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Built on Relationships with Mindy East
Built on Relationships with Mindy East is your source of strategies for growing your business through the relationships you build.
Join me every Wednesday for honest conversations about networking, visibility, and the connections that move a business forward.
I spent 30 years in HR leadership at Disney, McDonald's, Gap and Old Navy, and two global nonprofits, and I learned the same thing in every one of them. Nothing moves without relationships. Today I run a business that comes 98% from referrals. Not because I got lucky, and not because I'm the loudest person in the room. Because I stopped leaving my relationships to chance.
Here's the thing. Most of us were never taught how to do this well. We were told to show up, hand out cards, and hope something came of it. That's why networking feels like a waste of time to so many capable people.
Each week we get into what actually works. How to walk into a room and leave with more than a stack of cards. How to use LinkedIn as the tool it is instead of the billboard most people treat it as. How to follow up so people remember you. We'll also get into the relationships that keep a business running once the introduction is over. Clients who stay, partners who show up, the people you lead and the people who open doors for you.
Whether you're a business owner, an entrepreneur, or a professional building your reputation, you'll walk away from every episode with something you can use this week.
Visit www.mindyeast.com to learn more, and listen every Wednesday.
Built on Relationships with Mindy East
PTSD At Work
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In this episode of The People Success Circle, Mindy sits down with Mandi Pratt—a resilience speaker, trauma-informed advocate, and podcaster—for an honest conversation about mental health at work and what happens when trauma follows someone into the workplace.
Mandi shares parts of her personal story and explains how PTSD in the workplace (including complex PTSD) can show up in ways leaders don’t always recognize—difficulty focusing, trouble making decisions, heightened anxiety, and working in survival mode. Because these experiences are often invisible, employees may be labeled as “disengaged” or “underperforming” when they’re actually navigating workplace stress and trauma behind the scenes.
Together, Mindy and Mandi unpack what trauma-informed leadership can look like in real life—especially for managers and HR professionals who want to build psychological safety at work without prying or forcing disclosure. They discuss the importance of wellbeing check-ins, how to approach conversations with compassion, and why employees may not speak up even when support is available.
You’ll also hear practical strategies for supporting employees with PTSD, including how HR can implement safety planning when needed, how to use workplace resources like Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), and how leaders can reduce stigma by normalizing mental health support and accommodations.
If you’re a leader, HR professional, or employee trying to navigate a difficult season, this episode offers a grounded and compassionate look at how trauma impacts job performance—and what it takes to create a truly supportive work environment.
In this episode, we cover:
- What workplace PTSD awareness looks like—and why trauma is often missed at work
- Common PTSD symptoms at work (focus issues, decision fatigue, anxiety, panic, survival mode)
- Recognizing trauma responses at work vs assuming it’s “just performance”
- How leaders can build emotional safety in the workplace through consistent wellbeing check-ins
- What to say when you notice a change in behavior (without forcing disclosure)
- Why employees often don’t ask for help, even when they need it
- Practical examples of employee mental health support, including EAP resources
- How HR can support safety planning and create a more trauma-informed workplace
- Leadership behaviors that can unintentionally cause harm (pressure, control, judgment)
- The mindset shift that creates healing-centered workplaces: acknowledgement + compassion + consistency
- How to help reduce stigma and support mental health accommodations at work when appropriate
Resources Mentioned:
- Website: https://mandipratt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenawareandprepared/
- Podcast: Aware and Prepared
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandipratt/
- Take Mandi’s Intuition Quiz: Curious how well you’re trusting your intuition—at work and in life? Take Mandi’s intuition quiz to assess how you respond to internal signals and where you may be overriding your instincts.
Join Networking School & Become Known In Your Industry: https://limerockconsulting.co/networking-school
Company Website: www.limerockconsulting.co
Speaking Website: www.mindyeast.com