It was 4AM when my team’s intern messaged me yesterday.

She was unwell and wanted to reschedule our discussion (physical meeting)—possibly to another day depending on how she felt. But what struck me most wasn’t the request. It was her hesitation.

She was worried that rescheduling might affect how I saw her.

That broke my heart.

I told her no—we’re not meeting today. I asked her to rest. And yet, she was still reluctant, still concerned about making a “bad impression.”

This young woman hasn’t even entered the industry yet, and already she feels the weight of expectations that say rest is weakness and productivity is proof of worth.

How did we get here?

What stories has she heard—or seen—that made her believe taking care of herself might damage her career before it’s even begun?

We talk a lot about culture in the corporate world. But culture starts in the quiet moments, like telling an intern it’s okay to rest without fear.

If we want better workplaces tomorrow, we need to start modeling healthier expectations today.

#WorkCulture #Empathy
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