January 13, 2025
Written by Dr. Golnaz Golnaraghi, Founder and President of Accelerate Her Future
At the Accelerate Her Future Virtual Summit 2024: Flourish, we were honoured to have Janice Liu, founder and CEO of The Mantis Group, join the panel titled “New Ways of Being: Cultivating Joy, Creativity, and Flourishing at Work” moderated by Chantaie Allick, along with speakers Prasanna Ranganathan and Ting Ting Pan.
As the founder and CEO of The Mantis Group, a global data consultancy, Janice has rapidly grown her company by helping businesses unlock the value of their first-party data. Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, Janice also co-founded Superclub, a mentorship organization for BIPOC leaders, and Filling the Gap, a women’s empowerment nonprofit.
Janice brought her signature authenticity and thought leadership to the panel, sharing insights on joy, rest, and redefining success on our own terms—especially for Indigenous, Black, and racialized women.
Burnout is an all-too-common experience, and Janice’s vulnerability in sharing her own journey resonated deeply. Reflecting on her corporate career in her twenties, she described burnout as a “dullness of color” and a “fog” that clouded her days, impacting her sense of vibrancy and clarity she once felt.
“Each of us experiences burnout differently,” Janice noted.
While some may feel a constant exhaustion, others might notice a disconnection from themselves or shifts in mood. Burnout is deeply personal, manifesting uniquely for everyone.
For Janice, the turning point came when she recognized the need to reclaim a sense of ownership over her life. She turned to meditation, a practice that offered her profound relief.
“Even one or two minutes a day of meditation creates a distance between your mind and yourself,” she said. “That practice gave me agency and a sense of steadiness, like I could finally breathe again.”
Janice also highlighted the rare opportunity she had to build a global agency from the ground up, leveraging her own experiences with burnout to intentionally create a company culture that prioritized the holistic wellbeing of each employee.
“I’ve worked in environments where profits were prioritized over people, and it was exhausting. Burnout was the norm, and it showed both in the work and in the workplace,” she said. “At Mantis, we’ve flipped the script. Everyone has permission to recharge when they need it, and they have the tools and support to make it happen. It’s not only made for a better workplace but it’s also made me a better entrepreneur and leader. When my team thrives, so does the work—and that’s something that shapes how I lead and grow the business.”
Proactively maintaining balance is a cornerstone of Janice’s approach to thriving. She’s a firm believer in governing her time and setting boundaries.
“I’ve shared with my assistant, ‘Your role is to help me govern my boundaries.’ If you have trusted people around you, ask them for help to hold you accountable,” she advised.
Though asking for help can be uncomfortable, she encouraged attendees to lean into this practice. “We’re all working on it. It might not feel natural at first, especially for women who are used to doing everything by themselves, but the only way we can grow.”
Addressing Indigenous, Black, and racialized women, Janice called for reclaiming rest and joy by redefining success.
Her advice was inspiring and clear: “Success is a definition between you, yourself, and you.” This message deeply resonated with the audience, urging them to consider societal pressures and craft paths that honor their own personal values and aspirations.
Janice didn’t shy away from challenging the status quo of productivity. She highlighted that the old industrial-era models of work aren’t fit for purpose in today’s world.
“We need to recognize that pushing people to burnout isn’t optimizing human potential,” Janice asserted.
Organizations, she noted, must evolve from their outdated ideas of “always on” and hustle culture to fostering environments that unlock both creativity and mindfulness.
“We’re human beings, capable of tapping into superpowers like empathy and innovation. The next generation won’t participate in the old ways of overwork, and we need to change now to meet them where they are.”
If she could speak to her younger self, Janice would offer this profound reflection: “Discern who’s driving the car. Is it your brain? Outside voices? Or is it truly you?”
Understanding and knowing who is in the driver’s seat has been key in her own journey of joy and thriving.
Janice Liu’s insights remind us that flourishing at work is not just about individual well-being but about systemic change, leadership modeling, and redefining norms. Her message—rooted in authenticity, wisdom, and actionable practices—resonates as a call to create workplaces where everyone can thrive.
