ly Waibel is a powerhouse of optimism packaged in a small frame. A woman in transition, Waibel currently juggles two jobs, both promoting lifelong learning. The overlap between the two roles strengthen the connections and partnerships she makes as she works on both the local level in Central Oregon and the global level through Stanford Medicine’s Compassion Institute. It’s no wonder that when her alarm rings at 7 am, Waibel clings to those last few minutes of sleep.

The morning calm is something to cherish, because once she gets rolling, Waibel’s day will be a nearly nonstop marathon of meetings. So before she begins, there’s coffee—best enjoyed on the back patio in the company of Beren, her fluffy white shih tzu/bichon mix.

She prolongs the tranquility just a bit longer by intentionally avoiding her cell phone.

“I think it’s an important habit I’ve tried to maintain,” Waibel said.

So instead of jumping into the world with both feet, she takes time to meditate, savoring a moment of intentional mindfulness and gratitude. It’s also a great way to reduce the stress in a busy life.

“I write down one thing I’m grateful for each day, and also why I’m grateful for it. So much of my work involves social interaction,” Waibel said. “I need time to ramp into the day.”

Waibel’s work weeks are full to the brim with responsibilities that would overwhelm a less courageous individual. On the local level, she acts as executive director of Opportunity Knocks, a private nonprofit organization that pairs mentors with Central Oregon businesses; on the global level, her responsibilities with the Compassion Institute are expanding as she moves from a part-time position as a senior educator to their program director, where she’ll help to design a curriculum with worldwide reach.

With so much to do, work carries over into evenings and weekends, which is why making time for relationships, play, and her spiritual practice is so important.

Just before heading out the door, Waibel ties her hair into a tidy ponytail and does a quick review of her emails, hoping not to see any emergencies. A self-described introvert who sometimes has to push herself to be extroverted, Waibel carries herself with the quiet confidence of someone who knows she’s doing good work. Her smile is quick and genuine. She looks far too young to be such an old soul.

For now the bulk of Waibel’s daytime hours revolve around managing Opportunity Knocks, but it’s clear that her work with the Compassion Institute influences every conversation and connection she makes.

Waibel’s passion for adult education is backed by a PhD in Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies from the University of Arizona College of Education. And not satisfied with simply embracing a traditional approach to education, Waibel furthered her studies with a one-year Compassion Cultivation Training program at Stanford Medical School’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. The end result blends her formal study of adult learning, which is part of what Opportunity Knocks promotes, with her interest in spirituality, personal growth, and emotional intelligence.

On this day, as on most of her work days, Waibel’s first stop is at a local coffee shop. Rather than meeting in her office, she prefers the casual atmosphere of Jackson’s Corner and other local cafes, where she can converse and connect with clients.

She listens and gives feedback as two women describe their leadership training services and an idea for team-building exercises using horses to facilitate the process. If Waibel sees their program as a good fit, an introduction to the 200-plus members of Opportunity Knocks could boost the women’s business.

Waibel considers the possibilities as she drives across town to the historic Lucas House, home of Bend’s only hostel, Bunk + Brew. She meets with the owners to learn more about their operation, which attracts travelers from around the world. She explains that if they join Opportunity Knocks, they’ll be assigned to one of 25 teams and paired with a mentor/facilitator. They’ll join monthly meetings to share ideas and issues with other local business owners and executives in a collaborative, supportive environment.

“It’s a safe place to talk to your peers, discuss your business and your life,” Waibel said. “There’s no real structure. The members decide how they want to learn together.”

At her next meeting, she’s asked to be part of a panel on workforce training at a professional networking event. Although her plate is full, it’s another way to encourage adult learning in the community, so she accepts.

Waibel is also involved in an upcoming professional development series entitled “Evolve.” The collaborative effort will help early to mid-career professionals who are trying to navigate their careers. It’s all about soft skills. Attendees will learn things like how to give and receive feedback, facilitate meetings, and team building. Waibel explains why the project is important.

“A four-year degree may not train you for a job that doesn’t exist yet,” she said. “Soft skills, like curiosity and a desire for lifelong learning, are going to be increasingly valuable.”

It’s in moments like these that the synergy between Waibel’s work with Opportunity Knocks and the Compassion Institute is most apparent, with similar goals of providing tools and practices for building focus, social-emotional intelligence, and resilience, skills that can improve efficiency in the workplace as well as work-life balance.

Waibel has taught these skills in Compassion Cultivation classes at OSU Cascades. It’s not just touchy-feely—she cites studies that indicate a more compassionate workplace can help businesses reduce sick time, increase loyalty, and decrease turnover. Her classes also touch on the neuroscience of compassion: how the brain reacts to meditation practices that reduce stress. Homework includes informal practices as well as meditation techniques.

“An informal practice may be to choose to give someone the benefit of the doubt, for a week,” she said, smiling, well aware that such things are easier said than done.

For Waibel, Bend is the perfect place to practice what she preaches.

“This is the most collaborative community I’ve ever lived in,” she said. “I was fortunate that when I moved here, someone took me aside and gave me the rundown. We don’t honk our horns here, they told me.”

She quotes one of the board members of Opportunity Knocks, who likes to say, “We are dolphins, not sharks.”

As she meets with the proprietors of small businesses, as well as some of Central Oregon’s top executives, Waibel admits that at one time she might have been intimidated.

“However, my work with the Compassion Institute has taught me not to be swayed by titles and money. We’ve all got struggles. We’re all humans, trying to work this out,” she explains.

In her classes and with business owners, Waibel likes to emphasize, “Success doesn’t need to be competitive, it can be collaborative. We’re all better when we’re better together—not at the expense of others.”

Waibel notes that we need to include ourselves in the quest for compassion.

“We’re sometimes our worst critics, saying things to ourselves we’d never say to anyone else. We can’t always do or give more. While we’re sometimes moved to want to fix things, action isn’t always the best solution.”

To improve her own work-life balance, Waibel is decreasing the hours she spends with Opportunity Knocks (bringing in additional staff to ensure the program will thrive), while increasing her involvement with the Compassion Institute, as she fully transitions into the role of program director. She has hopes that a program to promote compassion in the workplace, now being piloted by a high-end retail chain, will be carried out worldwide.

At the end of the day, as Waibel looks back at the people she’s shared coffee and conversation with, she hopes she’s brought a little more compassion to the world—making life a little better, one connection at a time. •

For more from Aly Waibel see page 98.