Foreword

By Ken Bouyer, EY Americas Director of Inclusiveness Recruiting

EY is a global leader in assurance, consulting, strategy and transactions, and tax services with a purpose of building a better working world. While fulfilling their purpose and creating positive change through knowledge, skills, and experience, EY and GenHERation^® have partnered for 10 years to close the gender leadership gap and create life-changing opportunities for high school and college women. Since its inception, EY has been a steadfast partner of GenHERation^®, aligning with its mission to empower entrepreneurs. Witnessing their growth and accomplishments throughout our partnership has been deeply gratifying. EY acknowledges the urgency to address the gender gap, investing more than just financially by dedicating the time and effort of our team. This engagement with GenHERation^® has proved to be both enriching and rewarding for our staff. I believe that we must actively confront the unique challenges faced by women through targeted support and awareness. This sense of urgency has been underscored by my daughter’s recent experiences in college. She has declared Biology as her major, and I have witnessed firsthand the ongoing need to raise awareness of opportunities for women in certain disciplines and how programs like this play a key role. To celebrate our partnership and further amplify our impact, we are interviewing 10 EY leaders, innovators, and changemakers to highlight their expertise and inspire the GenHERation^® community to turn insight into action. 

Here is what EY Wellbeing Program Leader Kristen Jacob had to say when asked about health and wellness:

GenHERation^®: What one word best describes EY US?

Kristen Jacob: Agile.

GenHERation^®: In your current role, what are your primary responsibilities? 

Jacob: I work every day to increase the understanding of wellbeing as an enabler of performance. My primary responsibilities include the oversight of some of EY US’ health and wellbeing benefits, the creation of tools and resources to help evolve the cultural component of wellbeing at the firm, and leading our 1,100-person Wellbeing Champion Network. Every day looks different, with its own little victories and challenges, which is so very refreshing. 

GenHERation^®: What are three actions you can take to promote health and wellness in your daily life? 

Jacob: While these suggestions might be helpful for incorporating healthy behavior into your daily life, they are certainly much more broadly applicable as well. 

Adopt an agile mindset. Through flexibility, you can adjust more swiftly to inevitable change. It’s important to hold to your core values (or wellbeing goals), but agility allows you to become less rigid in how you apply them. 

Strengthen your relationships. Accountability buddies are key. Biologists have discovered that even trees are social beings, nursing each other when sick and warning each other of danger across a fungal network (how awesome is that?). At EY US, we believe wellbeing is a team sport, and we know, through our own research, that when teams mutually prioritize the wellbeing of each individual on that team, they’re all the better for doing so. Be vocal about whatever wellbeing means to you and allow others to help hold you accountable for that. 

Celebrate baby steps! Break down your long-term goal into much smaller parts and recognize your progress and growth along the way, no matter how slight. 

GenHERation^®: How do you make an impact in your role?

Jacob: Actively listening. Though seemingly simple, at an organization like EY US, this can be pretty complex. We recently built a tool called the Vitality Index. The Vitality Index helps us not only better monitor what our people are telling us about their wellbeing and overall employee experience through self-reported data points and surveys, but it also takes a more strategic look at what they are showing us through their actions. It measures components including vacation time taken, hours worked, and involvement in local communities. The data is all incorporated to provide a more holistic view of wellbeing and help teams take the next best step forward to improve the collective state. The importance of listening in a more comprehensive way is something I believe can translate to all professions.

GenHERation^®: What advice would you give your younger self?

Jacob: Flip the question “what’s the worst that could happen” to instead ask “what’s the best that could happen?” See how that shifts things? Rinse and repeat often.

As Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) Wellbeing Program Leader, Kristen Jacob helps oversee the wellbeing strategy for over 58,000 professionals. She has over a decade of experience working in the corporate wellbeing space and couldn’t be more excited about the future of the industry.

Kristen holds a Health Science degree from Clemson University and a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) certification from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, and a certified yoga instructor. Kristen has been to all 50 states, loves all things Buffalo Bills (for better or for worse) and thrives most when discussing the art of the possible.