About the Institute
Built by leaders who have carried it.
A women-owned institute in Ontario, Canada, bringing executive development, organizational advisory, and a nurse practitioner-led executive health clinic into one coordinated model.
Why We Exist
Leaders were being asked to choose.
Perform in the role, or stay whole in it. Development, advisory, and health support lived in separate silos, so none of it held under real pressure.
We built one integrated team of business leaders, coaches, clinicians, and change experts working from one plan, so senior leaders can sustain the work they were hired to do.
Founder & Chief Experience Officer
Brit Watson
MPH · MCPM · PCCP · PMP
Fifteen years leading large-scale transformation in healthcare and government, including senior roles at Ontario Health and Trillium Gift of Life Network. Brit founded an international ECHO project manager collaborative and co-led the launch of the first Project ECHO Ontario Mental Health curriculum with CAMH and the University of Toronto. She teaches at the college level and sits on Fanshawe College’s Program Advisory Council.
“I built this Institute for leaders carrying what I’ve carried. You shouldn’t have to choose between performing in the role and staying whole in it.”
Our Team
Programs & Facilitation
Senior leaders who moved into second careers as coaches, designers, and facilitators, so they know the pressure from the inside.
Dave Paquette
BA (Gov.), MA (PPA)
Program Designer, Instructor & Executive Coach
A management consultant and executive coach with more than 30 years working alongside senior leaders and boards. Dave has led post-amalgamation integrations, strategic planning, restructuring, and interim executive leadership across the mental health and community sectors, and delivers Carver policy governance training for boards. He is the author of How to Be a Great Leader.
Margaret (MJ) Jennings
BA (HR), BA (Psych), MA (Adult L&D)
Professional Coach & Learning Designer
An IFS Certified Coach with more than 17 years coaching individuals and teams. MJ designs the reflection instruments and development planning tools that help leaders turn insight into lasting change.
Heather Shrumm
BSW, RSW
Leadership Development Facilitator & Clinician
More than 20 years in counseling and psychotherapy, and senior leadership experience as a former director in the mental health and community sector. Heather brings deep expertise in burnout, menopause and hormone health, and building teams that hold together under pressure.
Integrated Executive Health Clinic
Clinical Team
Regulated clinicians, each practicing within their own scope of registration. Care is 100% confidential and delivered virtually across Ontario.
Melisse DeDobbeleer
Clinic Director
Melisse leads the Institute’s clinical practice. Her career spans psychotherapy, social work, marriage and family therapy, and systems work, with decades of experience supporting senior leaders and C-suite clients.
Tamarah (Tami) Harel
RP
Registered Psychotherapist
Depth-oriented, culturally responsive therapy for high-functioning professionals navigating identity, major transitions, burnout, and anxiety. Before becoming a therapist, Tami spent 20 years in public affairs and communications supporting health system leaders. CRPO #15900; member of the Canadian Association of Psychodynamic Therapists.
Heather Shrumm
BSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
Individual counseling for leaders navigating burnout, transition, and the weight of senior roles, informed by her own years as a director.
Also on our clinical team: nurse practitioners and naturopathic doctors providing assessment, bloodwork, coordinated referrals, and integrative care.
Proud partner of the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators. Serving Canada and the U.S.
Let’s talk, leader to leader.
Tell us what your leaders are carrying and we’ll show you how the pieces fit.
