From Burnout to Breakthrough: Why Whole-Self Wellness is the Key to Sustainable Success
By Stevi Gable Carr
Let’s be honest—burnout is no longer a buzzword. It’s a boardroom issue. A bottom-line issue. A human issue.
In my two decades leading Fortune 500 brands and now as the founder of WISe Wellness Guild and co-founder of WellNXT, I’ve witnessed an uncomfortable truth: We’ve normalized exhaustion in the name of excellence. But I believe there’s a better way—and it starts by rethinking success itself.
The Data Is Clear—Burnout Is Costing Us More Than We Realize
The World Health Organization officially classified burnout as an “occupational phenomenon” in 2019. Since then, the numbers have only gotten worse.
According to a McKinsey Health Institute report, burnout affects 28% of all employees globally, with women, caregivers, and underrepresented minorities disproportionately impacted.
Toxic workplace behavior is the single greatest predictor of burnout—making someone 8 times more likely to experience it (McKinsey, 2022).
Burnout costs the U.S. economy up to $190 billion annually in healthcare spending alone (Harvard Business Review, 2020).
Meanwhile, the Global Wellness Economy hit $6.3 trillion in 2023 and is projected to reach $9 trillion by 2028 (Global Wellness Institute). That tells us people are searching for solutions—inside and outside the workplace.
Why Wellness Isn’t a Perk—It’s a Performance Strategy
When I wrote my chapter in Cracking the Rich Code, I laid out a new framework for leadership called Audacious by Design. At its core is this belief: If you want to build something that lasts—be it a company, a community, or a legacy—you have to start with the well-being of the human behind the title.
We are not machines. Humans are built for rhythm, not relentlessness. Our energy cycles—what scientists call ultradian rhythms—function best in 90–120-minute work blocks followed by short periods of recovery. Yet we push through emails, back-to-back meetings, and performance reviews as if rest is optional and output is the only metric that matters.
Audacious leadership means reclaiming that rhythm. It means embedding recovery, autonomy, and clarity into the organizational DNA—not just offering a meditation app and calling it wellness. It’s about sustainable energy management, not temporary morale boosts.
Psychological Safety Is a Prerequisite for Innovation
In the thousands of coaching sessions I’ve led with executives and emerging leaders, one consistent theme emerges: People don’t burn out from doing too much—they burn out from doing too much without meaning, autonomy, or trust.
Google’s own internal research found that psychological safety was the single biggest predictor of high-performing teams. If leaders want to unlock the full potential of their people, they must create environments where:
People feel safe to speak up
Their work is aligned with purpose and strengths
They are empowered to recover and reset—not just hustle and grind
Well-being and performance are not in conflict—they are codependent.
What Audacious Companies Are Doing Differently
The most forward-thinking organizations I work with don’t treat wellness as a siloed HR program. They integrate it across every level of leadership development, employee experience, and strategy. Here's how:
Energy Mapping Tools that help teams align work schedules with peak productivity windows
Resilience Training and Emotional Agility Coaching for middle managers
Clear Boundaries + Flexible Autonomy—especially critical in hybrid and remote environments
Micro-recovery strategies built into workflows (think: walking meetings, nap pods, flexible PTO)
And most importantly, they measure wellness not by participation—but by performance indicators like retention, engagement, creativity, and leadership pipeline health.
A Call to Leaders: Let’s Redefine Success
If we want innovation, we must start with regeneration. If we want loyalty, we must invest in longevity. And if we want to future-proof our organizations, we must stop asking people to trade their wellness for their work.
Wellness isn’t a line item. It’s the foundation. It’s the spark behind sustainable leadership.
As I often say in my keynotes: Audacity isn’t volume—it’s vision. It’s the courage to lead differently, so we don’t have to burn out just to belong.
It’s time to build a world where whole-self wellness isn’t optional—it’s operational.
____________________
Stevi Gable Stevi Gable Carr is a nationally recognized wellness entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and thought leader with 20+ years of brand-building experience at Fortune 500 companies like P&G and Newell Rubbermaid. As the Founder & CEO of WISe Wellness Guild, she leads a consultancy and media platform dedicated to advancing whole-self wellness for individuals and organizations—partnering with brands like Kroger, P&G, Fifth Third Bank, and more.
She is also the co-founder of WellNXT, a national movement transforming wellness through high-impact activations. A #1 best-selling co-author in Cracking The Rich Code (endorsed by Tony Robbins), Stevi is a Harvard/McLean Institute of Coaching Fellow, iHeart Radio wellness expert, and advocate for advancing women in the workforce.
Featured in Forbes, Fortune, and Entrepreneur, she was recently named to Inc.’s 2025 Female Founders 500 and recognized by the American Heart Association, P&G Alumni, and the Cincinnati Business Courier for her visionary leadership.