The emotional weight of the boardroom was palpable last Thursday as some of Ottawa’s most prominent business leaders stepped away from balance sheets and strategic plans to address something far more personal: their mental health journeys.
At the inaugural “Mind Your Business” forum hosted by the Ottawa Board of Trade, these executives shared vulnerable accounts of their struggles behind the success stories we often celebrate. The candid revelations offered a rare glimpse into the human side of our city’s business elite.
“I remember sitting in my office, surrounded by awards and recognition, yet feeling completely hollow inside,” shared Michael Curran, publisher of the Ottawa Business Journal, who moderated the panel. “For years, I believed admitting to mental health challenges would undermine my leadership credibility.”
This sentiment echoed throughout the testimonials of the five business leaders who participated in the forum, which drew over 200 attendees from Ottawa’s business community. The event aimed to normalize conversations about mental health in professional settings where such discussions have traditionally been taboo.
Jason Tremere, CEO of Collabware, described his experience with burnout after years of relentless work pressure. “I was running on empty for so long that I didn’t recognize myself anymore. The panic attacks would hit without warning, sometimes during important client meetings,” he explained.
Statistics from the Canadian Mental Health Association reveal that one in five Canadians will experience a mental health issue in any given year, yet the stigma remains particularly strong in business environments where projecting strength is often equated with leadership capability.
The forum highlighted how this stigma creates dangerous silence. According to a 2022 study by the Conference Board of Canada, 84% of employers recognize mental health as a priority, but only 23% of employees feel comfortable discussing such challenges with their managers.
Sueling Ching, President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade, emphasized the economic implications. “When we ignore mental health in the workplace, we’re ignoring a $50 billion annual impact on our economy through absenteeism, presenteeism, and disability claims,” she noted.
Perhaps the most powerful moment came when Karla Briones, owner of multiple local businesses and founder of Karla Briones Consulting, shared her experience with depression while building her entrepreneurial empire. “I was the poster child for success on the outside, but inside, I was crumbling,” she admitted. “My immigrant background taught me to push through pain, never show weakness. That mindset nearly cost me everything.”
The vulnerability displayed by these leaders appears to be sparking a shift in Ottawa’s business culture. Attendance exceeded expectations, with some participants standing along the walls of the Shaw Centre’s packed meeting room.
“What we’re witnessing is the beginning of a cultural transformation,” explained Dr. Sarah Richardson, clinical psychologist with The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. “When respected leaders openly discuss their mental health challenges, it creates psychological safety for employees at all levels to do the same.”
The event also provided practical advice for businesses looking to better support mental wellness. Panelists emphasized the importance of creating genuine safe spaces for dialogue, ensuring mental health benefits are accessible, and modeling healthy behaviors from the top down.
“It’s not enough to offer an employee assistance program and consider the box checked,” cautioned Dave Hale, founder of Gecko Digital. “Leaders must actively demonstrate that taking mental health breaks isn’t just permitted—it’s encouraged.”
As our city’s economy evolves, the conversation suggests that mental health awareness is becoming a business imperative rather than a peripheral concern. Companies prioritizing psychological wellness report 41% lower absenteeism and 21% higher profitability according to recent Deloitte research shared at the forum.
The Ottawa Board of Trade has announced plans to make this an annual event, with quarterly smaller sessions planned throughout the coming year.
For this longtime Ottawa observer, the willingness of our business leaders to show vulnerability marks a significant shift in our community’s approach to success. While Ottawa has long prided itself on resilience and determination, perhaps our next chapter will balance that strength with a more compassionate understanding of human fragility.
As I left the Shaw Centre, conversations continued in small clusters, with business cards exchanged not just for potential deals, but for potential support. In a city known for its political power, a different kind of strength was on display—the courage to be authentically human in professional spaces where such honesty has rarely been welcome.
