As we come to the end of 2021 and look forward to the year ahead, we spoke to a few members of our team to hear their personal highlights and reflections.
Rachel Winzer, Senior Manager, Clinical Innovation
Tell us about one personal or professional highlight from this year
It has been quite the year for me! I started 2021 living in New York during the pandemic, and in the spring, after many months apart, I moved to England to be with my partner and continue my work at Compass. The feeling of relief stepping off that plane! I will never forget it.
What is one learning you will take with you into next year?
This ties into another highlight from the year, which was getting to see all of my team members in person. Connecting face-to-face is something we have missed over the last two years and I was reminded of how impactful and important it is – to see the full humanity of your colleagues is so valuable. I am truly grateful for these experiences.
Do you have any goals or resolutions for 2022?
My goals for the work we are doing at Compass are ambitious and exciting, and I also aim to focus on team wellbeing. I envision us charging ahead to improve the lives of patients and therapists, while being intentional and taking good care of ourselves.
Tell us about one personal or professional highlight from this year
Working alongside teams from the NHS, academia, and industry to contribute to the UK Government’s Life Sciences Vision and help define new approaches for accelerating access to innovation has been a personal and professional highlight.
What is one learning you will take with you into next year?
Sometimes it’s important to slow down to speed up (or to go slow to go fast).
Do you have any goals or resolutions for 2022?
Next year I intend to be more present, create more art, foster more wonder, practise more gratitude, and be more active. I also want to learn to stand on my hands.
Armin Khayatian, Corporate Development Manager
Amy Lawrence, Director of Communications
Tell us about one personal or professional highlight from this year
2021 was a year of change! Probably the biggest is that my family and I moved out of London – my home for the last 15 years and somewhere I never thought I would leave. Moving to the coast has been amazing and I have not looked back. We miss our friends and the buzz of city life, but being close to the sea brings a sense of calm and openness I didn’t realise I had been craving.
What is one learning you will take with you into next year?
I’ve learnt that it’s important to try new things, even if they scare you. It’s the changes, big and small, that help to reinvigorate everyday life.
Do you have any goals or resolutions for 2022?
Since moving close to the sea, I’ve jumped on the cold water swimming bandwagon. For 2022 I’m going to try to swim three times a week all year around – even when it snows!