Usually, employees are afraid to mention that they are experiencing burnout to their employers for fear of losing their job, which is why Naya Powell created her business venture.

Powell always knew the key to a successful business was to always put mental health first. Before she founded her own business, Utopia Spa and Global Wellness, she worked for big companies such as IBM and Red Hat.

She experienced burnout first hand while working at those companies and seeing other employees deal with the detrimental effects of overworking.

“As a third-generation entrepreneur, I was motivated to start Spa Utopia, Inc. based on experiences with the impacts of stress and burnout personally and within my family,” Powell said in an interview with Medium.

It wasn't until she became a part of the Google program, Google for Startups Black Founders Fund in 2018, that she decided to fully focus on her brand and teach others about self-care and wellness.

Powell helps medium to large businesses redirect their employees into becoming mentally refreshed so they can focus on their personal and professional lives.

“Utopia SGW helps enterprises, small to medium-sized businesses, educational institutions, and organizations achieve their talent retention, recruitment, productivity, DEI, and other social goals,” she said. “It also allows people to show up as their healthiest and happiest selves daily.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Powell took the steps to creating an online opportunity for those who are suffering from burnout and mental health. Her classes can be joined anywhere and anytime and offers a variety of workshops, such as yoga classes, meditation, and mindfulness practices.

“As a woman of color, I know what it feels like to not feel a sense of belonging. We want to be able to include everyone, no matter their background or where they are based,” Powell stated. “My aim is to deliver safe, fun and convenient multicultural wellness experiences virtually to combat the current global stress and mental health epidemic,” Powell expressed.

According to sources, while only 53% of Millennials felt burned-out in 2020, that number jumped to 59% in 2021. Seven in 10 employees feel burned out in 2022.

Although these numbers are high, Powell’s services will help employees address their issues and decrease burnouts in the workplace.