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.

Chapters

0:00 – 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