The Entrepreneurs Council: cultivating a culture of wellbeing

Leading a high-growth company is undeniably demanding. As entrepreneurs navigate the multitude of priorities competing for their time and energy, they are increasingly focusing on wellbeing for both themselves and their employees. By adopting a balanced approach to physical, emotional and mental health, they can enhance their personal resilience and lead their teams with greater clarity and purpose.

Members of the Entrepreneurs Council share how they are prioritizing wellbeing.

How do you find time to prioritize your personal wellbeing while leading a successful company?

Keith L. Harper, A & B Talent

To perform at my best as a leader, I recognize the importance of prioritizing my personal wellness. Investing in hiring, proper training and communicating with a strong leadership team has resulted in pockets of time that I choose to dedicate to wellbeing.

A single strategic hire who can effectively manage a small percentage of your daily tasks can provide an ROI of significant flexibility and time. For me, strategic hiring has allowed me to be more intentional about how I spend my time. Early mornings are my reset moments — whether it’s strategizing over coffee, taking time for quiet reflection or squeezing in a quick workout. As a golfer, I also carve out time to hit the course whenever possible. Golf isn’t just about the skill and execution of the game; it’s about focus, patience, clarity and disconnecting from the hustle for a few hours. These moments are essential to reflect, recharge, gain perspective and return to the office energized and sharp for my team and clients.
Suneera Madhani, Worth

Prioritizing personal wellbeing while leading a company starts with intentionality. I’ve learned that you can’t pour from an empty cup, so I structure my day with non-negotiables like sleep, exercise and mindfulness. Sundays are my planning days, where I zoom out and align my week to make room for what matters, including four workouts that fit into my routine.

Walking is my daily reset — whether it’s a two-mile stroll in nature, a podcast walk or taking a call while moving, it clears my head and gives me energy. Meditation has also become my grounding ritual after years of practice. Just 20 minutes a day helps me lead with clarity and calm in the middle of the chaos of leadership and motherhood. For me, wellbeing isn’t a luxury — it’s how I stay aligned and show up as the best version of myself for my team, my family and my vision.

As a leader, how do you create an environment where your workforce can prioritize their personal wellbeing?

Christine Tao, Sounding Board

Studies have found that organizations with workplace wellness programs had about 25% lower medical and absenteeism expenses. I love that companies are starting to view employee productivity more holistically than just time- or input-based.

Often the intent to increase wellbeing leads companies to create new benefits. While it is important to offer these incentives, it's equally important to consider the policies, workload and culture, as well as the manager’s role, to truly create an environment where employees can prioritize their own wellbeing.

At Sounding Board, one of our approaches is to encourage leaders to model wellbeing. For example, actually take time off, and avoid sending late night messages or emails – unless they are truly urgent – and instead schedule them for normal work hours. We have a practice of blocking normal work hours based on time zones. These small actions make it clear that self-autonomy to prioritize both work and personal needs is encouraged and is practiced all the way to the top so those at all levels feel safe to do so themselves.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but leaders modeling a more integrated personal and professional life is just as critical as the policies, programs and benefits you create.

How do you encourage meaningful relationships that build trust, empathy and belonging in the workplace, which contributes to overall wellbeing?

Elvia Chavez, MC Electric

At MC Electric (MCE), it’s a priority for my management team and me to connect with our people face-to-face every month. We believe in knowing our team members and ensuring they know us. These meetings are a platform to share updates about MCE, discuss industry trends that affect our business, conduct safety briefings, celebrate milestones and have some fun along the way.

Team bonding is a core element of these gatherings, granting us an opportunity to strengthen relationships and build camaraderie. We design our meetings to encourage engagement by asking thoughtful questions and actively listening to our team. Games and friendly competition are always part of the mix because our team thrives on competitiveness — a quality that drives us to win: win the job, win the customer, win the day!

That said, our competitive spirit is matched by our empathy. At MCE, we genuinely care about one another. Our team looks out for each other, noticing when someone isn’t doing well and stepping up to offer support. We emphasize the importance of paying attention to one another and fostering a workplace culture that values both performance and compassion.
Katherine Kostereva, Creatio

Belonging is built on genuine care, trust and accountability. When people know they’re cared for and trusted, they feel empowered to bring their best selves to work. Accountability adds another layer – it’s not about blame but about showing up for each other and delivering on commitments.

When people feel they belong, they don’t just work – they thrive. And that’s when great things happen.

Key takeaways

For busy entrepreneurs, balancing personal wellbeing with the demands of leading a successful company requires intentionality. As a leader, reflect on the non-negotiables like sleep, movement and mindfulness that enable you to maintain a sense of balance. Prioritizing time for activities that refresh and recharge can help prevent burnout and allow you to show up fully as you execute on your vision.

Creating a supportive work environment where employees can prioritize their wellbeing involves modeling healthy behaviors and building a culture of belonging. Leaders who take time off and respect healthy working hours encourage employees to do the same. Additionally, fostering trust, empathy and accountability creates an environment where employees feel valued and empowered to bring their best selves to work.

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The Entrepreneurs Council: cultivating a culture of wellbeing

How do you find time to prioritize your personal wellbeing while leading a successful company?

Keith L. Harper, A & B Talent

Suneera Madhani, Worth

As a leader, how do you create an environment where your workforce can prioritize their personal wellbeing?

Christine Tao, Sounding Board

How do you encourage meaningful relationships that build trust, empathy and belonging in the workplace, which contributes to overall wellbeing?

Elvia Chavez, MC Electric

Katherine Kostereva, Creatio

Key takeaways

Insights

Trending topics

Spotlight

Services

Spotlight

Careers

Spotlight

Industries

Case studies

About us

Top news

The Entrepreneurs Council: cultivating a culture of wellbeing

How do you find time to prioritize your personal wellbeing while leading a successful company?

Strategic hiring allows time to focus on wellbeing – Keith L. Harper, A&B Talent

Keith L. Harper, A & B Talent

Wellbeing is a balance of movement and stillness – Suneera Madhani, Worth

Suneera Madhani, Worth

As a leader, how do you create an environment where your workforce can prioritize their personal wellbeing?

Model intentional personal and professional balance – Christine Tao, Sounding Board

Christine Tao, Sounding Board

How do you encourage meaningful relationships that build trust, empathy and belonging in the workplace, which contributes to overall wellbeing?

Intentional monthly connections that incorporate team bonding – Elvia Chavez, MC Electric

Elvia Chavez, MC Electric

Fostering an environment built on trust and accountability – Katherine Kostereva, Creatio

Katherine Kostereva, Creatio

Key takeaways