Honoring and Remembering My Friend, Gilad

A tribute to his light - and a reminder you don’t have to walk alone.

Today’s newsletter is a step away from our typical Leadership Horizon.

Today is a day to honor and remember my friend and colleague, Gilad who was on my coaching team for two years. He was the best of men and one of the most beautiful souls I have known.

After his death, I found out that he struggled with deep depression and that he had forbidden his family from talking about it or getting him help. This is tragic and heartbreaking.

In the eulogy, something that was said has stayed with me: “It is important to recognize it for what it is: an illness and not Gilad himself. For in his life, Gilad was so much more than those dark thoughts.”

In a world where we are suffering from an epidemic of loneliness, where so many are quietly carrying mental health issues - depression, trauma, PTSD, addiction - illnesses that are treatable - this beautiful man made the tragic decision that the answer was to exit. The pain was too much.

This breaks my heart. 

Some of you know that for two and a half decades, I was a trauma therapist. I can’t even begin to tell you how many individuals I had safety contracts with - a plan to prevent them from a suicidal act when those dark thoughts came up. In all those years, I never had a client die from suicide. 

What I want to say today is simple:
You do not need to go through this alone.

If you are struggling, feel isolated, or if the darkness feels heavier than you can carry, please reach out for help. Don’t hide this behind a wall of shame.

There are extraordinary mental health services available to you. If you are in the United States, you can call or text 988 - the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - anytime. If you are outside the U.S., please look up your country’s suicide prevention resources here; there are services worldwide.

The values I’ve built this company around are a result of my years serving humanity as a therapist. Because of this, I believe deeply in serving our clients holistically. Most of our clients are pursuing enormous business goals and bold visions - and at the same time, many are quietly navigating private, personal challenges.

We support the whole human being - not only the business leader, not only the entrepreneur, not only the public success story. But also, the private struggles. Because the unseen battles matter and impact us. You matter.

When I think of Gilad, I think of this story which captures his heart:

About 4 years ago, Gilad was staying with me and my husband while meeting with clients in Omaha. One afternoon, he joined me for a daily walk around the lake near our home. As we walked, he looked at me and said, “Sarah, do you always walk like this?”

Me: “What do you mean?”

Gilad: “You’re walking so fast with such purpose. Do you ever just meander? Or stroll? Slow down enough to feel the earth and the wind and the sky around you?”

That was Gilad. Inviting us to slow down and feel the world, connecting more deeply.

He was so much more than the mental health illness that overtook him. He was a man who called me to be my best, had a huge heart, was a giver of books, and deep soul.

Today, we honor his light.

If you are carrying something heavy - please, choose to ask for help. Don’t let the stigmatism of mental health issues prevent you from allowing someone to walk with you.

If you would like to donate to Gilad’s family during these difficult times, please do those through this link.