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Breakout Panel

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Presentation Details

"Beyond Burnout: Creating Cultures Where Mental Health Matters"

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Mental health is no longer a soft topic. It is a business critical one. In today’s high growth and high pressure work environments, employee well-being often takes a back seat to performance and speed. But what if the key to sustainable success is not pushing harder but building cultures that help people thrive?

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In this candid conversation, leaders from wellness, HR and organizational culture will share real stories and actionable insights from startups, corporations and everything in between. From movement and mindfulness to values-based leadership and culture design, this session goes beyond surface level perks and into what it truly takes to build mentally healthy workplaces without slowing down your mission.

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Through this session, you'll learn:​​

  1. A grounded understanding of how mental health, culture, and business outcomes are intertwined

  2. Practical strategies for supporting team well-being—even in fast-moving, high-demand settings

  3. Insights into how small shifts (like movement, rest, and intentional leadership) create big impact

  4. Lessons from leaders who’ve navigated pressure without losing their people

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Speaker Bio:

Emma is the founder and CEO of People Function, an HR consulting firm that helps early-stage and scaling companies build intentional, effective People practices. She brings over a decade of experience in HR leadership and business partnership, working across startups and growing teams in New York City, Los Angeles and beyond.

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Emma is especially energized by working with founders—helping them navigate the challenges of team building, culture, and organizational design. She cares deeply about the employees her work touches and believes that smart, strategic People practices are core to any company's success.

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Emma holds a Master’s in Human Resources Management with a focus on Organizational Effectiveness from NYU and a BA in Sociology from Hamilton College. She lives in Brooklyn and spends her free time checking out new restaurants, coffee spots, and dance and theater performances around the city.

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