Nina Buffi’s Post

These past months have been a rollercoaster - between the holiday rush and the heartbreaking situation in Israel, I've found myself having deeper conversations with the founders and product leaders I work with. One thing keeps coming up: we're all trying to figure out how to stay focused when the world feels shaky. This got me thinking about what actually helps us stay balanced and effective. I call it the ‘𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸’- a leadership framework built on three simple yet powerful pillars that work closely together: 1. 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵: Because we can't pour from an empty cup 2. 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: Finding clarity when nothing seems clear 3. 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Actually getting things done, even when it's hard Through my research in neuroscience and psychology (where I'm currently pursuing my master's degree), I've realized how deeply connected these elements are. Miss a few nights of good sleep, and suddenly even simple decisions feel overwhelming. I've been there, and I bet you have too. Starting next week, I'll be sharing a detailed breakdown of each pillar in the ‘Grounding Stack’ leadership framework, beginning with mental health foundations. I'd love to hear your thoughts as we explore this together. What's your biggest challenge in staying focused during uncertain times? Share below 🧠 #Startup #Entrepreneurship #MentalHealth #Leadership #Neuroscience

IT'S OFFICIAL... I'm extremely proud and excited to announce that I've been accepted as an Executive Contributor for Brainz Magazine!!! Over the coming months, I'll be writing regular articles about mental health, setting healthy boundaries, navigating friendships in adulthood, and the seven dimensions of wellness for Brainz readers to enjoy - I'll be sure to share them with you all here too, so watch this space! Brainz Magazine is a fast-growing global digital publication covering Business, Lifestyle, Mindset, Sustainability, and Leadership topics. The editorial teams have a strong understanding of what their readers are interested in, and the magazine reaches over 300,000 people every week, spanning over 65 countries! Brainz Magazine is known for inviting top entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized companies, scientists, and influential leaders to contribute to the magazine, which they hand-pick for their expertise. As you can imagine, it's a huge honor to have the opportunity to publish my expertise online on a regular basis, and I'm delighted to be joining them! Brainz Magazine publishes influential articles that inspire, educate, or motivate its readers - you can take a look here: www.brainzmagazine.com #BIPOCMentalHealth #MindsetMatters #Leadership #PersonalDevelopment #SuccessMindset #Empowerment #BusinessGrowth #inspiration #EntrepreneurLife #ProfessionalGrowth

In their landmark study Balderton Capital sheds light on the hidden struggles faced by startup founders, with 70% experiencing burnout and 42% distracted by financial stress. The report also highlights that Founders and CEOs don't all conform to the "carefree stereotype of 20-somethings widely associated with startups" and 78% of founders and CEOs feel entrepreneurs are expected to constantly prioritise working more over investing time in their own wellbeing. As leaders, they often face overwhelming pressure that impacts both mental health and relationships. As an ecosystem we need to do more to support founders - burnout affects decision-making and motivation as well as the ability of founders to deliver value to investors and drive business growth. At Stress Point Health, we are working to showcase the power of regulating and managing emotions to ensure peak performance. If you want to find out more get in touch! Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/de94kyer #FounderWellbeing #MentalHealthMatters #Leadership #StressManagement #Burnout Sheena Pirbhai Taz Rajabali Melius Consulting Dr. Myles Furnace Elsa Hyland Roujin Ghamsari (FCIPD) Mouna Laaragat Michael Bott DeReK WaTSoN Ahmad Khalil

I have spoken before about "hustle culture" in the startup ecosystem and how I believe that ultimately it is a curve of diminishing returns. This report by Balderton Capital confirms it is not just 20 somethings building amazing startups but a wide variety of ages, socio-economic backgrounds and stages in life. True innovation comes from diversity of founders and experiences that see problems that need solving through different lenses. In healthcare, medicines have traditionally only been tested on white men and women's health has been largely ignored until brave women of all ages and backgrounds decided to change that. I have always believed in prioritising my mental health and wellbeing to make sure I can always perform at my best, especially given the highs and lows of running a startup. I would love to hear from other founders and investors - drop a comment and share your thoughts. #FounderWellbeing #MentalHealthMatters #Burnout

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁? This simple question sparked a significant change in my outlook on both life and entrepreneurship. In my journey, I’ve found that optimism is a powerful tool against the challenges we face. But it’s not just about me. I believe it's time we create a space in the tech world where conversations about mental health aren't just occasional whispers but everyday talks. Personally, acknowledging my anxiety and learning to navigate it has been a game-changer. It taught me the value of self-care and the importance of community support. Let’s commit to breaking the silence on mental health, making it a topic of discussion as natural as any business strategy. If my story resonates with you, or if you have your own to share, let's start a conversation. #MentalHealth #FemaleFounders #TechWellness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessCoach #StartupJourney #Leadershipcoaching _____________________ 👋🏻If you're new here, welcome! ✨ I'm Sarah, dedicated to empowering female founders in the tech industry. My expertise is in providing strategic, leadership, and financial tools to transform your idea into a confident launch. Connect with me for actionable insights on aligning your startup's vision with effective leadership and financial strategies.

🚨 Burnout Alert: the silent killer of high-performing teams In my practice, I've seen it time and time again: 🔸 Brilliant minds. 🔸 Ambitious goals. 🔸 Relentless drive. ...and then, suddenly, everything grinds to a halt. Why? Because we've been conditioned to ignore the potholes in our mental landscape. 🕳️ What are these potholes? - Shame-based achievement - Anxious energy masquerading as productivity - Perfectionism that paralyzes Sound familiar? Here's the truth: These are not character flaws. They're learned behaviors that once served us but now hold us back. 🧠 The Neuroscience behind it: Our brains form these patterns early. They're survival mechanisms, but in high-pressure environments like startups, they can become our downfall. 💡 The Solution: It's not about working harder. It's about rewiring our approach to work and self. In my work with high-growth startups, we focus on: - Recognizing these patterns - Understanding their origins - Developing new, healthier responses The result? Teams that don't just survive, but thrive under pressure.

Agency—the power to shape our own outcomes, make empowered decisions, and guide our work and lives. This is why many of us choose to become entrepreneurs, leaders, or funders—we want to make an impact on our own terms. However, the journey of founders, creators, and problem-solvers is filled with challenges: setbacks, rejection, and sometimes, failures. Maintaining our sense of agency and self-efficacy is key to achieving big goals and creating lasting impact. But how do we sustain ourselves along the way? During the process of selling my last business, I hit burnout. My sense of agency and self-efficacy took a nosedive. I realized I needed to regenerate—not just my energy, but also my working identity. One of the things that helped me bounce back, and even reach a new level of creativity, was studying the neurobiology of optimal performance. Performance optimization often implies pushing ourselves harder. But for me, it was the opposite. I learned when I worked best, how to manage natural energy fluctuations, and how daily restoration could be both healing and productive. Understanding the neurobiology of burnout—and how depleted my nervous system was—helped me structure my days for maximum value, both for myself and those I work with. Agency isn’t about control. We can't control everything. We can, though, often choose how we spend our time. Will we focus on activities that elevate and restore us? Or will we continue down a path that leads to burnout? Will we push when our bodies and minds are signaling they need rest? Can we refocus once we've recharged? This is what real agency means—choosing regeneration, caring for your nervous system, and pursuing well-being, and vitality, which ultimately lead to optimal performance and high productivity where it matters. #leadership #entrepreneurship #selfleadership #regenerativeleadership #sustainability #peakperformance #wellbeing #future

What if we optimized for hope instead of skepticism? A lot of founder conversations are centered around what could go wrong or how the business could fail. I've watched a lot of my founder friends shutter, sell, or put their startups on pause. With the doom-scrolling culture that marks the current economy, it makes a lot of sense to hunker down and prepare for the worst. ...but what if we focused on hope? For me, this mindset shift has prompted a lot of questions: What if Outerly succeeded? What would the world like if our vision of making the outdoors social grew like wildfire? If a WOC-owned tech startup in the predominantly white and male outdoor recreation industry succeeded? If our diverse investor base got the 100x+ return we're working to give them? If Outerly succeeds, the world would be a pretty rad place, 100% of people would participate in outdoor recreation, mental illness wouldn't dictate our lives, and people wouldn't have to feel lonely if they didn't want to. Our investors - over 70% female and over 50% POC - would have capital to invest in themselves or in other underrepresented founders. Most importantly, we'd prove that a company that believed wholeheartedly in its impact could grow past the expectations of skeptics and win the hearts of the people it serves. Now THAT'S a story, isn't it? As a founder, hope wakes me up in the morning, caffeinates me on long days and nights working, and gives me the energy to tell the Outerly story whenever I'm asked. Hope keeps me going when skepticism tries to stop me. So whenever you're feeling blah in your journey, and the doubt and questioning comes to eat you alive...try shifting your focus to hope and noticing how it motivates and inspires you.

Leaders aren’t robots, we’re human, too! 🙋🏻♀️ Over the past couple of months, I went through one of the most challenging times of my life. 😔 My mental health hit an all-time low, and it impacted both my engagement and productivity at work. I’m sharing this now because I’m in a much better place, and I owe it to my incredible team who stepped up and supported me through it all. 💪🏽 We often hear “business isn’t personal,” but the truth is, it always is, especially when your mental health is on the line. As entrepreneurs, we don’t have the luxury of hiding behind a corporate safety net. We just have to push through, even when we’re not operating at 100%. It’s a reality most people don’t talk about, but we should. Because at the end of the day, we’re all human, and it’s time we start normalising these conversations. If you’re struggling, please know that you’re not alone. ❤️ #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthday #leadership #entrepreneurship

Elevate Your Business Workshop We hope you will join us! Join us on July 10th from 12 PM - 5 PM at The Hyatt Place, Mesa, AZ, for a transformative experience that will elevate your business to new heights! Why Attend? Empowerment and Expansion: Learn strategies to empower your business, from startups to empire expansions. Break barriers and shatter ceilings! Scaling Secrets: Ready to leap from 7 figures to 8? Discover insider secrets on navigating challenges in people, systems, leadership, and culture. Inner Power and Mental Mastery: Fuel your spirit with sessions on empowerment, mental health, and self-awareness. Unleash your inner superhero and celebrate every milestone! Tap into the minds of 16 business titans who’ve cracked the growth code and leave with a crystal-clear game plan to turbocharge your business’s profits. Location: The Hyatt Place, 1422 W Bass Pro Dr, Mesa, AZ 85201 Register Now: https://lnkd.in/gmMiPViB Don’t miss this opportunity to mix, mingle, and elevate your business! #BusinessWorkshop #LeaveYourLegacy #Empowerment #ScalingSecrets #InnerPower #ElevateYourBusiness #BusinessGrowth