Leading with Love: Burnout, Authenticity, and Joy in 2025
A “Leaders Who Last” Recap with Ben Finzel
In the latest episode of Leaders Who Last, Elena Joy sat down with Ben Finzel—President of RENEWPR, long-time public affairs leader, and joyful truth-teller—to explore what burnout really looks like in 2025, especially for those holding marginalized identities, working in high-pressure sectors like politics and PR, and trying to lead with integrity in a fractured world.
Ben’s perspective? Burnout isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign that you care. And in a year many are calling “a hellscape,” that caring needs to be met with support systems, community, and what he calls “common sense communication.”
Key Takeaways:
Burnout ≠ Failure: It's a human response to prolonged care and pressure. The antidote isn't isolation or over-functioning—it's connection and clarity.
Don’t Go It Alone: Ben emphasized the power of chosen family, colleague networks, and community-based collaboration like The Change Agencies—a coalition of 15 PR firms led by LGBTQ+ people and people of color.
Simplicity as Strategy: RENEWPR’s approach to messaging—“common sense communication”—isn’t just a branding choice, it’s a burnout prevention tool. When organizations stick to their values and speak plainly, trust grows, internally and externally.
Joy as Resistance: From queer joy to community joy, Ben reminded us that joy is not frivolous—it’s essential. His postponed (but not canceled!) 10-year business anniversary party is now a fundraiser for Family Equality, reinforcing that celebration and advocacy can go hand in hand.
Purposeful Giving: Ben also shared how launching a scholarship for LGBTQ+ students at Texas Tech is one way he stays grounded in purpose and joy, even amidst cultural and political pushback.
Final Wisdom:
“Burnout is a symptom of caring. The response isn’t to stop caring—it’s to lead with love.”
We left this conversation reminded that sustainable leadership isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing it together, with clarity, community, and compassion.
Get in Touch
Friends, if your company could use some powerhouse PR experts, get in touch with Ben, either through his climate and energy-focused agency, RENEWPR, or through his conglomerate of diverse experts, The Change Agencies. And if it feels joyful, Latitude invites you to join us in celebrating their 10 year anniversary by donating to their fundraiser for Family Equality.
Do you and your team need to develop some burnout prevention skills? Or do your leaders need to know exactly how to intervene? Sign up for a time to do your complimentary Capacity Assessment with our CEO, Elena Joy, to understand the burnout risk your team is currently experiencing, plus an action plan of what to do about it.
Next week, we are chatting with another leader who lasts, Diana Charbonneau. Join us!
#BurnoutPrevention #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadersWhoLast #LGBTQLeadership #InclusiveLeadership #PR #ClimateCommunications