Kacy is an award-winning workplace well-being strategist & women’s health advocate. She spent over 20 years in biopharmaceuticals learning the importance of health education & community support as well as the criticality of creating access to medications. Despite this knowledge, when perimenopause symptoms hit Kacy fell victim to Google Search & knew there had to be a better way to learn about the menopausal transition. That is why she created The Fuchsia Tent. In addition to being the CEO & founder of The Fuchsia Tent, Kacy runs a well-being consultancy where she works alongside organizations to ensure sustainable business growth along with market leadership in talent retention & attraction.
We are delighted that Kacy will be speaking in London as part of our UK Summit. We caught up with her to find out how she’s feeling in the runup to the event.
Hi Kacy, we are thrilled that you will be speaking at the Wellbeing at Work UK Summit in September. Our first and most important question is, how are you doing today?
I am great! The weather is beautiful in Salem, MA where I live and I LOVE building my two companies at the moment. Both KF Consulting and The Fuchsia Tent are at a really fun stage!
As a leader based in the region, what are the main challenges you are facing when it comes to employee wellbeing and mental health?
I am not based in the UK, and I think that gives me a unique perspective for this event and a lot to learn. Irrespective of location, the world is really complex right now and our always connected style of work is super challenging for both mental health and wellbeing.
1. We were never taught how to create digital boundaries and we are all dealing with the repercussions of having super computers in our pockets.
2. We are being asked continually to do more with less resources, which creates job demands that surpass our human capabilities.
3. Companies have invested a significant amount of money in health and wellbeing programs without great ways of measuring ROI, or instituting systemic changes and aren’t seeing the outcomes they expected.
What strategies have you seen developing over the past 6 months, both internally and externally, that are moving the dial on wellbeing in the workplace?
Companies willing to institute a programs+ approach to wellbeing are more successful at moving the dial. Meaning those who are bringing in programs, but also changing systems are seeing the best results. For example a client who brought in a menopause education program through The Fuchsia Tent, and also trained their teams on how to have difficult conversations around stigmatized topics.
Why is employee wellbeing so important to you personally?
As someone who has worked her way into burnout several times. I have seen the disastrous effects that poor wellbeing can have on our physical health and interpersonal relationships, not to mention productivity and self-efficacy.
What impact is AI having in your organisation and how are you managing that?
I am a solopreneur who LOVES AI. Not for writing, but for tasks that would normally take an endless amount of time with very low ROI.
Other than AI, are there any challenges that you are seeing for the first time and how are you addressing them?
I see a lot of challenges with being chained to devices 24/7. I love a digital detox, and teaching organizations how to create and uphold digital boundaries.
What areas do you think employers should be focused on over the next 12 months?
1. Actually teaching AI for administrative tasks rather than expecting employees to learn on their own.
2. Add wellbeing to performance management conversations if that isn’t already happening organizationally.
3. Invest in compassionate leadership training, which tackles a plethora of challenges and helps enhance quality conversations and civility between employees
4. Have an easy menopause offering that helps educate male employees and leaders on how to better support their midlife female coworkers and direct reports.
Do you feel that investment in employee wellbeing in the region is increasing or decreasing and is that a direct reflection on HR leaders’ increasing ability to demonstrate effective returns of their strategies to leadership?
In the US the budgets are either declining or holding flat which is a reflection on our inability to measure ROI accurately (employee experience surveys rarely ask the right questions), and/or convey the benefits of the offerings.
How has your organisation been leading the way?
Having built award winning well-being strategies for two Fortune 500 employers, I am able to help organizations build bridges between today’s systems and tomorrow’s needs. We are on the forefront of researching ways to increase engagement, improve wellbeing, and reduce turnover for all employees, but especially midlife women.
Kacy will be speaking in London at the Wellbeing at Work Summit UK.
Our London Summit takes place on 23rd September. Visit our London webpage for further details and to book your tickets.
Our Manchester Summit takes place on 25th September. To find out more about our Manchester Summit and book your tickets please visit our Mancherster webpage.
