PRIMARY Spotlight: Mike Veny, Inc.
The concept of health and wellness often brings images of fitness, nutrition, self-care, and doctors to mind. However, emotional wellness, which is incredibly important for effectively working through challenges and changes throughout our days, is often overlooked.
PRIMARY Member Mike Veny took the mental health challenges he had been facing since he was a child and turned them into a thriving career.
We sat down with Veny to learn more about his journey… and, of course, his favorite aspects of PRIMARY!
Can you tell us more about yourself and what you do?
I am the CEO of Mike Veny, Inc. and a Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist®.
The business began with me being a mental health speaker, writer, and author. Over the years, it evolved into something much more significant.
Nowadays, Mike Veny, Inc.'s mission is to support you in discovering the gift of emotional wellness through unique learning experiences designed to empower your personal and professional growth. When you are emotionally well, you will be more productive.
We are committed to upskilling and reskilling employees by delivering relevant and engaging learning experiences on adaptable, human-centric skills and well-being that can be implemented quickly and consistently. In addition to raving reviews from clients, our company is accredited by IACET, SHRM, and HRCI for its continuing education.
As a course publisher, we’ve partnered with OpenSesame, and our courses are exclusively in the OpenSesame Plus catalog. Our eLearning Courses are used globally by Fortune 500 organizations. Our library also includes guided meditations designed exclusively for the OpenSesame platform, along with the Relax and Be Emotionally Well™ app, with our proprietary formula to ensure they are inclusive, trauma-sensitive, and use transformational language.
We are accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). Mike Veny, Inc. complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, Mike Veny, Inc. is accredited to issue the IACET CEU. SHRM also recognizes Mike Veny, Inc. to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® and we are a Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) Accredited Provider.
How did you get into that space?
*TW: If you are in crisis or if you are experiencing thoughts of self-harm, please seek help immediately. Dial 988 (in the USA) to contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, where trained professionals are available to assist you. You can call, text, or chat to access the support you need.
Mental illness has been a recurring theme throughout my life, and often the way it’s discovered is through behavior. As a child, my behavior problems got me expelled from several schools, I attempted to die by suicide at age 10, and I spent a lot of time in mental hospitals. But even then, I had a knack for getting through to people – I persuaded the hospital staff to let me go home.
In fifth grade, I discovered my love for drumming by tapping pencils on my desk. I didn't know it then, but drumming would become my healing force and career. Immediately after I finished high school, I became a professional drummer.
This evolved into me leading drumming workshops for kids with disabilities and helping people in recovery and businesses through team building. But in 2011, everything came crashing down in New York City.
I had a severe mental health breakdown and became suicidal. Once I got myself into intense treatment, I made a vow to keep going to therapy for life, no matter what, and to keep talking about my struggles without holding back. That decision has been a lifesaver for me.
What are a few things readers would be surprised to know about you?
I am obsessed with packing my suitcase. I am constantly refining my packing checklist and staying up late watching YouTube videos on packing a suitcase.
I am a hardcore meditator. I do Transcendental Meditation® for 20 minutes twice a day, every day.
I am on the waiting list for a psychiatric service dog.
Who is your target audience?
It’s mainly human resource leaders, along with learning and development leaders
Have you had any notable clients?
American Express
Microsoft
Salesforce
Heineken
Okta
Merck
Johnson & Johnson
The Wounded Warrior Project®
T-Mobile
United Federation of Teachers
How long have you been in this field?
13 years
When starting to transition to office space, what were some of your non-negotiables?
24-hour access and a professional-looking space.
How long did it take you to land at PRIMARY?
I was a member of a different co-working space in Battery Park. When they gave us 30 days' notice that it would be closing down, I immediately began searching online for alternatives in the nearby area. Several options came up, and PRIMARY was one of my top choices.
What were the essential amenities that drew you to the space?
24-hour access
Multiple spaces to work
Conference rooms
A podcast studio
A yoga studio with classes
The networking events
The barista who comes several times a week
The mail forwarding service
The most important amenity was a question I asked the person who gave me a tour of Primary. I didn’t plan on asking this question, but something in my gut told me to ask it because of the energy I felt in the space.
I asked them, “How many genuine friendships have you seen develop in this space over the years?”
They paused to think about it, then looked at me with a big smile and said, “Many”.
At that moment, it was a done deal, and I asked them to send me the paperwork to get our membership started.
What are you looking forward to this summer?
I am looking forward to a busy travel schedule, lots of speaking engagements, and enjoying the wonderful air conditioner at PRIMARY when I am home in Manhattan.
For more information on Mike Veny, visit MikeVeny.com, and follow him on Instagram and LinkedIn.