CEO burnout may be hiding in plain sight. The CEO of Calm, the world’s top sleep and meditation app, said business leaders are losing sleep, feeling drained, and contemplating quitting their jobs. But when asked how they are, they say they’re doing just fine.
“Most people said that they were doing good,” Ko said.
But when Ko broke down wellness metrics—whether leaders felt anxious, depressed, or mentally present at work—the results were starkly different: 48% of respondents reported feeling overwhelmed, while a quarter said they experienced anxiety or depression. Moreover, 34% said they were mentally drained, and 40% reported failing to be mentally present on the job. Half of the survey participants said they thought of stepping down from their positions.
Ko also asked executives to compare their energy to a battery, arguing it’s a more accessible metric for individuals to assess their mental health. Only one in four executives said their batteries were “fully recharged.”
“Most leaders, like in this room, are operating at about 20%,” Ko said. “Think about what that means.”
Ko said companies that have invested in mental health interventions report less burnout, higher return on investment, and greater engagement. Nearly 85% of individuals Calm surveyed reported believing mental health directly impacts a company’s bottom line.
“In a world that’s currently being transformed by AI, organizations are realizing that our greatest assets aren’t just the technology,” he said. “It’s the people behind them.”
