing more valuable than collaboration with others and fostering team spirit among groups to get one to the goal, she said.

Upon arriving at MUSC Health in July of 2022 as the chief operating officer Johnson quickly saw its strengths as a statewide health care provider especially the organizations long-standing commitment to ensuring that communities with little to no options for health care have the ability to receive quality care. Johnson is a staunch advocate for health equity and addressing the barriers that limit access to health and wellness for all.

A person can get the best clinical care in the world inside of a hospital but once they are discharged and go to a food desert or home with internet insecurity or a neighborhood that lacks sidewalks, parks or areas where an individual can exercise or work out thats a problem, she said. As an organization, we can do more outside of our walls. Those events pushed a lot of initiatives engagement with community champions and others we are trying to impact. Its a reminder that were more than just a hospital.

In her role, Johnsons looking at new opportunities, innovations and sustainable solutions to improve operations and processes.

An area that she sees as a priority is building employee resilience, well-being and self-care especially for the clinical care teams.

All of us at some point at work need to decompress, especially since the pandemic. Everyone has different thresholds and are on different levels in which they need to decompress, and thats OK. We need to identify stress factors and enforce processes to help people do the right thing, while eliminating barriers that prevent them from doing what they do best, she said.

Last November, Johnson was named among 21 national women health care leaders to the 2023 Carol Emmott Fellowship class by the Carol Emmott Foundation. The class is part of an elite 14-month experience designed to support and increase gender equity in health care leadership within the communities and institutions they serve.

Looking ahead, Johnson hopes to see a health care workplace where everyone is keeping each other well.

Its my goal to ensure that all of us can do our best at our jobs. I want to give people what they need to be successful in their roles and make it easy for them to do the right thing so that everyone can be their best selves, she said.

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Leader has passion to solve problems, help others 'be their best ... - Medical University of South Carolina