The femtech founder’s stress toolkit: how to make wellbeing a non-negotiable

Stress – as anyone in femtech will know – manifests in many forms. As humans, each of us has different triggers, vulnerabilities and tolerances to it.

And while many of us will claim to “thrive under stress” (hi A-types, I see you), we know that too much will flood our nervous systems, accelerate burnout, and ultimately, lead to longer-term health issues if left unchecked.

Recent HSE figures found that 51 per cent of the 1.8 million work-related illnesses in Great Britain are a result of stress, depression or anxiety. An estimated 17 million working days were lost due to work-related stress, depression, or anxiety in 2021/22.

As female founders, we’re excellent at investing our time and energy in the vital work of supporting our teams, building our businesses, keeping investors happy. Often taking on more stress as a result.

You know the saying “You can’t pour from an empty cup?” How can you manage stress levels as a female founder, doing All The Things, while staying replenished and in touch with your own wellbeing?

Perspective as a superpower

Harnessing your perspective as issues arise can help you create distance from stress – or stressful situations. Notice when it’s happening, pause and try to delineate your thoughts and response.

When you step back, and look inwards, you can acknowledge the situation rather than be consumed by it. Know you are not your thoughts.

Connection plays a huge part in perspective. Invest in connections with peers and likeminded founders to build community, support and accountability. The femtech community is a hugely supportive one – reach out, build those links.

Understand your stress

Where does your stress come from? Is it environmental – the expected pressures of building a business and all that comes with it? Or could it be physiological? For instance, could it be the reality of peri/ menopausal symptoms adding another layer of stress?

While femtech is a brilliant example of the strides made in the menopause conversation, we can’t underestimate how it impacts our emotional, mental and physical health. Investing in coaching and wellbeing support to create a personal plan is a powerful way to navigate this transitional time.

Seeking support as radical courage

You know the deal. As women, there’s a legacy of nurturing others while putting our own needs to the bottom of the list. Between team check-ins, investor updates, and life admin, it can feel uncomfortable to ask for something for yourself.

Years of coaching has taught me that overwhelm is a fast-track to burnout. And because it’s cumulative, it compounds everything we’re dealing with – breaking points can happen in the boardroom or the playground.

Stress is not a failing, it’s a normal part of a full life. Take courage in asking for help.

Build your own trusted support team. Engage coach or a thinking partner who is committed to holding space for quality conversations helping you support and expand your own self-awareness, understanding and personal development.

Come back to your values

Reconnecting with values is a huge part of the resilience work I do with clients. When stress escalates, we need to get back to our why, and refocus on our sense of purpose.

Start small, perhaps by setting a daily intention aligned to your values. Then build this into your working day. Ask: what do I want from this meeting? What can I bring to this conversation? What’s the one thing I need to accomplish today?

Break it down into micro-steps. What’s the next positive step I can take to bring me back to my goals?

Anchor into your own wellbeing

Making wellbeing a non-negotiable can be one of the most powerful things you can do – especially as a femtech founder.

Identify your personal wellbeing pillars – hydration, meditation, 10k steps, a weekly yoga class, 9pm bedtimes – with the knowledge these will vary from season to season.

Heading into summer, I’m committing to more white space in my day, building in thinking and creative time. Choose what works for you. Attend to it daily.

Embodying wellbeing as a femtech founder shouldn’t be considered a privilege; it’s neither frivolous or a nice to have. It’s how we shape new possibilities for what we’re building with our companies, helping us all to be more authentic and whole in our work.

This isn’t about adding yet another “to do” to the list. It’s how you access powerful resources to support you through the sticky, stressful moments that come with the founder territory.

A bonus is that modelling this behaviour for your team means you can give the people around you permission to do the same, and reset the culture around stress at work.

Kate Hesk is the founder and CPO at the HRtech platform Cognomie. Prior to Cognomie, Kate’s career spanned 15 years in leadership development and coaching consultancy after 12 years in management and leadership roles in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry.