
Empathy at scale isn’t easy—but it’s the heart of BetterHelp’s mission.With two decades of marketing leadership at Facebook, The RealReal, and Beyond, Sara Brooks has helped brands grow from startup to IPO and beyond. Now, as Chief Growth Officer at BetterHelp, she’s using data and storytelling to make mental health care more accessible around the world. In this episode, Sara joins Jason Harris to talk about leading with empathy in a data-driven world, the power of authentic storytelling, and how vulnerability has become one of the most effective tools in brand building. She also shares lessons from campaigns with Lewis Capaldi and college athletes that prove empathy—and humor—can coexist with rigor and scale. Key Takeaways: ✅ Empathy and data aren’t opposites—they’re accelerants ✅ Authenticity can’t be automated, but it can be scaled ✅ Vulnerability builds affinity faster than perfection ✅ Destigmatizing mental health starts with honest storytelling Memorable Moments: 💡 “When you feel better, everyone in your life feels better as well.” 💡 “Vulnerability isn’t a risk—it’s the whole point.” 💡 “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. Just get started.” 💡 “If not us, then who? If not now, then when? ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 02:00 – Meet Sara Brooks, Chief Growth Officer at BetterHelp 05:30 – From Facebook to The RealReal: A Career Built on Scale 09:00 – Growing BetterHelp: Making Mental Health Accessible 13:00 – Leading With Empathy in a Data-Driven Marketing World 17:00 – The Power of Authentic Storytelling in Brand Building 20:30 – The Lewis Capaldi Campaign: When Vulnerability Wins 24:00 – Using College Athletes to Destigmatize Mental Health 28:00 – Scaling Authenticity Without Losing the Human Element 32:00 – Lessons for Marketers: Just Start and Iterate ”Brought to you by Mekanism.

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