More Than Miles: Erica Meekes on Wellness, Leadership, and Mental Health

When the pandemic hit in 2020, life as we knew it shifted. Routines changed, anxiety increased, and that feeling of isolation settled in. Like so many people, Erica Meekes needed a way to stay grounded: physically, mentally, and emotionally. So she ran. What began as a coping mechanism has since become a way of life.

“When I need clarity, I run. When I want to reconnect—with myself or with others—I run. I run for peace, for presence, and for strength,” Erica shares.

That need for motion during a moment of global stillness sparked something deeper and today, Erica is a two-time marathon finisher and co-founder of an all-women’s ultra-marathon relay team that twice ran 650 kilometers from Toronto to Montreal, relay-style, in under 60 hours.

Erica Meekes is a Senior Global Thought Leadership Manager at Geotab. In this role, she helps shape the ideas and narratives that define Geotab’s place in the world. She connects dots across product, marketing, communications, and executive teams, ensuring the company’s voice reflects not just where the industry is headed, but how Geotab leads. Running not only supports her physical and mental wellbeing, but it has also helped sharpen the skills that make her more effective at work. “Discipline, strategy, resilience—it’s all part of the long game,” she says. “Just like in running long distances, success at Geotab comes from consistency, community, and showing up for our customers with clarity and purpose.”

Beyond her professional impact, Erica is a strong advocate for wellness in all forms. “Life happens, and it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of it all, to the point where we forget to pause and care for ourselves," she reflects. “I’m proud to work for an organization like Geotab that understands this and continues to champion mental and physical health through meaningful initiatives.” One of those initiatives is the annual Step Challenge, which encourages employees to prioritize movement for both body and mind. 

“Taking care of our mental health doesn’t always have to be big or dramatic,” Erica adds. “Sometimes, it’s as simple as lacing up your shoes and moving your body. That one step can change everything.”

As a certified yoga instructor, Erica occasionally leads classes within her community, using movement to build connection and presence. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year’s theme, “Turn Awareness into Action,” is deeply aligned with how Erica lives. For her, action looks like running toward clarity, uplifting others, and making wellness a daily habit. “We can’t always control what life throws at us, but we can choose how we show up for ourselves. Whether it’s exercising, taking a walk, getting a new hobby, reconnecting with nature, reaching out to a friend, or simply pausing to take a breath, every small action matters.”