Entrepreneur and UX designer highlights the importance of well-being and empathy for high-performing creative teams.
BROOKLYN, NY / ACCESS Newswire / October 17, 2025 / Jeremy D. Rackley, co-founder with Cinthya Garza Martinez and managing partner of JC Marketing and former Google UX/Visual Designer, is calling on creative industry leaders to make mental wellness and human-centered leadership a top priority. With over 15 years of experience in UX, branding, web design, and content strategy, Rackley emphasizes that sustainable creativity begins with protecting the people behind the work.
"I've experienced burnout firsthand," Rackley says. "It's not a badge of honor. Creativity and focus are impossible to sustain when mental health is running on empty."
Addressing a Growing Industry Challenge
Recent research shows that burnout remains a persistent issue in creative fields, with many professionals reporting chronic stress, long hours, and difficulty balancing personal well-being with workplace expectations. Rackley argues that fear-based management and unrealistic demands not only harm individuals but also diminish innovation and long-term business success.
"Creative work requires clarity, empathy, and emotional resilience," Rackley explains. "When mental wellness is ignored, both the work and the people producing it suffer."
Leading with Empathy
During his decade at Google, Rackley led design initiatives that reached millions of users around the world. His experience in large-scale, high-stakes environments shaped his belief that empathy and intentional leadership are non-negotiable for effective creative teams.
"Leadership isn't just about setting deadlines-it's about setting the tone," he says. "When teams feel supported, respected, and valued, they deliver their best work. That's not theory; I've seen it proven time and again."
At JC Marketing, Rackley promotes a culture centered on balance and wellness. The agency practices flexible scheduling, structured breaks, and open dialogue around workload and mental health. He stresses that these are not perks-they're essential for sustaining creativity and fostering long-term professional growth.
Practical Steps for Creative Professionals
Rackley also encourages individuals to take personal responsibility for protecting their well-being, offering practical steps that can make a significant difference:
Set boundaries: Define your work hours and stick to them.
Schedule recovery time: Treat rest, walks, and quiet reflection as integral to the creative process.
Ask clear questions: Clarify expectations early to reduce confusion and rework.
Build a peer network: Share challenges and solutions with trusted colleagues.
"Some of my best ideas come when I'm away from my laptop," Rackley notes. "Creativity needs breathing room. If you can't step back, you can't see the bigger picture."
"Some of my best ideas come when I'm away from my laptop," Rackley notes. "Creativity needs space. Stepping back allows you to see the bigger picture and approach work with renewed focus."
A Call for Cultural Change
While individual action matters, Rackley believes systemic change is the only way to build a truly healthy creative industry. He calls on leaders to redefine success-not by output alone, but by team engagement, well-being, and sustainability.
"When you prioritize people over projects, the projects still get done-and they're usually better," Rackley says. "That's the shift we need to see across creative fields."
About Jeremy D. Rackley
Jeremy D. Rackley is a Brooklyn-based designer, entrepreneur, and advocate for human-centered design and leadership. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Jeremy D. Rackley is a New Yorker through and through. As a young man, he attended the elite Brooklyn Technical High School, where he developed a passion for technology and engineering.After graduation, Jeremy D. Rackley attended the University of Michigan (U-M) in Ann Arbor. At U-M, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Design and Applied Arts. He went on to complete a Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction (HCIM) from the University of Maryland, where he deepened his understanding of how people interact with digital systems.
After university, Jeremy worked as a freelance graphic and UX designer for over a decade, polishing his web design, app design, branding, illustration, and user experience skills before going to work at Google. After spending more than a decade at Google leading UX and visual design initiatives, he founded JC Marketing, a creative agency specializing in branding, UX strategy, and content development. Based in Brooklyn, the agency works with clients nationwide to build human-centered digital experiences that connect brands with their audiences.
Beyond his agency work, Rackley is a mentor, speaker, and mental health advocate, known for his insights on empathy, authenticity, and leadership in creative industries.
Call to Action:
Before starting your next project, take one step-big or small-to protect your mental clarity. Step outside for a walk, set a firm end to your workday, or have a candid conversation about capacity with your team. Your well-being is as critical as the deadlines you meet.
Contact:
SOURCE: Jeremy D Rackley
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