Hi! I'm Barri...
I’ve been a passionate people watcher for my entire life, driven to ask, and find answers to the question WHY? That deep desire to understand and analyze what motivates people to do the things they do has taken me from my early childhood in upstate New York where I’m told I made everyone around me crazy with my incessant questions, through my youth in Toronto, Canada, and into my university and graduate school days studying International Finance and Economics in Waltham, Massachusetts.
While I still love to delve deeply into research and applied analysis (I’m a big believer in data and evidence), I quickly realized that real people are much more interesting and less predictable than the data collected about them.
Over the past twenty-plus years, as I progressed from independent contributor to business leader, I’ve experienced my fair share of toxic workplaces and bad managers. I’ve burnt out to the point where I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, and I can share workplace stories that will leave you speechless with disgust. But I can also tell you amazing stories of colleagues coming together in challenging circumstances to do incredible work. Those are the stories we need more of, because you and I deserve to feel valued, acknowledged, empowered and successful in return for how much we invest in ourselves and in our work.
This motivated me to come up with a solution to the toxic workplace – one that focuses on the people, and is proven by the data.
Let's commit to promoting healthy workplaces.
Don’t be the reason your employees leave.
- 76% of job seekers say their boss is toxic (Monster.com 2018)
- 57% of people quit because of their boss
- another 32% have seriously considered quitting (DDI 2019)
As a manager and people-leader, your words and actions have a huge impact.
How do you want to be remembered?
My Background
My desire to connect with people and understand the world through their eyes led me to spend months and years living and travelling abroad, in various locales in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.
I learned that no matter where we live in the world, we experience life in very similar ways. Our dreams and goals are similar, and we often struggle with many of the same challenges, although the degree to which we face these challenges varies significantly from place to place and person to person.
Personally and professionally, I’ve witnessed (and been part of) people rallying together to accomplish extraordinary results in difficult times, overcoming interpersonal issues and structure deficiencies.
What surprised me was how downright awful we could act toward each other, and yet, the hurt we cause is often unintentional. After several decades in the workforce as a manager, business leader and management consultant, I’ve been both the recipient and perpetrator of toxic workplace behavior.
I’ve come to realise that WE CAN NO LONGER SUSTAIN OR CONDONE TOXIC WORKPLACE CONDITIONS.
For the most part, I believe people are genuinely motivated to do their best. Change is not going to come easily, but change is absolutely possible.
Why The Eureka Project?
We are in the midst of an evolutionary change to healthier work cultures and thriving organizations. New companies are emerging that are committed to operating according to these values. The evidence is overwhelmingly positive that healthy organizations outperform by a substantial margin. Even the most staid corporations are starting to realize that their best folks are jumping ship for a more fulfilling work-life with better whole life balance. I believe it is up to us, right now, to BE THE PEOPLE LEADERS THAT WILL EXCEL AT BUILDING THRIVING ORGANIZATIONS. Founding The Eureka Project is my dream to empower each of us to shed outmoded beliefs about work and build the skills to lead intentionally and authentically into a better way of working.
Relationships Matter
My philosophy is simple, and unequivocal. "We > I" What does this mean to me? It means that regardless of the details of any situation, I value the health of our relationship more than my desire to be right. I commit to be open, authentic, "we"-focused and to always have your back.
We are committed to your success!
Our courses integrate forums, private coaching, achievements, and clear guidance to help you easily measure your progress and results.
