The Vita Talks HR and Benefits Podcast

In this episode of Vita Talks, host Gianna Ricciardi sits down with Cory Brewer, Founder of Beyond Landscaping and Co-Founder of Market Hill Agency. Cory shares how he grew his North Vancouver landscaping company while tackling one of today's biggest business challenges: finding and keeping strong people. He discusses the turning point that led him to rethink how his office operated, ultimately building a fully virtual back-office team overseas. Cory also opens up about how Beyond Landscaping keeps field staff engaged through culture, year-round work opportunities, and better structure. His experience eventually inspired a second business supporting entrepreneurs with trained remote executive assistants. Whether you manage field teams, hybrid teams, or a growing small business, this episode offers practical ideas for building a more resilient and efficient workforce—without giving everything away. Who Should Listen? Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners – especially in trades, construction, or services, struggling with hiring and retention. Operations & HR Leaders – looking for real-world examples of hybrid teams (field + fully remote office) that actually work. People Managers in High-Turnover Industries – interested in building a stronger culture and engagement with frontline teams. Founders Feeling Overworked – who want to understand how remote executive assistants can help them reclaim time and focus. Mentioned Links: Connect with Cory on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/corybrewer/?originalSubdomain=ca  Connect with Cory on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/corybrew/?hl=en  Stay Connected to Vita Assure; Insurance and Workplace Benefits Vita Talks Podcast LinkedIn Website Ways to Support This Podcast: 💡 Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network ⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🔔 Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness

In this episode, Gianna sits down with Scott Dedels, Co-CEO of Block Rewards, to explore how Canadian employers are incorporating Bitcoin into compensation and benefits programs. Scott shares how Block Rewards helps organizations diversify their savings offerings by giving employees the option to invest in Bitcoin alongside traditional group RRSPs. He discusses the evolution of Bitcoin sentiment in the workplace, how one Alberta-based green energy company saw extraordinary returns, and why this new approach appeals to today's multigenerational workforce. Whether you're curious about digital assets, employee benefits innovation, or the future of workplace compensation, this conversation offers valuable insight into a fast-evolving space. Who Should Listen? Benefits Advisors & Brokers – looking to bring fresh, modern options to employer benefit portfolios. HR Leaders & Business Owners – curious about integrating Bitcoin or alternative assets into compensation packages. Finance & Payroll Professionals – interested in understanding how Bitcoin savings programs function alongside traditional group RRSPs. Forward-Thinking Employers – eager to attract and retain talent through innovative, tech-forward employee perks. Mentioned Links: Scott Dedels LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottdedels/  Block Rewards Website https://blockrewards.ca/  Stay Connected to Vita Assure: Insurance and Workplace Benefits Vita Talks Podcast LinkedIn Group Employee Benefits Ways to Support This Podcast: 💡  Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network ⭐  Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔  Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness  

In this episode of Vita Talks, host Gianna Ricciardi is joined by My-Linh Diep, founder of Sante Continuum and a recognized facilitator with the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Together, they explore how one large, unionized organization moved beyond surface-level mental health initiatives by implementing a structured, layered training strategy that resonated with executives, managers, and team leads alike. Through a compelling case study, My-Linh reveals how tailored training—focused on early warning signs, communication skills, and referral support—can equip leaders with the confidence to address mental health challenges effectively, without overstepping professional boundaries. This episode offers actionable insights for businesses of all sizes on how to: Make mental health training practical and role-specific Create psychological safety through structured yet authentic conversations Understand the ROI of a workplace mental health strategy Leverage community resources and low-lift tools—even in smaller teams Whether you're a leader, HR professional, or business owner, this conversation is a must-listen for building healthier, more connected teams. 🎧 Who Should Listen? HR professionals looking to design or refresh mental health training Business owners and executives committed to building psychologically safe workplaces Managers and team leads who want to better support employee well-being Learning and development teams focused on human-centred leadership Small businesses seeking practical ways to support staff mental health without large budgets 🔗 Mentioned Links: My-Linh Diep | LinkedIn Profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/my-linh-diep-61b15717/?originalSubdomain=ca  Website  https://santecontinuum.com/  Stay Connected to Vita Assure: Insurance and Workplace Benefits Vita Talks Podcast https://www.vitaassure.com/podcast/  LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/vita-assure/  Group Employee Benefits https://www.vitaassure.com/  Ways to Support This Podcast: 💡  Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network ⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔  Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness

In Episode 15 of Vita Talks, host Gianna Ricciardi is joined by Rita De Luca, Partner and Senior HR Consultant at DRH Solutions, to explore the foundational role company values play in building scalable, high-performing organizations. Rita shares a compelling case study of a 1,000-person company that, despite its size, lacked clarity and consistency—resulting in disengagement, poor accountability, and internal conflict. Her discovery? The root of the problem was a lack of clearly defined organizational values. In this conversation, Rita outlines how values aren't just words on a wall. When defined with intention and embedded across hiring, onboarding, performance reviews, and leadership, they become the operating system of a company's culture—a concept she calls "The Legacy Effect." This episode is essential listening for founders, people leaders, and HR teams looking to build resilient cultures, especially in fast-growing or scaling environments. 💡 Key takeaways: How values influence behaviour and accountability Case study: Fixing disengagement with a values-first approach Embedding values into recruitment and performance The role of managers in modelling values What "The Legacy Effect" means in HR strategy 🎧 Who Should Listen? Founders and business owners scaling their teams and looking to build a strong, sustainable culture HR professionals and consultants tasked with implementing or refreshing company values People leaders and managers aiming to align behaviour, performance, and culture across departments Recruiters and talent acquisition teams interested in hiring for cultural fit, not just skill Organizations struggling with engagement, accountability, or internal conflict and seeking a foundational reset 🔗 Mentioned Links: Rita De Luca | LinkedIn Profile DRH Solutions Stay Connected to Vita Assure: Insurance and Workplace Benefits Vita Talks Podcast LinkedIn Website - Group Benefits for Employees Ways to Support This Podcast: 💡  Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network ⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔  Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness  

In this episode #14 of the Vita Talks Podcast, host Gianna Ricciardi welcomes Elissa Shorrock, Founder and Senior HR Consultant at ZOLERNA HR Consulting, for a candid look at how communication—when not managed intentionally—can derail even the most promising organizations. Elissa shares a case study from a growing marketing agency that introduced multiple collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, Monday.com, and email in hopes of improving team efficiency. But without clear guidelines, these tools created confusion, delays, and misalignment, especially between remote and in-office staff. What began as a simple tech fix turned into a deeper investigation into how communication habits were impacting culture and performance. Elissa explains how her team diagnosed the issue using employee surveys, then co-created a communication strategy and playbook that brought clarity to the chaos. This episode is a must-listen for HR professionals, team leads, and business owners navigating growth, hybrid models, or internal friction. Learn how to unify your communication approach, prevent silos, and build stronger collaboration across distributed teams. 🎧 Key takeaways: What causes miscommunication across hybrid or scaling teams How to build a simple but powerful communication playbook Why performance issues often stem from poor messaging, not poor talent   Who Should Listen? HR leaders at small to mid-sized companies experiencing growth Team managers struggling to align remote and in-office employees Operations leaders looking to reduce friction and missed deadlines Founders and executives aiming to improve internal communication Anyone building a hybrid team or scaling their collaboration infrastructure Mentioned Links: Elissa Shorrock, Founder & Senior HR Consultant Website: https://www.zolernahr.com/  Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elissa-shorrock-crha-chrp-04158314/  Stay Connected to Vita Assure: Insurance and Workplace Benefits Vita Talks Podcast LinkedIn Website - Group Employee Benefits Ways to Support This Podcast: 💡  Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network ⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔  Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness  

In Episode 13 of Vita Talks, host Gianna Ricciardi is joined by Sophie Babinski, Principal Consultant at Pli & Repli and Co‑Founder of Manella, to explore how fast-paced organizations can better support employees through their parental leave experience. Sophie shares a compelling case study from a pre‑IPO SaaS company of over 1,000 employees. Despite strong parental leave policies and DEI values, employees returning from leave often encountered vastly changed roles, emotional disorientation, and unclear expectations, especially in a culture built for speed. Sophie and Gianna discuss how the consulting process uncovered discrepancies between policy and lived experience, and how interventions—like manager toolkits, intentional re‑onboarding, and new "empathy guides"—helped bridge those gaps. They outline practical changes, including comp-review cycles for returnees, manager check-ins during leave, and enhanced employee communication strategies. Sophie emphasizes that these improvements are low-lift but high-impact in terms of retention, trust, and employee well-being. Who Should Listen? HR professionals seeking to improve return-to-work experiences after parental leave. People managers navigating how to better support employees during and post-leave. DEI and culture leads looking to bridge policy with real employee experience. Leaders in fast-paced or scaling companies aiming to retain talent during life transitions. Founders or HR teams at early-stage companies designing or rethinking parental leave policies. Mentioned Links: Sophie Babinski's LinkedIn Pli & Repli LinkedIn Stay Connected to Vita Assure: Insurance and Workplace Benefits Vita Talks Podcast LinkedIn Website Ways to Support This Podcast: 💡  Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network ⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔  Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness

In Part 2 of this two-part series, Vita Talks host Gianna Ricciardi welcomes back John Cochrane, Founder of JD Consulting, for the conclusion of a deep dive into group insurance funding models and risk evaluation. Building on the foundational conversation in Episode 11, this episode breaks down the real-world results of a comprehensive benefits audit for a 600-employee organization. The outcome? A $350,000 cost reduction, enhanced control over reserves, and a shift to a customized ASO (Administrative Services Only) model, without adding undue risk. Hear how the client, previously on a refund accounting model for over two decades, was guided through a detailed analysis of historical claims, pooling levels, and risk tolerance. John explains how organizations can assess whether they're paying too much for too little flexibility—and how pooling levels, third-party administrators, and hybrid approaches all play a role in optimizing a benefits strategy. The episode concludes with a clear takeaway: Every organization deserves a full understanding of its funding model options and the confidence to choose the one that aligns with its risk profile, size, and goals. Who Should Listen? HR and finance professionals managing employee benefits Employers considering changes to their plan structure Advisors looking for deeper insights into funding model strategy Business leaders aiming to improve cost-efficiency without compromising employee experience 🎧 Listen to Part 2 now and revisit Part 1 for the full story.   Mentioned Links: JD Consulting John Cochrane's LinkedIn Stay Connected to Vita Assure: Insurance and Workplace Benefits Vita Talks Podcast LinkedIn Website Ways to Support This Podcast: 💡  Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network ⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔  Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness  

In Part 1 of this two-part series, host Gianna Ricciardi is joined by John Cochrane, Partner and Founder of JD Consulting, to explore the often-misunderstood world of group insurance funding and underwriting arrangements. Drawing on over 25 years of experience in employee benefits consulting, John outlines the three primary funding models—fully insured, refund (retention) accounting, and administrative services only (ASO)—and explains how each structure allocates risk between the insurer and the client. Listeners will hear a real-world scenario involving a 600-employee organization that has managed its plan directly with an insurer for over 20 years without advisory support. After agreeing to a confidential audit, the company uncovered significant inefficiencies in its funding model. 📆 Part 2, airing next month, will unpack the audit findings in more detail and share actionable insights for employers considering a funding model shift. Who Should Listen? 🎯 HR and payroll professionals managing group insurance plans 🎯 CFOs and finance leaders focused on cost containment and plan ROI 🎯 Employers with growing teams and evolving risk profiles 🎯 Benefits consultants and advisors seeking clearer ways to explain funding models Mentioned Links: JD Consulting John Cochrane's LinkedIn Stay Connected to Vita Assure: Insurance and Workplace Benefits Vita Talks Podcast LinkedIn Vita Assure Website Ways to Support This Podcast: 💡  Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network ⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔  Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness  

In this episode of the Vita Talks Podcast, we sit down with Giovanna Buscemi, Executive Coach and Founder of Clareo Institute, to explore how executive coaching empowers leaders—especially women navigating complex leadership roles—to thrive through transition, overcome internal blockers, and lead with confidence. Giovanna brings decades of experience in HR, leadership development, and counseling to her work with high-performing executives. She shares a compelling case study based on a composite of real clients—a seasoned female executive who reaches the C-suite only to be met with resistance, isolation, and self-doubt. We explore what happens when traditional success strategies no longer work, and how coaching helps leaders unlearn old habits, develop managerial courage, and redefine what success looks like at the top. If you've ever felt stuck in your leadership journey or are supporting someone navigating change in a high-impact role, this conversation is full of wisdom and practical guidance. Who Should Listen? Female Executives Navigating Leadership Transitions HR Professionals supporting Senior Leaders Business Leaders and Founders Scaling Their Organizations Anyone interested in executive coaching, emotional intelligence, or personal leadership growth Mentioned Links: Clareo Institute Website  Connect with Giovanna on LinkedIn  Clareo Institute LinkedIn Page Stay Connected to Vita Assure; Insurance and Workplace Benefits Vita Talks Podcast LinkedIn Group Insurance and Group Retirement Ways to Support This Podcast: 💡  Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network ⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔  Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness  

Thinking about offering employee benefits but feeling lost? You're not alone. Many small businesses struggle to set up group insurance that works for their team and their budget. Some plans feel too rigid, too expensive, or just too complicated.  In this special Vita Talks HR & Benefits takeover episode, Dominic lafigliola turns the mic on Gianna Ricciardi, Co-Founder and Practice Leader at Vita Assure. Gianna shares a real-life case study of a small software business that struggled with setting up benefits—and how they finally found the right solution.  Whether you're an HR professional or a small business owner, this episode will help you navigate the group insurance process with confidence.  What You'll Learn in This Episode:  The #1 mistake small businesses make when setting up group insurance  The difference between an insurance broker and an advisor (and why it matters)  Flexible benefits vs. traditional benefits: Which is right for your company?  How to compare insurance quotes without getting overwhelmed  Top employee benefits trends in 2025 (Health Spending Accounts, Mental Health, & More)  The step-by-step process to setting up a benefits plan with minimal hassle  This episode is packed with practical insights to help HR teams, business owners, and decision-makers create a benefits plan that actually works for their employees.  Who Should Listen?  🎯 Small business owners setting up benefits for the first time  🎯 HR professionals struggling to choose the right insurance provider  🎯 Employers looking for more flexible, cost-effective benefits solutions  If you're exploring employee benefits and want a clear, strategic approach, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you make the best decision.  🎧 Press play now to learn how to create an employee benefits plan that actually works!  Stay Connected to Vita Assure, Insurance and Workplace Benefits  Website  Vita Talks Podcast  Vita Assure LinkedIn Page    Ways to Support This Podcast:   💡  Share this episode with colleagues and friends  ⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify  🔔  Subscribe for future episodes   

Joining Gianna in this episode is Farzeen Foda, Founder of PeopleStrategy.ca, a Human Resources and Organizational Development consultancy focused on partnering with organizations to design work that inspires performance and effectiveness. Farzeen is also an instructor for the Essentials of People Analytics and Analytics Project Design at York University, a program to help HR Professionals confidently apply concepts and practices in various organizations.  Farzeen discusses the re-design of an Early Talent Program within the technology department of a large financial institution. While the program welcomed almost a thousand undergraduate students annually, most did not return to the organization to continue their careers post-graduation. Learn how the organization utilized technology, in conjunction with a communication campaign, to encourage students to share key information. Armed with meaningful and reliable data, they were better equipped to pipeline students by matching skill sets with skill gaps, as well as to deploy educational programs to help students identify career opportunities within the organization. Farzeen advocates for all organizations, whether small or big, to take advantage of people analytics to mobilize teams and foster them internally.  Mentioned Links PeopleStrategy's website PeopleStrategy LinkedIn Connect with Farzeen on LinkedIn Stay Connected to Vita Assure, Insurance and Workplace Benefits  Vita Talks Podcast LinkedIn Employee Benefits  

Happy New Year! On today's episode, Gianna sits down with Coralia Raducea, founder of Elentia Consulting, a recruitment and human resources consulting firm that offers personalized services, while taking your organizational needs to heart.   Coralia explains why companies would choose to use an external HR expert over attempting to tackle issues in-house, and shares an example of a high-growth SAAS company that she worked with to optimize their HR infrastructure.   We learn how her initial audit revealed bottlenecks in onboarding, uneven management practices across departments, and declining employee morale; and discuss best practices for scaling HR practices to keep up with an organization's growth.   Join us as Coralia walks us through the process of adapting onboarding to accommodate new types of roles, developing leadership training and co-development programs, and implementing employee feedback mechanisms to capture progress and evaluate morale.  Mentioned Links Coralia's LinkedIn Elentia Consulting LinkedIn Coralia's Website Stay Connected to Vita Assure, Insurance, and Workplace Benefits Vita Talks Podcast LinkedIn Employee Benefits  

Today, Gianna sits down with Barbara Gobetti, HR Manager at Estateably. Barbara shares her journey within the company, starting as a Financial Analyst, and explains how her path led her to a role in HR. She took on various responsibilities alongside HR, such as payroll, hiring, and screening, which ultimately caught the attention of leadership and earned her the position of Human Resources Manager. Barbara discusses her core priorities in HR, including compliance, legal considerations, management support, employee experience, and delegating responsibilities effectively. She also explores the differences between how startups and established companies approach HR, emphasizing how these differences can complement each other. Barbara defines her guiding principle in HR as creating positive change and fostering a thoughtful workplace. She stresses the importance of asking questions, seeking additional support, and taking ownership of one's need for knowledge and experience—key elements in building a strong foundation for effective HR practices. Mentioned Links Estateably's website Estateably's LinkedIn Connect with Barbara on LinkedIn Stay Connected to Vita Assure, Insurance and Workplace Benefits Vita Talks Podcast LinkedIn Employee Benefits  

Joining Gianna today is Adriana Arian, HR Director at Brain Box AI. Brain Box AI is Great Place to Work certified which Adriana credits to her team's HR strategies and inclusive work environment.  Adriana shares her values of organically recruiting team members via diversity, providing everyone with shared opportunities, and highlighting an individual's skills and talents as the most important quality as opposed to the accent of one's voice. Adriana emphasizes adopting empathy when working with team members, akin to therapy as HR sometimes deals with emotional difficulties or suffering amongst staff. Adriana breaks down her strategies for advancing a team's diversity and offers her advice to other employers. Mentioned Links  Great Place To Work Certificate for BrainBox AI BrainBox Ai website Adriana on BrainBox Ai Adriana's LinkedIn Connect With Us Vita Assure Subscribe to the Vita Talks Newsletter Group Employee Benefits

Recruiting is expensive. In fact, some experts place the cost of hiring a candidate at three times that candidate's annual salary. It shouldn't surprise anyone, then, that businesses that recruit poorly often don't last long. So how do you do it right? In this episode of the Vita Talks podcast, Gianna is joined by Samantha Bateman, the founder and talent acquisition leader at Integria Consulting, to figure that out. As Samantha explains, a structured approach is key - So is treating candidates like equal clients in the recruitment process. After all, successfully placing them is crucial for company revenue. Throughout this episode, Samantha uses case studies from her work helping global organizations deal with development challenges. She also covers the key techniques that make the difference between a successful and disastrous recruiting process — from using templates for intake, leveraging scheduling tools, establishing regular calls with agencies, and scheduling feedback sessions with hiring managers. In short, as Samantha demonstrates, being organized is the secret to successful recruiting. Mentioned Links Integria Consulting Samantha's LinkedIn Stay Connected to Vita Assure, Insurance, and Workplace Benefits Vita Talks Podcast LinkedIn Group Employee Benefits

In this episode of the Vita Talks Podcast, Gianna is joined by Leigh-Ann Ing, the head of wellness at Gowling WLG, a Canadian law firm with over 1,500 legal professionals. Leigh-Ann discusses the firm's evolving wellness strategy, which centers compassion and self-kindness. These values are often overlooked in the high-pressure environment of the legal industry, which instead often prioritizes performance and perfectionism.  Leigh-Ann shares how she developed this strategy, a process that included conducting active listening exercises to understand employee perspectives on wellness. She emphasizes how important it is to remain flexible and able to adapt a wellness strategy when needed. Also critical is leadership buy-in, which can be achieved by demonstrating the value of investing in wellness. Leigh-Ann describes how she and her team are working on implementing quarterly or semi-annual data dashboards to measure progress. Ultimately, Leigh-Ann explains, integrating well-being into all aspects of the organization is crucial for success. Mentioned Links Gowling WLG Leigh-Ann Ing's LinkedIn Stay Connected to Vita Assure, Insurance and Workplace Benefits Vita Talks Podcast LinkedIn Group Employee Benefits    

In this episode of The Vita Talks Podcast, Nicole Piggott, president and founder of Synclusiv, a DEI consulting firm joins the podcast. Nicole underscores the importance of prioritizing inclusion to foster diversity in the workplace and shares a case study from a remote Canadian operation where cultural awareness and culturally relevant therapists for employees drastically improved retention and reduced absenteeism. Nicole discusses the evolution of DEI initiatives, noting that only truly committed organizations maintain these values over time. She outlines practical DEI strategies, including workshops for employees, leaders, and HR professionals, focusing on changing mindsets, adapting systems, and fostering inclusive cultures. Nicole emphasizes the significance of incremental changes and tailoring benefits to meet diverse needs offering valuable guidance for anyone aiming to create more inclusive workplaces. Mentioned Links Synclusiv Connect with Nicole on Linkedin Stay Connected to Vita Assure, Insurance and Workplace Benefits Vita Talks Podcast LinkedIn Group Benefit Plans

In this inaugural episode of The Vita Talks Podcast, host Gianna Ricciardi welcomes Mandy Di Lazzaro, managing partner of Axxel HR, to discuss the often overlooked yet crucial process of employee onboarding. Mandy highlights the critical role of structured and consistent onboarding in employee retention and engagement, sharing a case study about a retail company that significantly improved its retention rates and employee satisfaction by revamping its onboarding process. Mandy explains the practical steps involved in effective onboarding from pre-boarding activities to the critical first 90 days including the implementation of a buddy system and regular check-ins. She emphasizes that onboarding should be seen as a comprehensive process that extends beyond orientation, and discusses how the new onboarding strategy led to a 30% increase in new hire engagement and reduced turnover. Mandy's insights provide valuable guidance for anyone looking to enhance their onboarding processes and improve overall employee retention. Mentioned Links Axxel HR Connect with Mandy on LinkedIn Stay Connected to Vita Assure, Insurance and Workplace Benefits Vita Talks Podcast LinkedIn Group Benefit Plans