Amy Small

I've spent most of my professional life as a creative and executive leader in advertising and marketing — two industries notorious for long hours, breakneck pace, and unreasonable performance expectations. And for a long time, I thrived in it. Until I didn't. Between the corporate ladder, supporting my team, raising mostly well-adjusted kids, maintaining my marriage, grieving a parent, navigating a pandemic, and being in the middle of some pretty toxic leadership environments — I ran smack into a perfect storm (three times, honestly) that took a real toll on my mental health, my creative identity, and my sense of purpose.

Through recovery and self-reconnection, I began to understand something that isn't talked about enough: the conditions that protect people's wellbeing are the same conditions that make great creative work possible. Psychological safety. Real leadership. A culture where people feel seen and challenged in equal measure.

When those things are missing, people go quiet — and so does the work.

That gap became impossible to ignore.

My lived experience led me into organizational design, leadership facilitation, and culture consulting — working alongside organizations of all sizes to build the conditions where people and creative work can actually thrive. Mental health is a major part of that. So is instinct, inspiration, and the kind of environment where people bring their best thinking instead of just showing up.

I believe those things aren't soft. They're structural. Leaders who understand this don't just have healthier teams, they have more wholly-fulfilled humans. And all that leads to more energy, creativity, and broad organizational success.

Related Experience

• YPO KA Executive Leadership Forum Facilitator

• Author of the 2024 Mental Health in Advertising survey and report

• Host and moderator for The One Club for Creativity’s “Beyond the Breakdown: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis in Advertising” event series

• Architect and former lead of Wholebeing — a custom agency employee mental health and wellbeing initiative

  • Received Gold-level Bell Seal Certification from MHA (Mental Health America)

  • Awarded 2023 “Best New Workplace Approach to Mental Wellbeing” from This Can Happen Global

  • Read an interview about Wholebeing here

• Publications: check out my Speaking + Features page

Training + Certifications

I believe the best organizational work comes from leaders and consultants who never stop learning. A few of the places I've been investing my time:

• Masters in Strategic Leadership and Development (In progress)

• Board Certification in Somatic Work - Individual and Relational (In progress)

• Certified Executive Leadership Facilitator (YPO / CircleSpace)

• Trauma-Informed Leadership Certification (University of North Florida)

• Mental Health First Aid Certification (MHFA-US)

• Organizational and Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC) Fundamentals

• Compassionate and Resilient Leadership Certificate (Center for Compassionate Leadership)