We Need More CEEEOs
The world doesn’t need more CEOs. It needs CEEEOs.
Leaders who don’t just run companies but energise them. Who don’t just execute strategy but empathise with their people. Who understand that high performance isn’t just about doing more - it’s about being well.
The extra E’s stand for Empathy and Energy - two very human and often overlooked qualities that are essential to building a thriving organisation in today’s world.
Empathy Is the New Edge
Gone are the days when emotions had no place at work. If the last few years have taught us anything, it's this: people want to feel seen, heard and valued. And they perform better when they do.
Empathy isn’t soft. It’s smart. It builds trust, reduces conflict and unlocks creativity. It’s what allows leaders to truly understand what their teams need - not just from a business perspective, but from a human one.
A true CEEEO knows how to hold space for both the mission and the people driving it.
Energy Is a Leader’s Superpower
Great leaders don’t just get things done. They bring energy into the room. They uplift. They inspire. They shift the state of the team - sometimes with just their presence.
And the truth is, energy is contagious. If the leader is constantly anxious, fatigued or disconnected… it spreads. But so does calm. So does clarity. So does vitality. That’s why cultivating personal wellbeing is not a luxury - it’s a leadership skill.
The Burnout Epidemic Is a Leadership Opportunity
We’re seeing more stress, more burnout and more disengagement than ever before. Quiet quitting, absenteeism and high turnover aren’t just HR concerns - they’re signals that something deeper needs attention.
Many workplaces still operate in high-output mode, often unintentionally overlooking the human behind the role. But people aren’t machines. They have nervous systems, emotions and lives beyond the office.
The good news? A shift is possible - and it begins with a new kind of leadership. One that brings empathy and energy to the forefront. This is where the CEEEO mindset becomes not just helpful - but essential.
The Aetna Story: What Happens When Leaders Get It
Mark Bertolini, the former CEO of Aetna, gets it.
After a near-death experience in a skiing accident left him with chronic pain, he turned to yoga and meditation as a last resort. The results were so profound that he didn’t just keep the practices to himself - he brought them into the company.
At Aetna, over 13,000 employees took part in yoga and mindfulness programs. The results?
28% reduction in stress levels
20% improvement in sleep quality
19% reduction in pain
$2,500 per employee saved annually in healthcare costs
Productivity gains valued at $3,000 per employee per year
Bertolini became a pioneer, showing what happens when a leader brings empathy and energy into a corporate system - and the ripple effects were massive. Aetna’s culture shifted. Performance soared. People felt better.
This wasn’t fluff. It was ROI, culture and leadership all working in harmony.
🎥 Want to hear him tell the story himself?
Watch this short video where Mark shares his personal journey and the transformation at Aetna.
Our Contribution: The Ukābrā Flow
At SĀT Wellness, we offer The Ukābrā Flow - a simple daily practice of yoga, breathwork and meditation to help leaders and teams reconnect with calm, clarity and vitality. It’s practical and accessible - even for those who’ve never tried anything like this before. In just 15 minutes a day, it can shift stress into presence and restore energy. And in that space, something valuable often arises: creativity.
Creativity: The Hidden Currency of Leadership
Why does creativity matter so much?
Because in a fast-changing world, the problems leaders face can’t always be solved with logic alone. Creativity fuels innovation, adaptability and vision.
In fact, a major IBM survey in 2010 - conducted with over 1,500 CEOs across 60 countries and 33 industries - found that the number one leadership quality they valued most wasn’t discipline, integrity or vision. It was creativity.
And yet, most of us try to force creativity from a place of pressure. But it rarely works like that.
Personally, I’ve found that my best ideas often arise right after my Ukābrā Flow practice - when I’m calm, centred and clear. It's like a window opens. Insights just drop in. I now keep my phone nearby so I can quickly note down whatever shows up - an idea for a program, a solution to a challenge or a message that wants to be shared.
That’s the power of inner stillness. When the noise quiets down, creativity speaks. So, while creativity may be rare in the workplace, it's not inaccessible. It simply needs the right conditions to emerge.
The Future of Leadership Is Human
CEOs will always be needed. But the best ones - the ones who will shape the future - are already evolving. They’re becoming CEEEOs. Leaders who know that Empathy and Energy aren’t soft - they’re smart. That wellbeing isn’t separate from performance - it’s the foundation of it. That a thriving team culture starts with a centred, self-aware leader.
If you’re a leader reading this - ask yourself:
Am I just managing people… or am I energising them?
Am I only asking how they’re performing… or also how they’re feeling?
Am I modelling presence and purpose in how I show up?
Because when you lead with empathy and energy, you don’t just build a better business. You build better people.
And that’s the kind of legacy worth leading.
