Why Chicago's Top Companies Are Bringing Kasey Franco Into Their Boardrooms

When the Chicago Blackhawks, the American Medical Association, Hyatt Regency, Lettuce Entertain You, and the U.S. District Court all turn to the same mental health and wellness consultant, it's worth asking: what does Kasey Franco know that your organization doesn't yet?

The answer, it turns out, is both science-backed and deeply human — and it's available to you right here at BIÂN through Kasey Franco, our Member Advisor, Corporate Speaker, and Master Coach.

The Business Case for Workforce Mental Health Has Never Been Clearer

Burnout costs U.S. employers an estimated $125–190 billion in healthcare spending annually. Disengaged employees cost organizations 18% of their annual salary in lost productivity. And in today's environment — where leaders are expected to move faster, communicate across generations, and perform under relentless pressure — the human cost is even higher.

This is precisely the terrain Kasey Franco has spent 18+ years navigating.

A Mental Health & Wellness Consultant with a master's degree in Forensic Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Kasey has delivered over 1,500 trainings and workshops since 2017 across corporate, government, healthcare, and community sectors. Her approach isn't motivational-speaker inspiration that fades by Monday morning. It's grounded in trauma-informed practice, neuroscience, and measurable behavioral change.

What Makes Kasey Franco Different

Many organizations have tried wellness programs. Few have transformed their culture. The difference is almost always in the facilitator.

Kasey brings a rare combination to every engagement:

Clinical depth. Her training spans crisis intervention, motivational interviewing, suicide prevention and postvention, trauma-informed leadership, and Positive Intelligence (PQ®) coaching — a research-based mental fitness methodology that produces measurable brain changes visible in MRI imaging within just 8 weeks of practice.

Real-world breadth. She has trained first responders at the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department, and Office of Emergency Management & Communications — some of the highest-stress, highest-stakes environments in any city. She brings that same rigor to corporate boardrooms and marketing teams.

Customization at every level. No two organizations receive the same program. Kasey designs every workshop around the audience's specific pressures, culture, and goals — whether that's a 90-minute session on managing burnout for a leadership team, or a multi-week Positive Intelligence coaching cohort for senior executives.

What Corporate Leaders Are Saying

The proof is in the outcomes. Here's how Kasey's clients describe the experience:

"It was a transformative experience working with Kasey through the Positive Intelligence coaching program. She helped me identify hidden mental saboteurs and gave me the tools to shift my mindset in real time. I became more calm, intentional, and grounded — better able to lead my team, navigate challenges, and quiet negative self-talk. Kasey's style is the perfect blend of deep empathy and practical strategy. One of the most valuable professional investments I've made."

— Jack Ryden, Director of Development, LG Group

"Kasey's session empowered our leaders to step back and examine how they show up under pressure — and how greater self-awareness can shift that relationship in meaningful ways. The tools were approachable and immediately applicable. Most importantly, the session encouraged our leaders to reconnect with intention and values in how they lead their teams. It sparked thoughtful conversations and reflection that I believe will continue to influence how our leaders approach performance and well-being."

— Jennifer Bell, CMO/Partner, Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants

"Kasey's coaching approach is both insightful and practical. Her guidance gave me the tools to successfully navigate challenges in both work and home life. As a result of our work together, I've grown as a leader. I'm more confident in my decision-making, more empathetic toward others, and better able to lead with intention and authenticity."

— Mark Garrison, Director of Development, LG Group

"Working with Kasey was a turning point. Kasey's structured coaching, paired with her genuine care, deep life experience, and unwavering support, gave me the tools to face fears, push past self-doubt, and take action."

— Cullen Hurley, Associate Director, Real Estate Industry

"Your session genuinely impacted me in a lasting way, grounding me in my new role and helping me focus on the present. Thank you for your impactful work."

— Workshop Participant

Signature Corporate Training Programs

Kasey offers a full suite of workshops and coaching programs designed specifically for organizations. All sessions are grounded in trauma-informed and healing-centered frameworks, and each one is customized to your team's unique needs and time constraints.

Leadership & Culture Development

  • Inspired & Conscious Leadership

  • Navigating Modern Workplace Challenges

  • Bridging the Workforce Generation Gap

  • Building a Culture of Wellness, Innovation & Creativity

  • Trauma-Informed Workplace

Workforce Mental Health & Burnout Prevention

  • Burnout, Stress Techniques & Boundary Setting

  • Mental Health Awareness & Workplace Wellness

  • Secondary Trauma & Rewiring Shame

  • Resilience, Wellbeing, and Anxiety (for individuals and teams)

  • Beyond Burnout and Compassion Fatigue

Team Skills & Performance

  • Conflict Resolution

  • Active Listening & De-escalation

  • Managing Stress & Setting Boundaries

  • Energy & Impact Optimization

  • Change Management

  • Managing Up

Mindfulness & Mental Fitness

  • Mindfulness: At Home and in the Workplace

  • Growth Mindset

  • Tactical Breathwork & Nervous System Regulation

  • Positive Intelligence (PQ®) Coaching — individual and group cohorts

Crisis & Crisis-Adjacent Training

  • Crisis Intervention & De-escalation

  • Suicide Prevention, Intervention & Postvention

  • How to Have a Conversation About Suicide

Spotlight: Positive Intelligence (PQ®) Coaching for Executives

One of Kasey's most high-impact offerings for corporate clients is her certified Positive Intelligence (PQ®) Coaching Program — and it's unlike anything most executives have encountered.

PQ® is a science-based mental fitness program that identifies the "saboteurs" — the deeply ingrained thought patterns that undermine focus, decision-making, and relationships — and replaces them with "sage" thinking patterns that drive clarity, calm, and performance. The neurological changes from this work can be observed in brain imaging within 8 weeks.

Through structured app-guided daily practice, weekly focus sessions, and Kasey's expert facilitation, participants leave with:

  • Reduced stress and chronic overthinking

  • Sharper emotional regulation under pressure

  • Stronger team relationships and conflict resolution skills

  • Greater productivity and sustained performance

  • A replicable framework for managing their own mental fitness long-term

"Kasey created an empathetic, non-judgmental environment where together we analyzed the behavioral and cognitive tendencies that have for years impaired my focus and diminished my professional performance. I learned new strategies and mindfulness practices that have empowered me to let go of unproductive habits and embrace the positive changes I previously struggled to implement." — Jack Shadid, Associate Attorney, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Organizations That Have Trusted Kasey's Work

Kasey's client roster spans every major sector of Chicago's economy — and beyond:

Corporate & Professional Services: Hyatt Regency · Chicago Blackhawks · Lettuce Entertain You · Boka Restaurant Group · USG · Bulley & Andrews · Northstar Aerospace · Ramboll Management Consulting · Portage Point Partners · LG Construction · Flener IP Law · Studio K Creative · Green City Market · LifeStart · Rhea & Kaiser · Legacy Hospitality

Healthcare & Professional Associations: American Medical Association · American Dental Association · Wellness Council of America · EverThrive

Government & Public Safety: Chicago Police Department · Chicago Fire Department · Office of Emergency Management & Communications (OEMC) · U.S. District Court · Metropolitan Correctional Center · Central Management System · Chicago Public Library · Chicago Park District

Community & Education: Big Shoulders Fund · Heartland Alliance · Chicago Public Schools · National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) · Archdiocese of Chicago

Why BIÂN Is the Ideal Setting for This Work

BIÂN's ecosystem was built for exactly this kind of work — a space where performance, health, and professional community converge. Hosting your team here signals something powerful: this investment in you is real.

Corporate clients can access Kasey's programming through:

The combination of Kasey's evidence-based training and BIÂN's unparalleled environment creates an experience employees don't forget — and the kind of culture shift that outlasts the workshop itself.

Heard on the Podcast Circuit

Kasey's thought leadership extends well beyond the training room. She has been featured on multiple podcasts exploring the neuroscience of leadership and burnout:

Ready to Invest in Your Team's Potential?

The organizations sitting at the top of Chicago's business landscape already know: the leaders who invest in their people's mental fitness don't just retain better talent — they build teams that outperform under pressure, communicate with clarity, and show up with intention.

Kasey Franco is here at BIÂN to make that investment possible — and exceptional.

Schedule a complimentary intro call with Kasey

Inquire about Corporate Membership

Inquire about Corporate Speaker Programs

Or contact Kasey Franco directly: kasey.franco@livebian.com

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