Ryan Picarella

About Ryan Picarella

Ryan Picarella is a globally recognized leader in well-being, organizational transformation, and social impact. For more than two decades, he has worked with communities, organizations, and leaders around the world to ignite movements that improve the health and well-being of individuals, workplaces, and societies.Known for his thought leadership and ability to challenge conventional thinking, Ryan has collaborated with Fortune 500 companies, advised global organizations, and delivered keynote presentations at international conferences focused on health, leadership, well-being, and the future of work.Ryan currently serves as Executive Director of the Wellness Alliance, an affiliate of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, where he leads strategy, education, and global events advancing the field of workplace well-being. He also serves on the leadership team supporting the Work Futures Initiative, a collaboration with University of California, Berkeley and the Interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Workplaces focused on shaping the future of healthy and sustainable work.Throughout his career, Ryan has held several influential leadership and advisory roles, including serving on the board of the National Wellness Institute, as CEO of the Wellness Council of America, as an advisor to the International WELL Building Institute, and collaborating with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.In addition to his leadership roles, Ryan serves as a Senior Fellow with WE in the World, where he focuses on advancing well-being, equity, and human flourishing globally. He is also the founder of Conscious Disruption, a transformation-focused initiative dedicated to helping individuals and organizations rethink systems, challenge outdated paradigms, and create healthier, more conscious futures.Ryan holds a Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northern Arizona University.

Experience

1. Executive Director

   Wellness Alliance

   Jan 2024 — Present

   Ryan Picarella has worked with communities and organizations around the world to ignite social movements while improving the lives of all people. Widely known for his thought leadership, Ryan has worked with Fortune 500 companies, been a keynote speaker at global conferences and currently serves as executive director of wellness programming for the International Foundation of Employee Benefits overseeing all wellness related education and events, including the National Wellness Institute, the Wellness Council of America and the Arts and Science of Health Promotion conference series. He is also a senior fellow with WE in the Nation focusing on well-being and equity around the world and is founder of Conscious Disruption, a firm dedicated to personal and organizational transformation. Ryan has a Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northern Arizona University.

Education

• The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

  M.S, Industrial and Organizational Psychology

  2004 — 2006

• Northern Arizona University

  B.S ., Psychology

  1998 — 2001

Skills

• Leadership
• Employee Benefits
• Process Improvement
• Executive Coaching
• Customer Relationship Management (Crm)
• Consulting
• Project Management
• Coaching
• Program Management
• Recruiting
• Performance Management
• Crm
• Employee Relations
• Change Management
• Talent Management
• Leadership Development
• Business Process Improvement
• Data Analysis
• Human Resources
• Training
• Management Consulting
• Organizational Development
• Management
• Team Building
• Employee Engagement
• Healthcare