Brain Health Champion Natalia Farquhar
In this edition of our BrainSuite newsletter, we are excited to spotlight Natalia Farquhar, one of our incredible partners and brain health champions at CIBC. With 13 years of dedicated service, Natalia's journey at CIBC, from a customer service representative to her current role as a team leader, reflects her commitment to fostering positive change within the organization.
A few years ago, Natalia was introduced to Women's Brain Health Initiative (WBHI) at one of their events centered around The Six Pillars of Brain Health. This initial encounter, shared with her clients, became pivotal as Natalia witnessed the profound impact of WBHI's mission, sparking critical conversations among her female clientele.
Since that enlightening experience, Natalia has deepened her involvement with WBHI, assuming a leadership role in the CIBC x WBHI partnership. In this capacity, she plays a crucial role in extending invitations to passionate Investment Advisors and their CIBC clients for the BrainSuite events. Natalia encourages and actively reinforces proactive measures toward positive brain health within her client community.
Beyond her dedication to clients and event coordination, Natalia extends her support and passion for brain health to her team at CIBC. There, she translates her learnings into action, fostering a culture prioritizing team relationships, wellness, and a sense of value in every team member's contributions. This commitment to a positive culture resonates with her team's exceptional results, culminating in Natalia being honoured with the prestigious CIBC Annual Achiever Award. This accolade recognizes her embodiment of CIBC's purpose. Congratulations, Natalia!
Natalia's proactive approach to brain health is deeply rooted in her personal journey as an adoptee and the challenge of navigating a limited understanding of her family's medical history. Guided by a commitment to preventive measures like stress management and nutrition, Natalia exemplifies her dedication to breaking generational cycles and promoting holistic well-being.
Recognizing the intricate connection between mental health and overall well-being, Natalia is passionate about sharing her learnings with those in her life who share similar interests. Informed by her partner's family history of dementia, and united by a shared love for food, Natalia has incorporated knowledge learned from WBHI events and resources into her routines, this includes sharing brain-healthy recipes, like those found in “Memory Morsels” with her network creating a ripple effect of knowledge that extends beyond her personal journey and positively influences those in her sphere.
When prompted to share a message with our BrainSuite newsletter audience, Natalia emphasized the strength of women and the importance of our support networks. Acknowledging that discussions surrounding brain health and cognitive illnesses can be challenging, she highlighted the impact that these conversations can have within her network.
As we venture into the new year, let's lean into Natalia's wisdom—caring for one another and summoning the courage to engage in the crucial brain conversations that occupy the forefront of everyone's minds.