On July 10th, AMCHAM’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee organized a webinar on ‘Welcome Wellness at the Workplace.’ The session commenced with opening remarks by Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM, followed by an address by Ms. Kaku Nakhate, Vice Chairperson, AMCHAM, Chairperson – Diversity & Inclusion Committee, AMCHAM and President & Country Head, India, Bank of America N.A. While emphasizing on the need for leaders to involve themselves in the D&I agenda, Ms. Nakhate shared an overview of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee and highlighted Bank of America’s initiative that focusses on the emotional, physical and financial wellness of employees. This was followed by an address by Mr. David J. Ranz, Consul General, U.S. Consulate General Mumbai and Honorary USG Co-Chairperson – Diversity & Inclusion Committee, AMCHAM. Through his address Consul General Ranz highlighted the Consulate’s initiatives such as regular townhalls to address employee concerns and conversations leading to constructive actions on best practices and inclusion. He also stated that the Consulate engages with the larger public on these issues and organizes programs on mental health strategies.

As part of the panel discussion industry experts Ms. Kanika Tewari, Founder, GoDiverse, Mr. Amber Alam, Director – EAP & Wellness Services India and Asia Pacific, Optum Health – Prevention and Wellbeing and Ms. Neelam Vaswani, Lead, Global Health Services, Johnson & Johnson Pvt. Ltd. actively discussed sensitization on mental health, mental wellbeing in the Indian context, the gendered impact of coronavirus, adversity quotient and an integrated approach to the culture of health and mental wellbeing. The panel was moderated by Dr. Vandita Gupta, Chapter Leader – Differently Abled Chapter of the D&I Committee, AMCHAM and Franchise Head, Global Public Health (IDV) and Metabolics, Janssen India, Johnson & Johnson Pvt. Ltd. A brief Q&A session followed. The webinar concluded with closing remarks and vote of thanks by Mr. Sudhir Shenoy, CEO, Dow Chemical International Private Limited.