We had the good fortune of connecting with Debra Mueller and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Debra, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is tricky. A part of me is very risk averse but another part is intrigued by possibilities. This requires me to consider risk carefully. I am usually quite methodical when evaluating possible losses and gains. I’ve done it most of my life, so I can usually do a lot of the work in my mind but I will turn to paper and weigh the pros and cons and ways to improve my desired outcomes.

Taking risks has provided me with the opportunity to travel the country for 2.5 months, facilitate international workshops, explore multiple business and career opportunities, and build a life more aligned with my authentic self. I can’t pinpoint why I’ve taken the risks I have but I think there were a number of factors that aligned and I felt confident whatever the outcome it would be worth it to me.

Words that echo in my mind are from an interview with Christina Ricci when I was a teenager where she said very few things were permanent. I don’t remember the exact quote but the essence was you can leave an unhappy marriage, find a new career, rebuild wealth, etc. If a risk has the potential to improve my life without consequences that go against my comfort and values, I will highly consider it. If nothing else I’ll have a story to tell!

What should our readers know about your business?
C Suite Wellness started in 2018 with an idea that professionals would be more willing to engage in wellness and mental health services if they could access them more conveniently and with less stigma. Telehealth was the obvious choice to make that a reality.

In late 2022, I noticed a shift in the job market with multiple companies laying off employees. Employees seemed to be overwhelmed with how the hiring process has changed and where to start. Social workers are notorious for identifying needs and creating solutions, so I decided to provide services to help professionals not only land a job but to strategically design a career plan that aligned with their goals and needs. It seemed like the perfect evolution for C Suite Wellness.

In 2023, I became tired of hearing “work isn’t supposed to be fun” to justify toxic work environments and unhappiness at work. I started to see an even bigger mission for C Suite Wellness and set out to spread the message that work can and should be a tool to help you live your life, not consume it.

The process has not been easy. It takes more than creating a solution that meets people’s needs – people need to find you! I underestimated the amount of marketing required to get what I consider a vital message out into the world. And by all means, I am NOT a marketer. This required a lot of learning new skills, learning to change how I look at and think about things, and connecting with experts. I also had to fail a lot. I used to be very afraid of failing but I now approach the opportunity to fail as the opportunity to see what happens. Experiments are way more fun than inevitable failure!

My goal for C Suite Wellness is to be the go-to for occupational wellness where employees can explore their innermost desires and goals and business leaders can look for expertise in building cultures of wellness. Services will always be backed by research and customized to the needs of the customers. I am a big believer that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to occupational wellness!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Southern Arizona is a magical place! I may be biased by what my mom planned for me when I first visited in December 2017 but those are now the staples for any of my visitors: San Xavier Mission, Old Tucson, Wisdom’s for a fruit burro, and Santa Cruz Chili & Spice Company.

Through my own exploration I would add a tea soda from Transit Tea, coffee from Savaya, a walk through Sabino Canyon, a drive up to Mt Lemmon while listening to the Science Tour app, watching the sunset at Gates Pass, seeing the city lights from Campbell Lookout, and people watching at the UA campus, 4th Ave, and downtown.

Of course we would consume as much food as possible! The tortillas in the region are unlike any I’ve ever had before! My go-to breakfast burrito spot is Taqueria El Pueblito. We’d have to taste test for the best Sonoran dog and have a meal at El Charro. I wouldn’t be a good friend if we didn’t hit as many brunch spots as possible: Prep & Pastry, Bobo’s, Blue Willow, Bisbee Breakfast Club, Café à la C’Art!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am humbled to have a large community that has supported my journey! My parents have always been my greatest supporters. Kim Byrd will likely never know the life-changing effect her patience and willingness to share her story impacted my own. Rotaract of Casper Young Professionals and Rotary District 5440 played a significant role in my leadership journey. Countless friends and family members kept me going in the darkest times. Meg Riley was a big part of my transition from Wyoming to Arizona. Sherry McClurkin of Rebellious Emotional Balance and Daphne Russell of Books Save Lives kept me going when building a business seemed too hard. It would be remiss of me to not mention Tucson Young Professionals, Tucson Thrive, and SCORE Southern Arizona Mentors who have helped connect me to the most amazing people!

Website: www.csuitewellness.org

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debraamueller/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/csuitewellnessllc

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