HBR IdeaCast Building a Company While Battling Depression
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Mar 30, 2021 Melissa Bernstein, co-founder of the successful toy company Melissa & Doug, opens up about her long battle with depression while building her business and raising six children. She highlights the crucial role of mental health discussions in the workplace and shares insights from her Lifelines initiative, aimed at providing resources for better mental health management. Bernstein emphasizes the vital connection between vulnerability, creativity, and leadership, urging organizations to foster a supportive culture for those facing similar challenges.
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Melissa & Doug's Origin Story
- Melissa Bernstein and Doug, her husband, co-founded Melissa & Doug while dating.
- Their first successful product, the Fuzzy Puzzle, reinvented a classic toy.
Balancing Success and Depression
- Melissa Bernstein discusses her lifelong struggle with existential depression.
- She repressed these feelings to build the company and raise her six children.
Hiding the Struggle
- Melissa Bernstein's depression was so severe she hid it from everyone, including her family.
- The pain and resistance became unbearable, leading her to a breaking point in middle age.
