Winner
Tracy Layney
Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, Levi Strauss & Co.
How a Run In With Burnout Led This Executive to Prioritize Mental Health for Herself and Her Team
After a bout of severe burnout, Tracy Layney made a tough decision: She took a sabbatical to prioritize her well-being. Despite the risk to her career and financial growth, she says it was the best decision she could have made for herself and her family. Now as an Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer, Layney knows just how important an empathetic and supportive work culture can be. Under her leadership, she incorporated mental well-being questions into employee engagement surveys at Levi Strauss & Co. The results prompted the company to expand its benefits to include mental health support. All global employees now have access to 16 therapy sessions annually. Beyond benefits, she also works to destigmatize the topic of mental health at work, openly discussing her own challenges and encouraging other executives to do the same.
By: Courtney Connley
