CEOs are eager to humanize business

There is a growing desire among business leaders to find and foster common ground. LRN founder Dov Seidman argues that it’s not an accident that Chevron is the “human” energy company, Cisco is the “human network,” and TD Bank boasts about being “unexpectedly human.” “They’re saying humanity’s job one,” says Seidman. “The question is who’s going to translate that into humanizing business?” 

It starts with leaders embracing their own humanity. That includes attention to working out and sleep—I’ve counted more than three dozen sleep-tracking Oura rings on leaders I’ve met since coming to Fortune in February. But it also means nurturing mental health, connections, and giving back. 

Sunny Gurpreet Singh worked long hours for more than two decades as he built and ran the health care tech company Edifecs. He says he founded Roundglass after “struggling with serious burnout,” stepping down as CEO of Edifecs in 2021 to devote himself full-time to fostering wellbeing in our communities, companies, and ourselves. Through his foundation, he also invests in sustainability, youth development and mental health, and women’s empowerment—mainly in Punjab, where he grew up. Citing a crisis of “isolation and mental health,” Singh believes business leaders have to find ways to create more connections. 

He put that philosophy into practice last week by cohosting Fortune’s first CEO Initiative member dinner at his beautiful Seattle home. My colleagues Kristin Stoller and Sarah Worob and I joined Singh and a dozen CEOs for a great conversation with exquisite wine and Indian food. We talked about wellness, the business landscape, leadership and much more. We hope to cohost many more in 2025.  

I was reminded of the findings of study after study that people are more likely to stay and thrive in a job when they have friends at work. With flexible work arrangements and high turnover, it’s easy to forget the business case for connecting around shared interests and values. And millions of immigrants like Singh and myself were attracted to the U.S. because of the shared values of this country, which the upcoming election will hopefully reinforce.  

More news below. 

Diane Brady
diane.brady@fortune.com
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