[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-detail-112014-en":3,"doc-seo-112014-105":29,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":91},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",{"doc_id":7,"user_id":8,"nickname":9,"user_avatar":10,"doc_module":4,"category_id":11,"category_name":12,"doc_title":13,"doc_description":14,"doc_content":15,"file_id":16,"file_url":17,"file_type":18,"file_size":19,"view_count":20,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":20,"is_downloadable":20,"audit_status":20,"page_count":21,"language":22,"language_code":23,"site_id":24,"html_lang":23,"table_of_contents":25,"faqs":26,"seo_title":13,"seo_description":14,"update_tm":27,"read_time":28},112014,13056703020460,"Valentina","https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/be000253dac470eee5d?_k=1778207105932848923",7,"Healthcare","Discussion with Michael ‘Mike’ James - Episode Transcript","Episode transcript from the World Bank Group Development Reflections audio series featuring an interview with Michael “Mike” James. Host Robert “Bob” Malloy and Mike discuss how Mike entered the World Bank in 1993, his background in health, fitness, and massage therapy, and the circumstances that led to his recruitment. The conversation covers his 24-year tenure, key fitness center expansions and service improvements, partnerships with fitness and educational organizations, and reflections on evolving health and wellness within the institution, alongside clarifying disclaimers about views and accuracy.","Authorized  \nPub lic Disc losure Authorized  \nTHE WORLD BANK GROUP  \nDEVELOPMENT REFLECTIONS AUDIO SERIES  \nTHE WORLD BANK GROUP KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT  \nDiscussion with Michael ‘Mike’ James  \nHost: Robert ‘Bob’ Malloy  \nInterview Date: November 8, 2023  \nPLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A FULL-VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT, EDITED FOR CLARITY.  \nThe Development Reflections audio series captures personal recollections of interviewees. The opinions, findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in these oral histories do not reflect official views or policy of the World Bank Group, its Executive Directors, orthe governments they represent. The World Bank Group is not responsible for the accuracy of the information included in the interview transcripts and/or recordings.  \nEPISODE TRANSCRIPT  \nBOB: Hello and welcome to Development Reflections, a series by the World Bank Group Knowledge and Information Department. I'm Bob Malloy, the Manager of the Library and Publishing Unit in the Information Technology Solutions vice presidency of the World Bank Group. In this series, we will explore pivotal moments in development history and hear the perspectives of staff. Join us as we bring history to life, reflecting on our past and looking at the lessons learned. A disclaimer, though, that these conversations do not reflect positions or views of the World Bank Group.  \nNow on to the episode.  \nI'm very excited! Today we are talking with Mike James, a health and wellness professional who was recruited to manage the World Bank Health Services Department fitness program in 1993, then operating out of two centers in the H and the I buildings. Initially employed for a two-year term, Mike ended up staying at the World Bank for 24 years, retiring in 2017. Mike’s work included overseeing the design and construction of the IFC Fitness Center in 1997, the expansion of the H Building Fitness Center in 2003, and the eventual move to the Main Complex in 2011. Together with increasing the scope of the Fitness Center operation, including the Volunteer Group Exercise program, which grew to provide over 70 classes per week, Mike also established relationships with leading fitness industry groups and with external groups and institutions, like the Maryland Center for Veterans and Education and Training, and George Washington and Gallaudet Universities.  \nHis tenure at the Bank witnessed a lot of changes, including the growth and popularity of Health and Wellness within the organization. Mike implemented Fitness Center service goals and an action plan that increased the facilities approval rating to 95% in a 2011 survey. Mike was seconded by the African Development Bank in Tunisia, to help design a new Fitness Center, and has authored books and paperson the topic of fitness, health, and wellness.  \nSo Mike, I am excited to talk to you about your journey at the Bank and in the world of fitness, and to get your insights on this institution during your tenure here. So, thank you for joining us.  \nMIKE: Thank you for having us here, Bob. My pleasure.  \nBOB: No problem. Let's get started with some questions.  \nMIKE: Sure.  \nBOB: You had been at the Bank for 24 years. Can you share with us how that journey began?  \nMIKE: Yes. Well, it was a very-it's still very vivid in my mind. To set the scene a little, it was 1993, the days before emails, and you know, any Internet or anything like that. It was via phone calls and so forth. And I was – I had quite a substantial career at that point, in Australia. I was running a corporate Fitness Center, the largest corporate fitness center in Australia, and was also a massage therapist, and writer and speaker, and so forth. And I was having a great life in Australia and really wasn't looking for a change at any point. It just happened to occur.  \nOne day, I’m taking a group of my clients out for a run, and come back into the fitness center. One of my staff said, ‘Mike, there's a phone call from Washington, DC’. 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