When Brandon Card, founder and CEO of enterprise AI platform Terzo, shared his personal story of loss and therapy in a Business Insider essay published July 22, 2026, he did more than offer a candid reflection on leadership. He signaled a shift in how his company—and potentially others—approach workplace mental health, making it a core component of corporate culture rather than an afterthought.
In the essay, Card described how grief during Terzo's early years reshaped his definition of success. That personal reckoning led him to speak openly about his own experience with therapy, aiming to destigmatize mental health support for his employees. "I'm hoping I can set a standard for mental health care within Terzo, and that Terzo can set off a domino effect for other companies," Card wrote. His openness is not just a personal catharsis; it is a strategic move to build trust and psychological safety as the company grows.
The implications for Terzo's workforce are significant. Card outlined a longer-term goal of bringing in-house mental health professionals to the company, making support directly available to all employees. He views Terzo's current stage—small and flexible—as an asset, allowing the company to test new approaches to workplace mental health before the team expands. This proactive stance could give Terzo a competitive edge in attracting and retaining talent, particularly among younger workers who increasingly prioritize mental health benefits.
Beyond internal benefits, Card's public commitment could ripple across the tech industry. By sharing his story on a major platform like Business Insider, he adds a prominent voice to the growing conversation about mental health in high-pressure startup environments. If other founders follow suit, it could normalize therapy and mental health support as standard offerings, not perks.
Terzo, founded in 2020, operates across the United States, Canada, and India, serving enterprise customers in finance, legal, IT, supply chain, sales, and procurement. The company's focus on extracting financial intelligence from contracts and supplier documents places it in a competitive field, but its emphasis on employee well-being may become a differentiator. As Terzo scales, Card's experiment will be closely watched. The company's careers page already lists openings, and prospective employees may be drawn to a culture that prioritizes mental health from the top down.
Card's essay is a reminder that leadership is not just about financial performance but about creating environments where people can thrive. By tying his personal journey to a concrete business goal, he has made mental health a measurable part of Terzo's success. The full essay is available on Business Insider, and the accompanying image underscores the personal nature of his message.
