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Image courtesy of JPMorgan; Rebecca Zisser/BI
- Kristin Lemkau oversees JPMorgan’s US wealth management division, which employs nearly 10,000 individuals.
- The key to success lies in prioritizing sleep rather than sacrificing it.
- Lemkau shares insights on the importance of rest and work-life balance.
The Importance of Sleep in Leadership: Insights from Kristin Lemkau
With almost 26 years at JPMorgan under her belt, Kristin Lemkau has learned that fatigue often leads to poor decision-making. She recalls instances where being tired resulted in hasty hiring decisions or distracted participation in meetings.
As the CEO of JPMorgan Wealth Management—a division managing $1 trillion in client assets and employing close to 10,000 people—Lemkau challenges the prevalent “work until you drop” mentality often seen on Wall Street. She emphasizes that neglecting sleep is not a sustainable approach for effective leadership.
A New Perspective on Work Culture
“It’s irresponsible for leaders to come into work feeling exhausted or irritable,” she stated during an interview with Business Insider at the bank’s headquarters in Manhattan. “If I’m not balanced, I disrupt the entire team’s dynamic. As leaders, we must respect everyone’s time.”
Lemkau previously adopted a lifestyle that involved less sleep while juggling her career and raising two children. However, after receiving advice from Arianna Huffington—founder of The Huffington Post—she recognized she was compromising her well-being. In 2017, as part of an initiative with Huffington’s wellness company Thrive Global encouraging employees to adopt healthier habits for 28 days, she committed herself to improving her sleep quality by aiming for eight hours each night and reducing screen time before bed.
A Commitment to Better Sleep Habits
Today, Lemkau consistently achieves seven to eight hours of rest each night by going to bed around 9:30 PM and waking up at approximately 5:30 AM. Although she occasionally checks her phone before sleeping—often engaging with word games—she has also embraced healthier practices such as avoiding caffeine post-lunch and eliminating alcohol consumption.
A Shift Towards Wellness Among Executives
The glorification of sleeplessness among some CEOs is evident; for example, American Express CEO Stephen Squeri reportedly works long hours while averaging just six hours of sleep nightly. In contrast, there is a growing movement within Wall Street advocating for better rest among professionals. Goldman Sachs partner Brian Robinson emphasizes “investing in wellness,” opting to leave his phone out of reach at night for improved rest quality.
“In my early career days,” Robinson shared with Business Insider earlier this year,” I managed on five or six hours per night; however now I thrive with over seven hours during weekdays and more than eight on weekends.”
Lemkau’s Approach: Leading by Example
Lemkau actively promotes self-care discussions within her team regarding the significance of adequate sleep. She makes it a priority to attend all significant events related to her children’s activities while balancing professional responsibilities effectively; despite checking emails after office hours occasionally,she ensures family dinners are non-negotiable every evening following work around six o’clock.
After dinner routines typically include exercise sessions like jogging alongside her dog.
“I believe one cannot excel professionally if they are solely fixated on their job,” she remarked thoughtfully.”To truly succeed at your role requires being well-rounded as an individual who leads a fulfilling life outside work.”
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