Dean’s Speaker Series How’s your battery? Calm CEO David Ko on normalizing mental health at work
Oct 14, 2025
David Ko, CEO of Calm and author of Recharge, shares his transformative journey from investment banking to leading a wellness revolution. He introduces the 'battery check' for initiating mental health dialogues at work. Ko highlights the importance of purpose-driven leadership, tackling burnout through clarity and task management. He encourages incorporating quick mindfulness practices into daily life and discusses the varying stigma around mental health globally. With candid anecdotes, he underscores the need for open conversations to foster wellness in high-pressure environments.
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From Banking To Mission-Driven Product Work
- David left finance after meeting mission-driven founders and joined Yahoo to move into product and continuous learning.
- His experience showed that career paths can zig and zag toward purpose-driven work.
First Panic Attack Shaped His Openness
- David Ko had his first panic attack at 14 and his parents advised him to 'power through' because mental health wasn't discussed.
- That childhood experience shaped his later openness with his own children and his work at Calm.
Normalize Mental Health With A 'Battery' Check
- Mental health is more approachable now, but conversations rarely happen at work and that gap matters.
- Framing check-ins as "How's your battery?" makes mental-health conversations easier and more frequent.
