Dr. Amy Campbell is the former Chief People Officer at Overhaul. Holding a PhD in Counseling and Clinical Supervision, Amy has spent over twenty years in leadership roles, initially focusing on the mental health sector before transitioning into the world of high-growth tech. She joined Overhaul as employee number five, driven by her passion to utilize her deep expertise in psychology to build a thriving global business. Amy is a seasoned expert in human and organizational development, with a rich background in psychology, leadership, supervision, and career counseling. Amy has taught graduate-level courses on Cultural Diversity, Supervision, and Mental Health, and has conducted and published.
We are delighted that Amy will be speaking in Austin, Texas as part of our Wellbeing at Work Summit US this March. We caught up with her to see how she’s feeling in the runup to the event.
Hi Amy, we are thrilled that you will be joining us at the Wellbeing at Work Summit US in March. Our first and most important question is, how are you doing today?
I’m doing pretty good today. It is an amazing 67 degrees in Texas today and I have been most of the day outside.
As a leader based in the region, what are the main challenges you are facing when it comes to employee wellbeing and mental health?
A lot of people are struggling with overwhelm and burnout. The responsibilities and expectations seem to continue to keep growing in work and in life for people, and the world around us presents many weighty challenges and concerns. For leaders, it’s bit like trying to fly a kite in a hurricane.
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?
I have seen a lot of organizations refocusing around their core values. I’ve also pushed in my work and seen a push in organizations to adopt “Healthy Urgency”, where priorities are realistic, ownership of priorities is clear and fair, and recovery is a core operating principle.
Why is employee wellbeing so important to you personally?
The whole first chapter of my career was in the mental health world. I have a PhD in Counseling and my core roots are firmly grounded in mental health. My doctoral research and dissertation were on wellness. I also have had periods where I struggled with significant burnout; I deeply empathize with the people carrying the weight of it and am fascinated by the complexities of it.
What impact is AI having in your organization and how are you managing that?
I think starting simple with AI has been a key in mitigating fears or fantasies around it. We started by educating people on the ‘how to’ and encouraging them to experiment with AI capabilities that are built into the companywide tools we all use daily. We put special emphasis on how the AI capabilities within those tools could make their work and lives a litter easier.
Other than AI, are there any challenges that you are seeing for the first time and how are you addressing them?
I have not seen a time where the political climate has impacted people’s daily work lives to this degree. I wish I knew a definitive answer here, but I think continuing to ground people in core values, which are rooted in humanity, is imperative.
What areas do you think employers should be focused on over the next 12 months?
I am concerned about the number of women that we are seeing leave the workforce. Employers need to take very intentional steps to disrupt the norms and systems that are making this happen, as well as take proactive steps to support their engagement and retention.
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?
I think HR leaders have done a lot of amazing work that has increased the investment. I also recognize that HR leaders are being asked to take on more responsibilities so I hope that a norm will develop where full executive teams see this investment as a top strategic investment.
How has your organization been leading the way?
Well, my organization specifically hired me to build and lead Operations and People Operations because my whole prior career was in mental health leadership. I’d love to see more organizations bringing in people with mental health roots to diversify the decision-making seats at the table.
Amy is speaking in Austin, TX as part of our Wellbeing at Work Summit US 2026 which takes place in New York and Austin this March, followed by Chicago and Los Angeles in May. Click the links below to find out more and book your tickets:
March 3 – New York – Click here to find out more and book
March 5 – Austin, TX – Click here to find out more and book
May 5 – Chicago – Click here to find out more and book
May 7 – Los Angeles – Click here to find out more and book
