Filipa Costa’s Post

Pets are a big aspect of our lives - I have a dog and a 30 gallon fish tank of my own at home. PetSmart is one of the most important brands when it comes to pet care, and I can't count how many times I've stepped into one to buy supplies for my pets. And I must say, the experience I have at their stores is much better than other pet stores I have visited. This experience is no accident. From top to bottom the company cares deeply about experience from customer to employee - and they recognize the important blend of those two experiences to drive growth and success in their stores. An example of this is, Central Bark, PetSmart's mobile-first #corporatecommunications tool. Central Bark has been a significant success, as it has truly transformed the associate communication model while outperforming adoption rate and engagement goals. Central Bark is up for a Best of Arizona award and you can help them win! If you're a fan of pets, show some love to the PetSmart team and give them a vote. I'm including the link to their entry in the comments, and it only takes about a minute to vote. Their entry also includes many screenshots of Central Bark - it's a very impressive experience! Best of luck to the team!! #employeesuperapp #employeecommunications #employeeexpereince

Meet my client, Taylor. I met Taylor when her dog escaped from her home, and I happened to be at a client's home a few doors down, so I was able to get Luna. One thing led to the next, and she explained how challenging it was to balance her work, social, and family (Luna) life. Luna was not good with her boyfriend's dog, and she was challenged in taking Luna on walks and to busy places. Taylor is super dedicated and determined. We forged forward, and the improvements and changes motivated her to keep going. As with all programs, there were humps and bumps, but Taylor was able to implement the method into her ever-changing life. I was so thrilled to see this post of her with Luna AND to see there is an addition to her family! Not only that, they are participating in the "bring your dog to work day" at the busy restaurant where she works. One of the main reasons dogs are surrendered is because it is just simply too challenging to include dogs into work, social, and family activities. By applying the method that works best for that dog, which can be different for different dogs and for the same dog at different life stages, pet parents see changes and improvements, leading to encouragement, motivation, and patience. The bond improves, and the process becomes less of a challenge, and more of a journey and adventure. Many communities, recreational places, and workplaces are incorporating pet friendly activities and acknowledging the benefits of recognizing pets as family members. Not only is this good for the businesses and communities, but also for the pet parent! I am so proud of Taylor and so happy for Luna and her new pal! What activities do you enjoy doing with your dog? Is your community pet-friendly? For more pet friendly suggestions, check out Wagtown, Inc. and Morty's Bark & Brew #doglovers #dogtraining #innovation #dogmoms #caninebehavior #inclusivity #family #pets #animalwelfare #petsarefamily #animallovers #humananimalbond #dogrescue #dogadoption #dogbehaviorist #bethechange #resilience #womenleaders #womeninnovators #dogs #animals #workplace #clientrelations #cognition #emotions

Pet-friendly offices might be (one of) the best motivators! I love that we’re able to cross paths with both human and canine colleagues at Royal Canin, because the latter bring numerous benefits to the workplace. I recently came across a very interesting article that shared testimonials from Associates at Mars Petcare India. They observed the positive impact of bringing their dogs to work, both on themselves and their colleagues. The presence of pets contributes to positivity in the workplace, enhances efficiency, and strengthens social relationships, among other benefits (I can speak out of my own experience with Filloa and Gyoza!). It's incredible to see how pets can reduce stress and anxiety by lowering our cortisol levels and increasing our dopamine, the hormone of happiness. It's all positive, whether at home or at work! Read the full testimonials here: https://lnkd.in/dxyZRqit. And for you, what are the benefits of having your pet at work? #RoyalCanin #ProudlyRoyalCanin #MarsPetcare #PetsAtWork #PetFriendlyOffice #ABetterWorldForPets

2,815 days later... Years (yes, years - SIX years to be exact) after I quit my great job to pursue the dream of Wagtown, Inc., I was beyond excited to be featured in Rover.com's The Dog People as the #dogfriendlyexpert® Today marks the second anniversary of that article. It popped up and made me think back on my journey to where I am today. Why didn't it happen until now - 2,816 days later? How the heck did I get here? Why is everything suddenly coming together now? I call it the possibilitarian mosh pit phenomenon. I know. It's a mouthful. Let me explain. From the minute I took that leap, I expected a screaming free fall. Nope. It wasn't a skydiving adventure. It was a mosh pit of serendipity. My now friend Faz and I share the love of the word and concept of "possibilitarian." I heard it first in 2007 and tucked it into the favorite word folder in my brain. Years later, I used #possibilitarian and it drew in Faz - who has owned that dot com for years. It turns out that Faz is connected to some very impactful and authentic people in the innovation, equity, and animal welfare space. My kind of people. All that from a single word uttered in my office. But, this goes back even further. Back in 2017, I attended an event called BlogPaws. It was an amazing experience. Even though I was honored to receive the Founders Award in 2018, I was still pretty clueless about my trajectory. I'd committed to let the journey and insights find me. I was pretty wide-eyed for a few years. At the time, I had only done face-to-face interviews with fifty or so community leaders. Now, after more than 800, I look back and am wowed at how a single event can have incredible impact - particularly with a blank whiteboard supporting me. There I met so many people and wandered around with my head in the clouds from their stories. This group was special. They instilled in me a passion for finding the "good eggs." The empathy, enthusiasm, & innovation was contagious. I had more of all three when I left. Everyone did. Fast forward to an email from one of those kind people. Carol Bryant had been following my work for all these years. She cheered me on when I released my first children's book, frequently engages with my updates here, and - - reached out to me when asked to write on my heart and soul: authentic and responsible dog friendliness as an economic driver, equitable community builder, humane behavior booster, and market value improvement. This single article added to my traction bucket - - - YEARS later. My point: play the long game. It allows room for genuine relationships to develop with people that are/were "out of your league." Before long, you'll be out of the dog house and running with the big dogs. Sorry, couldn't leave you without dropping dog puns. “We have a population of believers in the human-animal bond with influential spending capacity and a ‘where can I go with my dog’ attitude.” (Miller, 2022) Keep wagging! Beth

The following Pet Partners post is Piper-approved: Numerous studies have shown that when people take just a few moments to pet an animal, their stress is reduced. Research also shows that animals in the workplace often lead to more productive coworker interaction, increased trust levels between colleagues, and more effective collaboration. Bring therapy animals to your workplace today by partnering with Pet Partners: https://lnkd.in/gcgaXjfe

"I’ve worked at Petsmart for 19 years. I like it there because I’m treated just like everyone else, and my hours are pretty flexible. My most favourite part is when people bring in their pets. My most favourite thing about work there is covering cash because I get to see all the dogs coming in. Also, they all made a big fuss when I brought my medal in after winning bronze at the Special Olympics World Games for soccer in Berlin, Germany." - Jenny Murray, Special Olympics Edmonton. Our athletes are just as talented off the field as they are on and make great additions to any workplace. Do you know of an employer who goes above and beyond to make the workplace inclusive? Tag them in the comments below! 👇 #DEAM #inclusiveemployment #inclusivesport #disabilityemployment #disabilityawareness #specialoalberta

For years, companies strived to provide the 'Apple Experience'. I would argue Chewy is now the benchmark for client experience. They have turned product into personalization, and taken the rare step of building empathy and compassion into their business model. Imagine your #insurance #Carrier sending a heart-felt note when your home burns down (instead of a cold form letter), or a get-well card when they know you are hospitalized from an #autoaccident . All companies that claim to be service-based could learn a thing or two from understanding and acting based on the motivations of their #customers .

Join us in our mission to elevate workplace fulfilment and wellbeing for all veterinary professionals. Discover how embracing authenticity in leadership can drive sustainable business transformation. Together, we can assist you in fostering a nurturing environment where your team members feel valued and integral to your practice's success. Drop us a DM today to learn more! #EmployeeEngagement #TeamDevelopment #SustainableVeterinaryBusiness #VeterinaryPracticeGrowth #VeterinaryProfessionals

Why Brands Are Like Pets: A Deep Dive into Trust, Comfort, and Brand Love On National Pet Day - I have been thinking about brands and pets..prompted by my job as a brand strategist and my love of my pets, I began to think about the similar role they both fill in our lives - interestingly both help us define who we are, and provide trust, companionship, comfort, assurance and joy. Further more brands like pets thrive when they have set boundaries, clear direction, care, attention and investment. Want to know more? Check out my blog post https://wix.to/E9DqIaN #newblogpost Think Collectiv

On #WorldMentalHealthDay, remember that whatever challenges you may be facing, you are not alone. There is strength in seeking support from peers. Find advice and tips from fellow veterinary professionals on how to navigate these challenges. #veterinarymedicine