Burnout, Boundaries & Belonging in PR | Why There Is an ‘I’ in Team

In this special episode of the mentl space, host Scott Armstrong, founder of mentl, sits down with Sinead O’Connor and LuAnne D’Souza from Current Global MENAT - joint winners of the mentl awards 2024 in the PR category and finalists again for 2025.Fresh from a powerful team workshop led by Scott from mentl, and organizational psychologist Sarah Christensen, the trio unpack the realities of agency life - constant connectivity, blurred boundaries, burnout, and the drive to create belonging in a 24-hour news culture.They explore the central theme: why there really is an ‘I’ in team - and how embracing individuality, vulnerability, and trust can transform wellbeing, creativity, and business performance.🎥 Recorded at Current Global MENAT, Dubai, following a mentl × Christensen Consultancy joint workshop on resilience and team connection.Chapters0:00 – Welcome from Scott Armstrong: “There is an ‘I’ in Team” 1:29 – Sinead O’Connor on global pressures and lived experiences at work 2:36 – LuAnne D’Souza on being “always on” and struggling to switch off 3:18 – The WhatsApp culture and blurred client boundaries in PR 4:31 – Sarah Christensen on rapid change, burnout, and lost human connection 6:22 – PRCA data and worsening mental-health trends in the communications industry 7:09 – Inside the 24-hour news cycle: constant deadlines and client demands 9:08 – WhatsApp anxiety and learning to set boundaries 10:15 – Tone from the top: creating safety and respect in agency culture 12:00 – “PR not ER”: leadership philosophy and wellbeing at work 13:52 – The business case for wellbeing and performance 14:58 – Why individuality drives innovation: “There is an ‘I’ in Team” 17:10 – Celebrating differences and learning across disciplines 18:27 – Inclusion vs fitting in: vulnerability and authentic leadership 22:00 – Psychological safety and unleashing creativity 24:25 – Turning conflict into constructive challenge 26:25 – The power of reflection and team sharing exercises 27:46 – Seeing colleagues in a new light: human connection in action 28:36 – Why conversations and “water-cooler” moments fuel belonging 30:33 – Turning pressure into opportunity: culture change from within 31:39 – Reflection rituals and red-orange-green check-ins 33:45 – How to measure success: belonging you can feel 35:16 – Culture as reputation: when people want to work with you 36:10 – Sinead’s takeaway: kindness and role-modelling from the top 36:47 – Sarah’s takeaway: authenticity and heart in leadership 38:06 – LuAnne’s takeaway: individuality and accountability 38:39 – Scott’s close: individuality + collective = healthy team