Equity Founders shouldn't have to choose between mental health and grit
Apr 12, 2023
Naveed Lalani, Founder and CEO of Pioneer Mind, advocates for prioritizing founder mental health as a business necessity. Dr. Saumya Dave, a psychiatrist, explores the complicated relationship between therapy and executive coaching in the startup landscape. Leslie Feinzaig, a venture capitalist, shares insights on nurturing founder well-being while emphasizing the need for compassionate communication. The conversation dives into how founders can responsibly hustle and navigate the blurred lines of work-life balance, all while advocating for a culture that embraces mental health openly.
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Pledge Inspiration
- Naveed Lalani was inspired to create a founder mental health pledge after a founder's tweet.
- The tweet described having to stop a fellow founder from suicide due to SVB-related payroll concerns.
Normalize Mental Health Expenses
- Founders should treat mental health as a standard business expense, not a special allowance.
- Investors should signal their support by signing the pledge and normalizing mental health conversations.
Executive Vulnerability
- COVID-19 normalized mental health conversations for employees, but executives often remain closed off.
- Openly discussing mental health destigmatizes it, allowing for a healthier work environment.