Janet Gwilliam-Wright
SHE / HER / HERS
Janet Gwilliam-Wright is a seasoned change leader with more than 20 years in organizational strategy and policy. Founder of The Motherlove Project, she brings a global perspective to grief support and culture change.
Building your group of champions to become your army.
Popular Talks
Understanding Grief in the Workplace
Grief shows up at work whether we acknowledge it or not, affecting focus, morale, and relationships. When organizations respond with understanding and flexibility, they foster trust, compassion, and a healthier workplace culture for everyone.
Leading with compassion in a time of uncertainty
In times of uncertainty, compassionate leadership builds stability by prioritizing human connection over perfection. When leaders listen, communicate openly, and lead with empathy, they create trust and resilience that carry teams through change.
Consulting
Organizational change is now a business constant, if not an imperative. I help organizations see the bigger picture, align strategy with values and ensure implementation success.
“Janet brings a deep sense of authenticity, compassion, and expertise to a topic that is often overlooked but deeply human. The workshops are a perfect balance of practical and thoughtful.”
– Erica Altomare, Workplace Wellbeing Learning Specialist, University of British Columbia
“I highly recommend her to any organization”.
– Kelly Campbell, Grief Educator and Estate Planner
“As a licensed marriage and family therapist, grief group/retreat facilitator and a griever myself, I understand the profound impact that grief and loss can have on individuals, couples and families both in and out of the workplace. By providing invaluable expertise, resources and guidance, Bloomwell ensures that employees receive the support they need to navigate their grief with dignity and care. This not only fosters a more compassionate workplace but also promotes overall well-being and productivity. Janet’s experience, along with her personal and professional commitment to making a difference in people’s lives, is remarkable.”
– Stacy McCrory, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Owner of TwoCan Retreats
My journey with grief started when my mom, Cass, died of breast cancer on the day I graduated from high school. I was 18 and my entire world has just been turned upside down. Moving through the loss of the most important person in my life, I found myself alone and navigating the start of my university career. This was in 1995, before the internet or social media. I had few resources and even further outlets for my grief. I turned to overworking and actively avoided grieving for many years. In many ways, I thought I could outrun my grief if I just worked harder. It didn’t take long before the mental and physical toll of those strategies caught up to me. Over the last 17 years, I have climbed the ranks of a large public sector institution, from analyst to executive. I have led large-scale organizational transformation projects and major social policy initiatives. I mobilized large teams through a global pandemic, managing crises and implementing high profile, national programs.
On the 25th anniversary of my Mom’s death, I was caught in a grief whirlwind, unsure of how to navigate missing her for more than half my life. I decided that I wanted to honour her memory and write a bit about my own story, in the hopes that it might inspire other motherless daughters to do the same. That is how the Motherlove Project was born and after five years, over 120 women from around the world have shared their stories of love and loss. This is now a global platform for motherless daughters to connect, build community and feel seen in their grief. Through this work, I have become a vocal and recognized grief awareness advocate and educator. I also know how tough being a manager can be, having led teams for over 12 years. The pressure is intense from all sides and in our post-pandemic world, managers are carrying a heavy load. I bring not only a wealth of expertise and experience, but also my own deeply personal understanding of what it means to be a griever.
Let’s collaborate to ensure a transformative experience.