Author Archives: Samantha Lee
Our Social Impact: Realize 2021-22 Impact Report
“We bring value to our members, clients, and partners by reinvesting in, engaging, and collaborating with the communities we serve.” 2021/22 has been a year of growth and new ventures. As the world around us has shifted and adapted to the new needs and norms of the workplace, we have been listening closely to theContinue reading “Our Social Impact: Realize 2021-22 Impact Report”
Realize is a 2022 Best for the World™ B Corp!
We are thrilled to announce that Realize has been named a 2022 Best for the World™ B Corp in recognition of our exceptional positive impact in two categories: Governance and Workers! Best for the World is a distinction granted by B Lab to Certified B Corporations (B Corps) whose verified B Impact Scores in theContinue reading “Realize is a 2022 Best for the World™ B Corp!”
Making a Difference: Realize 2020-21 Impact Report
“We believe people are the heartbeat and that culture is foundation of all world-changing organizations.” This is the core principle of the work we do here at Realize – putting people and culture at the centre of everything we do. 2020/21 has been a year of unprecedented change. As we have all had to continuouslyContinue reading “Making a Difference: Realize 2020-21 Impact Report”
Designing Hybrid Workplaces for Human Moments
How might we design a new hybrid workspace that fosters collaborative, innovative, and spontaneous “human moments”? This was the topic we dove into at our “Design Hybrid Workplaces for Human Moments” workshop we led with passionate leaders and change makers from multiple sectors and across Canada and the U.S. Together we ideated solutions and sharedContinue reading “Designing Hybrid Workplaces for Human Moments”
Designing A Workspace From a People Lens
Teams worldwide are grappling with what to do with their office space now that we’ve experienced either fully remote work or a hybrid model. You might be asking yourself, “Do we save money and ditch the office?” while at the same time worry that your cultural glue might fall apart without a physical space. OrContinue reading “Designing A Workspace From a People Lens”
Shared Services: A Solution for BC Non-Profit COVID-19 Recovery
In March, we heard from 84 non-profit leaders across BC to learn about how COVID-19 has impacted them and what their priorities are for recovery in 2021 and beyond. The survey revealed that the operational areas where COVID-19 had the most negative impact on were people and culture (80%), program operations and ability meeting clientContinue reading “Shared Services: A Solution for BC Non-Profit COVID-19 Recovery”
Systems Thinking: Big Picture, Win-Win Solutions
Our world is becoming increasingly interconnected. Systems thinking is a holistic method that helps determine collective actions to solve complex issues by focusing on the interactions of all elements within a system. While our individual efforts can seem like a drop in the bucket, by identifying where we are within a system, we can allContinue reading “Systems Thinking: Big Picture, Win-Win Solutions”
Earth Month Challenge: Co-Create A Sustainable Future
Climate change is one of the most pressing problems facing our world today. It affects everyone – from families worrying about their children’s futures to global economies. So, it is in the interests of everyone that we pursue systemic change that averts climate catastrophe and unlocks the potential of green growth. April is Earth Month.Continue reading “Earth Month Challenge: Co-Create A Sustainable Future”
We’re Closing In August
We’re closing down this August. Not permanently – but for the first time in our 22 years of practice, Realize is closing our practice down in the middle of August for a week. But why? We can hear many of you asking. What’s the point of closing in the middle of August? Is it forContinue reading “We’re Closing In August”
Hopes and Fears: Establishing Creative Unity
Many people often feel excited and a bit nervous at the start of a new project. Does everyone’s work styles mesh easily together? What are the team and individual goals around this initiative? How familiar and comfortable are you and your team with each other’s communication styles or quirks? The Hopes and Fears activity isContinue reading “Hopes and Fears: Establishing Creative Unity”
Celebrating Leadership and Advice That Has Shaped Our Careers
Happy International Women’s Day! To celebrate and honour all the women who are changing the world, day by day, we asked our team to share a few personal stories about the female leaders in their lives. The call was “share a time when a female leader inspired you in your professional career or gave youContinue reading “Celebrating Leadership and Advice That Has Shaped Our Careers”
How To: Giving and Receiving Negative Feedback
Have you ever struggled with how to approach giving negative feedback to a colleague? Or perhaps felt hurt and deflated when on the receiving end of negative feedback? Removing the fear of how to be wrong and spending time learning tools that introduce constructive feedback into the ideation process is essential in ensuring your teamContinue reading “How To: Giving and Receiving Negative Feedback”
User Manuals: A Cheatsheet for Powerful Team Collaboration
Have you ever wished that there was a playbook on how to bring out the best out in your team? What if you had a cheatsheet or “user manual” covering each person’s quirks, pet peeves, or communication style? Whether you’re hopping into a new team or just want to better gel with your existing one,Continue reading “User Manuals: A Cheatsheet for Powerful Team Collaboration”
Designing Your Ultimate Competitor Today: What Would They Look Like?
2020 sucked. Let’s just call that out. But the future is still bright and who’s to say that 2021 can’t be our best year yet? To kick things off and flex our innovation muscles, in this week’s Innovation Hour, we created an alter ego of our perfect competitor. Let’s dedicate 2021 to not just competingContinue reading “Designing Your Ultimate Competitor Today: What Would They Look Like?”
DEI: From Acronym to Action
What’s stopping your workplace from taking practical action to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive? This was the topic we dove into at our DEI workshop with more than 45 passionate leaders and change makers from multiple sectors and across Canada and the U.S. Led by the inspiring Donte Curtis, Lead Consultant and Founder ofContinue reading “DEI: From Acronym to Action”
Trends and Best Practices for Supporting Remote Workers During COVID-19 and Beyond
Remote work. Up until very recently, remote work primarily was viewed as an occasional workplace benefit or a trend only really feasible within the tech sector. Then a global pandemic happened and hundreds of thousands of companies around the world of all sizes were left scrambling to implement work from home policies and both leadersContinue reading “Trends and Best Practices for Supporting Remote Workers During COVID-19 and Beyond”
Building Culture in Times of Uncertainty
The future is extremely uncertain for many of us right now. As leaders, it’s easy to focus on and worry about the livelihood of the organization you’re helming and to latch onto protecting the financials and start cutting costs wherever it’s feasible. However, it’s important to not forget who makes the core of your organizationContinue reading “Building Culture in Times of Uncertainty”
Realize Strategies Recognized As A “Best For The World: Overall” B Corp For The Fifth Year In A Row!
Every year with the “Best For The World” honoree list, B Lab recognizes the top 10% of B Corps from around the world who are generating the greatest environmental, community, governance, customer, worker, or overall impact through their businesses. We are absolutely thrilled to share that we are on the B Corp “Best For The World” honoree list forContinue reading “Realize Strategies Recognized As A “Best For The World: Overall” B Corp For The Fifth Year In A Row!”
We’re A Certified Living Wage Employer!
We’re proud and excited to announce that Realize Strategies is now a certified Living Wage Employer! Here at Realize, we take pride in doing everything we can to ensure our team members have fair and competitive salaries and benefits. That’s why we are proud to share that we have a longstanding internal policy that the ratio of compensationContinue reading “We’re A Certified Living Wage Employer!”