Elevating Workplace Wellbeing: An Alum Q&A with Jen Diaz Green

In today's dynamic professional landscape, fostering a supportive and thriving work environment is paramount. Trinity College Dublin's Postgraduate Certificate in Workplace Wellness is designed for leaders and professionals eager to cultivate well-being beyond traditional health initiatives, impacting team cohesion, productivity, and overall business success. 

We recently spoke with Jen Diaz Green a School Director at an English language school in Dublin and a past student of our PG Cert in Workplace Wellness. Jen shares her transformative journey, highlighting how the course redefined her understanding of wellness and empowered her to become a vocal advocate on the subject. 

Q: Could you tell us about who you are and what you do? 

"I'm currently a School Director at an English language school here in Dublin. My academic background is in languages and education, with both a degree and a master's in education. For the past 15 years, however, my focus has primarily been in management and leadership roles." 

Q: What initially led you to consider a postgraduate course, and how did you discover the Workplace Wellness programme? 

"My initial plan was to find a leadership course on the Springboard website to upgrade my CV and formally validate my existing leadership experience. Honestly, I didn't feel particularly inspired by this but it felt like the 'logical' next step. That's when I stumbled upon the Postgraduate Certificate in Workplace Wellness, and I was instantly drawn to it. Wellness is one of my core personal values, and this course beautifully combined that with leadership principles. It was genuinely perfect for me!" 

Q: Did you have any reservations before applying for the course? 

"My only concern was the amount of paperwork involved – gathering references and various documents. I did encounter a few difficulties with some of the requirements, but the Springboard and Trinity staff were incredibly helpful. Their support made the process smooth and hassle-free in the end." 

Q: What did you enjoy most about your experience on the course? 

"I absolutely loved the blended learning approach. Having half the course on campus was fantastic; I really enjoyed attending classes and feeling like a student again, especially since I did my master's at Trinity 19 years ago – it was a great return! The online component offered excellent comfort and flexibility. Meeting so many like-minded people from diverse backgrounds was another highlight; the group collaborations were inspiring, and I learned a tremendous amount from everyone. What truly stood out was how practical and relatable the assignments were, even the most academic ones. They were genuinely very useful." 

Q: What would you say was your biggest takeaway from the Workplace Wellness course? 

"My biggest revelation was understanding that wellness extends far beyond just supporting physical and mental health in the workplace. I gained so much insight into wellness norms and discovered new ways to support my team effectively. Learning about ethical leadership was profound, but the absolute highlight was gaining the skills to design and implement a comprehensive wellness programme." 

Q: How has the course helped you in your current professional role, and what unexpected opportunities arose? 

"Primarily, the course has directly helped me support my team in the school by providing a structured framework and new ideas for practices I was already intuitively doing. But a truly significant realisation came about a month into the course. I decided, quite boldly, to speak about wellness and everything I was learning at an international conference for English language education. I had attended these conferences for years but never as a speaker. The conference was six months away, allowing me to prepare alongside the course. 

I was nervous, as wellness is typically a minority topic at these education-focused conferences. Yet, to my immense surprise, my 40-minute session had a full room – I even needed extra chairs for people who kept arriving! This experience vividly showed me a huge demand and thirst for knowledge on wellness in the professional world. It confirmed that the business of wellness is only going to grow." 

Q: What are your hopes and ambitions for the future in this field? 

"I have a tremendous passion for wellness, and my ambition is to continue speaking about it. I want to keep sharing how crucial it is, not only for the general well-being of team members but also for how deeply wellness supports team cohesion, bonding, effectiveness, and overall productivity, making a tangible difference in businesses and companies. I firmly believe wellness is becoming even more vital in our lives and workplaces, and getting into this field now presents a significant opportunity for both personal growth and meaningful contribution." 

Jen's experience vividly illustrates how the Postgraduate Certificate in Workplace Wellness goes beyond traditional upskilling, opening doors to new insights, practical application, and impactful leadership opportunities. If you're ready to champion a holistic approach to wellbeing in your organisation, this course could be your next strategic move. 

Ready to lead with wellness? Discover more about the Postgraduate Certificate in Workplace Wellness at Trinity College Dublin and take the first step towards transforming your workplace!