Become a ROW Captain – roles open now!

What is the close date and process?

The close date will be Wednesday 16 July at 5pm (NZST). After a quick review of registrations, there will be a meet and chat with Sarah McGuinness (me, founder) and Sarah Ratima Nolan. We’ll then aim to have our first intro training session in early August. Our first focus will be on getting the ROW’D Show up and running.

What are squads?

ROW Squads are small, local groups of passionate people who care about wellbeing at work and want to be part of something bigger. Each squad meets regularly, either online or in person, to connect, share ideas, support one another, and take small, practical actions that make a difference.

Think of them as grassroots teams that help drive the ROW movement forward from the ground up – spreading ideas, creating momentum, and making real change where they are. They’re how we connect local action to a global conversation. The squad could be based around being like a book club, or guest speakers, or simply a coffee catch-up. Whatever works.

At the end of each session, the Captain will upload relevant information from the catch-up into the portal, which will enable us to collectively capture and share (it’ll be accessible to you) what’s happening across the world. Very cool.

Why are they called Captains and not Champions?

I chose the word Captain deliberately. Lots of organisations already use the term Wellbeing Champion, and it can mean different things depending on the setting. I didn’t want to add to the confusion.

Captain gives this role a clearer identity – something instantly recognisable across regions and roles. It signals leadership, care for the team, and a sense of responsibility, while keeping it all very community-focused. As a Captain, you’re not in charge of everything. Rather, you’re helping steer the ship.

How is being a ROW Captain similar or different to a wellbeing champion at work?

There are definitely overlaps, and this role is loosely based on the idea of wellbeing champions at work. Both roles involve caring about wellbeing, creating positive change, and connecting people. But being a ROW Captain is slightly different.

You’re not a port of call for wellbeing issues, and you’re not responsible for checking in on anyone’s wellbeing. Instead, you’re creating space for people to connect, share ideas, and build momentum for change, especially for those who work in wellbeing roles, lead workplace initiatives, or just care deeply about this stuff.

In short, it’s not about providing wellbeing support. Rather, it’s about creating connection, visibility, and movement around workplace wellbeing – both locally and globally.

Will I have to take on a region all by myself?

Not at all. Captains may choose to share the role with a co-captain, and I encourage it! It lightens the load and brings different strengths to the group.

Once you’re underway, I suggest having a conversation early on to clarify how you’ll divide responsibilities. For example, one of you might take the lead on organising meetups, while the other handles communication or facilitation. It’s also helpful to talk about how you’ll manage decisions or disagreements if they come up. ROW is here to support you, but having that conversation upfront means fewer surprises down the track.

What are the benefits of the role?

Because this is a volunteer role, we want to make sure it’s enjoyable, motivating, and fulfilling and definitely not draining or overwhelming. After all, we’re all about wellbeing!

To support you, ROW commits to:

• Making sure you feel valued and appreciated for the time and skills you bring.
• Providing opportunities for personal and professional growth.
• Keeping you connected with clear communication, reliable points of contact, and peer support.
• Building a movement that energises and motivates, while helping you avoid burnout.
• Supporting smooth handovers and succession planning when it’s time to step down.
• Protecting your privacy and keeping your personal information confidential.

ROW’s guidelines and policies are based on New Zealand law. For those in other regions, we may need your help navigating local laws or regulations to get your role and the squad up and running. You won’t need to handle any legal or regulatory complexities yourself – you’ll simply be our local person to help us understand the context so we can do this right and keep the movement moving forward.

Skills you can gain from this role:

As a volunteer, you’ll have the opportunity to develop valuable skills such as:

• Deepening your understanding of workplace wellbeing and how to influence it.
• Organising and problem-solving.
• Collaborating positively within small groups.
• Facilitating conversations and group activities.
• Applying critical thinking.
• Motivating and supporting others.
• Building inclusive, community-focused spaces.
• Planning for smooth succession and handovers.

Training and support:

We want this to be as much a professional development opportunity as an opportunity to contribute to global change. We’ll provide:

• Access to onboarding training (live or recorded)
• Ongoing opportunities to connect, share ideas, and learn with fellow Captains and the ROW team
• A Digital Captain Kit with templates, guides, and comms tools
• Optional monthly drop-in calls and peer forums
• Recognition via shout-outs, resources, and spotlight features in our communications including on the website, newsletters and social media.

Why is this a volunteer role?

ROW is a social enterprise – a for-profit business with a social mission at its heart.

Right now, the business isn’t able to pay volunteers and legally, I can’t promise that it will in the future. But I also know that for many, being part of this work isn’t about the pay – it’s about the impact we all want to have and working together to achieve that.

I have chosen a for-profit model (with the help of some excellent mentors) because it gives us the best shot at being sustainable. ROW has weathered awful recessions, shifting business priorities, and the unpredictable cycles of investment in wellbeing at work. I have learned the hard way that we need to be able to keep going even when money is lean.

I’ve thought hard about the various ways to keep ROW financially afloat. In the not-for-profit world, funding is incredibly difficult to secure, and there is a very small pool of funding to go around a huge number of worthy groups. I don’t see it as a benefit for them or us to put further pressure on that sector by adding ourselves to the list.

So, for ROW, we need to do things differently. By generating income through memberships, training, and business projects, ROW can sustain itself, grow on its terms, and stay deeply aligned to its purpose while being independently sustainable. This approach also lets ROW reinvest in the mission, stay nimble, and be durable for the long term. We may seek sponsors from time to time, but these have clear and defined boundaries, such as to help us host events.

I also want to be really clear: I believe in fair pay for skilled work. Many of us have experienced being underpaid or asked to give more than what’s reasonable (and I happily call that out too – see recent LinkedIn post). But that’s not what this is. This is about choosing to contribute your time and expertise to a cause you believe in, on your own terms, with full transparency.

I recognise that your time, energy, and skills are valuable. Taking on one of these roles has to be worth it for you. That’s my commitment to you – to make sure your experience is rewarding, purposeful, and connected to real impact. I want you to get a lot out of it!

These roles are for people who feel deeply connected to what ROW stands for. With that in mind, our preference is to offer these opportunities to ROW Revolutionaries – people who know our mission, share the vision, and are committed to building it with us.

We want you to join us – to break burnout culture for good. Register to be a Captain now!

Any further questions? All good! Email your questions here