Workplace Alcohol Culture, Burnout & Women’s Wellbeing
Speaking & Consulting with Amy C. Willis
Alcohol is one of the most normalized - and least examined - factors impacting women’s health, wellbeing, and performance at work.
In high-pressure environments, alcohol is often positioned as a reward, a coping tool, or a social expectation. But beneath that, it’s quietly contributing to burnout, disengagement, absenteeism, and long-term health risks.
My work helps organizations understand what’s actually happening and what to do about it.
This isn’t just a wellbeing issue - it’s a performance, culture, and leadership issue.
Media & Features
Amy’s work and insights have been featured on CHCH Morning Live, CBC Radio, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Best Health (Reader's Digest) and other media, contributing to national conversations on alcohol culture, women’s health, and behaviour change.
She is known for translating complex, often overlooked topics into clear, accessible insight for broad audiences.
What I Do
I deliver evidence-informed, thought-provoking talks and workshops that challenge assumptions, reduce stigma, and offer practical, relevant insight.
This is not generic wellness content.
It’s a direct, nuanced look at how alcohol culture intersects with:
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burnout and stress
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workplace performance and productivity
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gender norms and expectations
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mental health and coping strategies
Audiences leave with a clearer understanding of the issue and a more informed perspective on how to navigate it individually and collectively.
Speaking Topics
Women, Alcohol, and Burnout
How high-performing women use alcohol to cope with stress — and how it often reinforces burnout, exhaustion, and decreased capacity at work
Rethinking Workplace Drinking Culture
How normalized alcohol use shows up in networking, leadership, and team dynamics — and the hidden impact on inclusion, decision-making, and performance
Alcohol, Performance, and Cognitive Capacity
The connection between drinking, focus, energy, resilience, and leadership presence — and what it means for individual and organizational performance
Supporting Change Without Shame or One-Size-Fits-All Solutions
Why traditional approaches often fall short — and how organizations can better support women and LGBTQ+ employees in ways that are realistic, inclusive, and effective
Sessions are tailored to your organization’s goals, audience, and priorities, including women’s groups, leadership teams, and LGBTQ+ communities.
Format Options
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Keynote presentations
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45–60 minute workshops
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Lunch & learns
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ERG sessions (women’s groups, leadership groups, etc.)
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Panel participation
Why This Matters
Alcohol doesn’t just impact individuals and communities; it also impacts organizations.
In Canada, substance use cost the economy $49.1 billion in 2020. Lost productivity alone accounted for $22.4 billion, driven by absenteeism, reduced performance, and long-term health impacts.*
Alcohol is a significant contributor, representing over $19 billion of these costs*, making it one of the most normalized and least examined factors affecting employee wellbeing and performance.
It contributes to:
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absenteeism and presenteeism
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reduced focus and productivity
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burnout and turnover
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increased healthcare costs
Because it’s normalized, it often goes unaddressed.
Employers are uniquely positioned to address this through policy, awareness, culture, and meaningful support.
This work brings clarity to an issue that directly affects performance, culture, and wellbeing without shame or oversimplification.
About Amy C. Willis
Amy C. Willis is a sober coach, educator, and speaker specializing in women’s relationships with alcohol and the impact of alcohol culture on health, wellbeing, and performance.
Her work sits at the intersection of lived experience, research, and behaviour change. Over the past six years, she has worked closely with women navigating burnout, high-pressure environments, and the often-invisible role alcohol plays in how they cope.
Amy brings a nuanced, non-judgmental perspective to a topic that is widely normalized yet rarely examined in a meaningful way particularly in workplace settings.
She is regularly featured on television, podcasts, and in public conversations on alcohol culture, women’s health, and behaviour change, and is known for translating complex ideas into clear, practical insight that resonates with modern audiences.
Bring This Work to Your Organization
Alcohol culture impacts more than individual wellbeing: it affects focus, decision-making, leadership capacity, and overall performance.
Organizations that are willing to look at this more closely are better positioned to support their teams and strengthen long-term outcomes, positively impacting both individual and organizational health.
If you’re ready to bring this conversation into your organization in a thoughtful and informed way, I’d be glad to connect. If you’d like to explore bringing this work to your organization, click below and include a few details (organization, audience, and timeline) in your message.