Leaders Go First: How Executive Vulnerability Transforms Workplace Mental Health with Adam Nemer | Ep. 68

Overview

What happens when a C-suite executive speaks the quiet part out loud about mental health?

In this powerful episode of Headspace for the Workplace, Adam Nemer, former CFO and Operations Executive at Kaiser Permanente, shares how a personal collapse became a catalyst for healing, connection, and leadership transformation. Adam takes us through the moment he decided to “go first” by publicly sharing his struggles with undiagnosed depression and anxiety. That choice set a cultural shift in motion across his entire organization.

Now the founder of Simple Mental Health, Adam consults globally with companies to foster mentally healthy workplace cultures where stigma is dismantled, vulnerability is normalized, and leaders are empowered to lead with compassion and courage.

We explore:

  • What it means to “go first” in mental health conversations

  • The ROI of mental health literacy for leaders

  • Why psychological safety begins at the top

  • The story of Cameron—and how a single act of leadership changed a life

Questions We Discuss & Two Tactical Takeaways

  • How can executive leaders talk about mental health without risking their credibility?

  • What does it mean for a CEO to 'go first' in workplace mental health initiatives?

  • What are the benefits of executive vulnerability for team culture and employee wellbeing?

  • How does sharing a personal mental health story impact workplace stigma?

  • What is the ROI of mental health literacy training for business leaders?

  • Why should senior leaders become mental health literate before launching a wellbeing program?

  • Can sharing about depression or anxiety at work actually improve leadership effectiveness?

  • What are the best strategies for leaders to create psychologically safe workplaces?

  • How do mental health conversations from executives affect employee engagement and retention?

  • What’s the role of storytelling in reducing stigma in corporate environments?

  • How does cumulative stress affect C-suite executives, and what can be done about it?

  • What are simple ways managers can model mental health support without formal training?

  • How can vulnerability be used as a leadership strength in high-performance cultures?

  • What does workplace mental health transformation actually look like from a leadership perspective?

TWO TACTICAL TAKEAWAYS:

    1. “When leaders normalize mental health, performance gets unleashed and lives transformed, usually including their own.”

    2. “We all have five minutes to give. Are you ready to make the most out of yours?”

About Adam Nemer

Adam (AKA “Dadam” to his kids and their friends) spent two decades climbing the leadership ladder at Kaiser Permanente while privately battling severe mental illness. His turning point came when a colleague showed care and curiosity that opened the door to help. That moment eventually inspired Adam to launch Simple Mental Health, a consultancy helping companies create compassionate, stigma-free workplaces.

Today, Adam works across the Americas and Europe equipping leaders with the tools to be mentally healthy, share their stories authentically, and foster environments of psychological safety.


adamn@simplementalhealth.com
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Simple Mental Health Website
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Show Notes & Resources

Related Research & Articles:

Adam’s Videos:

  • Meet Simple Mental Health: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/03fsXbmtPFk

  • Helping Leaders Create Stigma-Free Mental Wellbeing Workplace Cultures with: Adam Nemer: https://youtu.be/STrUmpQ5c0w?si=jYaC7ejUcxWUmjjT

Favorite Quote from the Episode

“If you want to take care of your organization, take care of your people. If you want to take care of your career, take care of yourself.”