Nice to meet you!

Hi, I’m Janera. Welcome to TheHealthySpace.

I love working and thinking about the intersection where real estate and wellness meet, and have been active in this space for over 15 years. I am a Senior Director at the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and am responsible for market development in both the Real Estate sector and Latin America. I am a certified WELL Accredited Professional and a member of the WELL Faculty. Over the years, I have learned much about the impact of spaces on the health and wellbeing of the people that work and live in them.

Before IWBI, I was the VP of Client Management at BetterSpaces, where we created and programmed tenant amenity spaces for large real estate owners who wanted to foster a more cohesive community in their buildings. I also served as the Program Director at Donna Karan’s foundation, Urban Zen, which had the mission of bringing alternative healing modalities to hospitals and schools.

But more than anything, I am an entrepreneur at heart. I launched SecondHouse, a co-living start-up to give a member community regular access to nature through a vibrant network of country, beach, and mountain homes close to New York City. And I created Global Nomads, a media company with about 3,000 subscribers to our online magazine. We also hosted monthly global gatherings around the world.

I started TheHealthySpace to document the improvements of my new home, using the guidelines of the WELL for Residential Standard, and others frameworks that improve living conditions. I am on a budget and want to share my learnings with others who are also doing incremental home improvements. Through using the tools I have mastered, I’ll find the best toxin-free paints and other building materials, implement the right water and air filtration systems, and optimize the use of natural light and biophilia. We’ll also talk about nutrition, movement, and creating community. Join me on this journey… it’s going to be a fun ride!