Building Connections Beyond Work: Mariah Silva’s Engagement Ambassadors Revolutionizes Employee Bonding
When Mariah Silva joined CPS in 2023 as Executive Assistant to the Dean, she brought with her a rich tapestry of experience from hospitality, event management, and a passion for fostering human connections. With a background that spans conflict management, diversity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and even managing a fitness studio, Silva has worn many hats—each adding to her unique perspective on creating meaningful workplace relationships. Now, as the founder of The Engagement Ambassadors (TEA), she’s transforming how faculty and staff at CPS interact, learn, and grow together.
The Origin Story
Silva’s journey to CPS began with a foundation in hospitality, where she learned the art of teamwork and navigating interpersonal challenges. Her subsequent roles at Brown Advisory, Edge by Ascential and B/Spoke Studios honed her skills in event planning and DEI work. At Northeastern, she saw a critical gap in faculty and staff connection exacerbated by the pandemic. “There used to be an engagement committee before 2020, but the pandemic dissolved that,” she explained. Feedback highlighted the need for more opportunities to connect, especially in a hybrid and global workplace. Alongside her colleagues Magali Feruzi, Dagmar Whitaker, and Kristine Cieri, Silva laid the groundwork for T.E.A, crafting its mission and pillars.
A Platform for Passion
T.E.A was designed to go beyond traditional workplace engagement. Silva envisioned a platform where colleagues could share skills, passions, and expertise not only tied to their roles. The initiative’s first year has been a resounding success, with events covering diverse topics:
- Financial Preparedness with Fareed Hawwa: An engaging talk that balanced practical advice on credit and interest with a philosophical outlook on money’s role in life.
- Social Media Savvy with Denise Reid: Encouraging colleagues to define their personal brand and approach social media thoughtfully.
- Food Safety with Darin Detweiler: A poignant session drawing from personal tragedy to underscore best practices in food handling.
- Happiness and Meditation with Erin Clair: Exploring active choices in happiness and the versatility of meditation practices.
These events highlighted the breadth of expertise within the CPS community and fostered connections between colleagues who might never have interacted otherwise.
Surpassing Expectations
“I thought participation would be slow, but we had up to 100 people attend a talk,” Silva said. TEA’s hybrid model has been particularly successful, combining virtual and in-person events to maximize accessibility and impact. One standout example was a potluck event—organized on a minimal budget and run by TEA Ambassadors, Joanne Tabuteau and Mary McCarthy, attracting over 50 attendees.
The program’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed. Silva was invited to join Northeastern’s university-wide engagement committee, NOURISH, where leaders across colleges share ideas to scale engagement initiatives. This opportunity has further expanded TEA’s influence, integrating best practices and fostering collaboration across the university.
“I love seeing people smile and taking the stress out of their day,” Silva said. Beyond joy, TEA offers a safe space for colleagues to share passions and learn from one another.
Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead
Silva’s leadership philosophy centers on empowering her team. “This year, I ensured every ambassador had an active role in planning and hosting events,” she said. A shared inbox, [email protected], and a collaborative approach have been pivotal in strengthening the group dynamic and bringing the ambassadors together as one connected force.
For 2025, TEA has ambitious plans**:
- A robust calendar of events tailored to diverse interests, from cooking classes to CPR/Self-Defense workshops.
- An enhanced impact analysis to measure and validate the program’s social impact.
- A continued emphasis on hybrid events and prize-driven initiatives to maintain enthusiasm.
“Having my co-lead, Natalie Bowers, as well as an incredible group of active ambassadors has been so pivotal,” Silva noted, reflecting on the importance of shared leadership. She’s also excited about the shift to an application-based selection process for ambassadors, which has brought a new level of enthusiasm to the team.
A Safe Space for Growth
At its core, TEA is about making people happy. “I love seeing people smile and taking the stress out of their day,” Silva said. Beyond joy, TEA offers a safe space for colleagues to share passions and learn from one another. “Whether it’s Pokémon and the metaverse or food safety, you learn so much about your colleagues that you’d never discover in a board meeting.” She hopes to take her leadership and management learnings from running this program on with her as she completes her Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management here at Northeastern.
Silva’s gratitude shines through as she reflects on TEA’s impact. “A colleague gave me the feedback that there used to be a dark cloud over CPS, but now there is sunshine because of TEA.” With her visionary leadership and a team of dedicated ambassadors, the future of engagement at CPS looks brighter than ever.
