Three in four business leaders in the East Midlands say their mental health has negatively affected their ability to make decisions, according to a new report marking the first anniversary of the Leaders in Disguise podcast.
The findings, published in collaboration with East Midlands Chamber and podcast founder Gary Parsons, highlight key pressures on leadership wellbeing in the region’s business landscape.
Top challenges reported include work-life balance (61%), financial stress (50%), and feelings of isolation or loneliness (18%). Despite these issues, only 30% of leaders said they felt very comfortable seeking mental health support.
The report sheds light on the hidden emotional toll of leadership, revealing how senior figures often shoulder private burdens while steering their organisations. Parsons, a mental health advocate and former business leader, launched the podcast to give voice to those experiences, interviewing executives about burnout, imposter syndrome, and the strain of constant performance.
The East Midlands Chamber says these insights are vital to shaping more resilient and supportive workplace cultures, particularly as mental wellbeing becomes an increasingly important part of business sustainability and performance.
