Corporate leaders spend billions studying productivity, innovation, and growth. Yet one of the most critical drivers of performance—mental wellness—remains one of the least openly discussed topics in the workplace. That silence is beginning to shift, thanks in part to women willing to lead conversations many institutions still avoid.
This Women’s History Month, two voices helping reshape that dialogue are Tommi Vincent—entrepreneur, author, and podcast host—and April Simpkins, mental health advocate and mother of Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst.
Both women have transformed deeply personal experiences into public leadership around mental wellness.
During Super Bowl week, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)—the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to advocacy, education, and support—highlighted both women as leaders who are helping normalize conversations around mental health. Amid the spectacle of America’s biggest sporting event, the moment served as a powerful reminder that mental wellness belongs in every arena where people gather, perform, and lead.
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In a cultural moment typically dominated by competition and entertainment, Vincent and Simpkins helped elevate a different narrative—one centered on resilience, humanity, and emotional well-being. And their leadership carries an important lesson for corporations everywhere: cultures cannot thrive if the people inside them are silently struggling.
Vincent has spent years building spaces where authenticity is not only welcomed—it is expected. Vincent has long used storytelling to create spaces where honesty and healing can coexist. Her memoir, The Table of Life: Nourishing the Soul with Food, Love, and Faith, offers a powerful reflection on that journey.
In the book, Vincent shares her story of overcoming abuse, depression, and hardship, revealing how faith, family, and the simple act of gathering around food became a pathway toward resilience. Through recipes, reflections, and deeply personal moments, she invites readers to see their own challenges not as defining limitations, but as ingredients that can shape purpose and strength.
At its core, Vincent’s work reflects a powerful leadership philosophy: community thrives when people feel safe enough to be honest. That honesty is particularly important when discussing mental wellness. By encouraging transparent dialogue around emotional health on her podcast “Stay a While,” Vincent has helped normalize conversations that many people—especially within communities of color—have historically felt pressured to avoid.
For corporate leaders, the lesson is clear. Strong cultures are not built solely on strategy or performance metrics. They are built on trust, psychological safety, and environments where people feel supported enough to bring their full selves to the work they do.
Another example of this can be seen in Simpkins’ leadership, which emerged from unimaginable loss. As the mother of Cheslie Kryst—Miss USA 2019, accomplished attorney, and television correspondent—Simpkins experienced the devastating loss of her daughter to suicide in 2022.
The world knew Kryst as a symbol of excellence: accomplished, poised, and successful. But Simpkins’ experience revealed a deeper truth—high achievement does not protect anyone from emotional struggle. In the wake of that tragedy, Simpkins made a decision that required extraordinary courage.
She chose to speak openly about mental health.
Rather than retreating into private grief, she began advocating for greater awareness, encouraging families and communities to approach mental wellness conversations with compassion and transparency.
Her voice now carries a powerful message: silence around mental health can be one of the most dangerous barriers to healing. And when leaders are willing to speak honestly about these realities, they give others permission to do the same.
Why corporate leaders should be paying attention
The modern workforce is navigating unprecedented pressure—from economic uncertainty to digital overload and the constant expectation of performance. Yet many corporate environments still operate under outdated assumptions that emotional well-being should remain separate from professional life.
The leadership demonstrated by Vincent and Simpkins challenges that thinking. Their willingness to share their stories publicly—and to elevate mental wellness conversations in highly visible cultural moments—illustrates what modern leadership increasingly requires: awareness, empathy, and responsibility for the well-being of the communities we influence.
Their recognition during Super Bowl week—through NAMI’s efforts to bring mental health conversations into one of the world’s most visible cultural events—underscores how essential these discussions have become across every sector of society.
Organizations that ignore mental wellness risk creating environments where performance may be demanded, but people quietly struggle. Those that embrace it, however, build cultures that are more resilient, more innovative, and ultimately more sustainable.
Women’s History Month reminds us that progress is often driven by individuals who challenge long-standing norms. Vincent and Simpkins are doing exactly that. Through transparency, advocacy, and cultural leadership, they are helping normalize conversations that corporations, communities, and families are only beginning to fully understand.
Their example offers a simple but powerful truth for today’s leaders. Mental wellness is not a personal issue employees should manage alone outside the workplace. It is a leadership issue. And the organizations that will lead the next era of innovation will not simply be the ones that move the fastest. They will be the ones that recognize a fundamental reality: Healthy cultures don’t just produce results. They produce people who can sustain them.
