Gen Z and Mental Health with Dr. Mary Collins

Episode notes

AI is moving faster than most workplaces can rewrite their playbooks, and that raises a blunt question: if machines can handle more tasks, what should people leaders double down on? We sit down with chartered psychologist and leadership coach Dr. Mary Collins to make the case that emotional intelligence, empathy, and relationship building are not “nice to have” anymore. They are the skills that keep teams healthy, productive, and connected when the pace of change keeps spiking. We get practical about what AI can and cannot replace, including a candid take on AI therapists and why deep trust still comes from human-to-human presence. From there, we zoom in on the real cost of distraction at work: weaker listening, thinner connection, and declining empathy. Mary shares why this matters for culture, mental health, and performance, plus how leaders can rebuild attention and communication habits in everyday moments like 1:1s and hard conversations. Gen Z at work is a major focus too. We unpack the strengths younger workers bring, the data on stress tolerance and wellbeing, and what leaders often miss when managing intergenerational teams.