Shows
The Vita Talks HR and Benefits PodcastSupporting Parental Leave in Fast‑Growth Companies: Aligning Policy and Practice with Sophie BabinskiIn Episode 13 of Vita Talks, host Gianna Ricciardi is joined by Sophie Babinski, Principal Consultant at Pli & Repli and Co‑Founder of Manella, to explore how fast-paced organizations can better support employees through their parental leave experience. Sophie shares a compelling case study from a pre‑IPO SaaS company of over 1,000 employees. Despite strong parental leave policies and DEI values, employees returning from leave often encountered vastly changed roles, emotional disorientation, and unclear expectations, especially in a culture built for speed. Sophie and Gianna discuss how the consulting process uncovered discrepancies between policy and lived expe...2025-07-0723 min
The Vita Talks HR and Benefits PodcastFunding Models in Group Insurance: How One Company Saved $350K on the cost of their Group Benefits (Part 2)In Part 2 of this two-part series, Vita Talks host Gianna Ricciardi welcomes back John Cochrane, Founder of JD Consulting, for the conclusion of a deep dive into group insurance funding models and risk evaluation. Building on the foundational conversation in Episode 11, this episode breaks down the real-world results of a comprehensive benefits audit for a 600-employee organization. The outcome? A $350,000 cost reduction, enhanced control over reserves, and a shift to a customized ASO (Administrative Services Only) model, without adding undue risk. Hear how the client, previously on a refund accounting model for over two decades...2025-06-0216 min
The Vita Talks HR and Benefits PodcastFunding Models in Group Insurance: Understanding Risk (Part 1) with John CochraneIn Part 1 of this two-part series, host Gianna Ricciardi is joined by John Cochrane, Partner and Founder of JD Consulting, to explore the often-misunderstood world of group insurance funding and underwriting arrangements. Drawing on over 25 years of experience in employee benefits consulting, John outlines the three primary funding models—fully insured, refund (retention) accounting, and administrative services only (ASO)—and explains how each structure allocates risk between the insurer and the client. Listeners will hear a real-world scenario involving a 600-employee organization that has managed its plan directly with an insurer for over 20 years without advi...2025-05-0610 min
The Vita Talks HR and Benefits PodcastEmployee Benefits 101: What Every Small Business Needs to Know with Gianna RicciardiThinking about offering employee benefits but feeling lost? You’re not alone. Many small businesses struggle to set up group insurance that works for their team and their budget. Some plans feel too rigid, too expensive, or just too complicated. In this special Vita Talks HR & Benefits takeover episode, Dominic lafigliola turns the mic on Gianna Ricciardi, Co-Founder and Practice Leader at Vita Assure. Gianna shares a real-life case study of a small software business that struggled with setting up benefits—and how they finally found the right solution. Whether you’re an HR professional or a sma...2025-03-0321 min
The Vita Talks HR and Benefits PodcastThe Critical Role of Onboarding with Mandy Di LazzaroIn this inaugural episode of The Vita Talks Podcast, host Gianna Ricciardi welcomes Mandy Di Lazzaro, managing partner of Axxel HR, to discuss the often overlooked yet crucial process of employee onboarding. Mandy highlights the critical role of structured and consistent onboarding in employee retention and engagement, sharing a case study about a retail company that significantly improved its retention rates and employee satisfaction by revamping its onboarding process. Mandy explains the practical steps involved in effective onboarding from pre-boarding activities to the critical first 90 days including the implementation of a buddy system and regular check-ins. She e...2024-08-0314 min
Bringing the Human back to Human Resources173. Creating a Competitive Advantage through Modern Benefits (feat. Gianna Ricciardi)Gianna is the Co-Founder and Practice Leader at Vita Assure, a Canadian brokerage firm that specializes in employee benefits for small and medium-sized enterprises in Quebec and Ontario.
Vita Assure works with all insurance providers, including Canada Life, Manulife Financial, Sun Life Financial, and many more,to offer thousands of their clients’ employees the best group insurance, group retirement, employee wellness, and other non-traditional employee benefits at a lower cost.
Canada's workplaces are undergoing enormous transformation, and as a result, businesses must make significant employee benefit adjustments.
Gian...2024-04-0938 min
Dear Human Resources:Ep. 074 - Modernize benefits by adopting technology - Gianna RicciardiGianna Ricciardi is co-founder and Practice Leader at Vita Assure, a Canadian brokerage firm that specializes in employee benefits for small and medium-sized enterprises in Quebec and Ontario. Gianna has 20 years of experience working with the payroll, HR, and finance departments to create employee benefit plans that take into account the changing demands of the workforce. In this episode, Gianna talks about how to modernize benefits by adopting technology, and how foreign businesses with teams in Canada can offer competitive employee benefits. Gianna will also talk about ways to care for employees who suffer from anxiety and depression.
Host: Marie-Line...2023-11-1519 min
Nine To Thrive HRCommunication and Engagement Tactics for Benefit UtilizationIn this episode of the "Nine to Thrive HR" podcast, host Cindi Koetzle teams up with Gianna Ricciardi, co-founder and practice leader at Vita Assure, a Canadian brokerage firm specializing in employee benefits for small and medium-sized enterprises. They discuss strategies for improving the utilization of employee benefits within organizations. Gianna emphasizes the importance of effective communication and engagement when it comes to employee benefits. She shares insights on creating comprehensive communication plans, utilizing various communication styles, and tailoring content to fit employees' needs. The conversation also covers the evolving landscape of employee benefits, focusing on wellness and mental health...2023-08-2124 min
Super Entrepreneurs PodcastBeing Client-Centric and the Power of Listening with Gianna RicciardiBeing client centric is the key to success as an entrepreneur. Discover Gianna's journey, from her passion for employee benefits to building a one-stop shop for comprehensive packages, in this episode of the Super Entrepreneurs Podcast. Gain valuable insights on training leaders, the impact of AI, the importance of client-centricity, and Gianna's secret superpower of exclusive listening, harnessing the power of vibrations for deeper connections. Who Is Gianna Ricciardi? Gianna Ricciardi is the Co-Founder and Practice Leader at Vita Assure, a company focusing on employee benefits brokerage and...2023-06-0520 min
Inevitable: The Future of WorkEngagement Week, Episode 2: Not wasting time could be the most sought after benefit Vita Assure Gianna Ricciardi on Linkedin2023-04-2043 min
Strap on your BootsZero to CEO: How to modernize benefits by adopting technology and new market solutions with Gianna Ricciardi In this episode of Zero to CEO, we talk with Gianna Ricciardi, Co-Founder and Practice Leader at Vita Assure, about modernizing employee benefits through the adoption of technology and new market solutions. We dive into the importance of group insurance and retirement plans, as well as mental health and wellness in the workplace. We explore how business owners can communicate the employer value proposition to employees and strategies for effective education. We also discuss the challenges of outdated employee benefit plans and how technology and new market solutions can be used to modernize benefits. We highlight the startling data o...2023-03-1616 min
HRchat PodcastCross-Border Employment with Gianna Ricciardi, Vita AssureIn this HRchat episode, we look at some key considerations for cross-border benefits plus the legacy left by the pandemic on cross-border teams.Bill's guest this time is Gianna Ricciardi, Co-Founder and Practice Leader at Vita Assure, a company that specializes in employee benefits brokerage and consulting, group insurance plans, group retirement savings plans, benefits administration outsourcing, disability and ability management, wellness programs, chronic care management, prescription drug management, employee benefit communication programs, expatriate coverage, special risks, and executive benefits.Gianna has worked with Finance, Human Resources and Payroll teams for almost 20 years, designing employee...2022-07-1517 min