The Beat Retention Starts Before Day One: Kyle M.K. on Rebuilding Healthcare Culture Through Empathy and Belonging
About Kyle M.K.
Kyle M.K. is an Executive Strategy Advisor, keynote speaker, and best-selling author based in Austin, Texas. As Indeed’s Senior Talent Strategy Advisor, he helps employers navigate the future of work—simplifying complex labor market challenges and inspiring people-focused leadership. His book, The Economics of Emotion, explores how emotional intelligence drives business success. Before Indeed, Kyle founded The Heart Company, where he helped global brands like The Ritz-Carlton, Uber, and Disney elevate brand loyalty through emotionally centered strategies. He also led ventures such as Human Planet and No. 4 St. James, combining data, storytelling, and design to humanize business experiences. With roots at Apple, where he shaped retail training and technology, Kyle’s career centers on one mission: making work more human.
Things You'll Learn:
- Retention begins long before a new hire’s first day, authentic communication and realistic expectations set the foundation for longevity.
- Feeling underappreciated by supervisors is one of the most unique and powerful drivers of burnout in healthcare.
- Leadership empathy directly shapes workplace culture; when senior leaders lack compassion, it cascades down the organization.
- Transparency in job postings and work environments helps reduce turnover by aligning expectations with reality, thereby fostering a more effective work environment.
- Treating healthcare teams as communities rather than machines fosters a sense of belonging, purpose, and ultimately, better patient care.
Resources: