Her Story
About Mili
Mili Thomas serves as Coach Manager at Headspace, where she oversees mental health coaching services delivered via telemedicine. She began her career after earning an undergraduate degree in psychology from Johns Hopkins, followed by a master's degree and the start of a PhD program that she did not complete. Thomas worked in community mental health, counseling centers, and hospital settings before pivoting to telemedicine during the pandemic. She earned her NBHWC certification in 2023 through the Headspace Training Institute. In addition to her role, Thomas has led the Headspace Asian Pacific Islander Employee Resource Group as Executive Chair for four years, advancing from membership chair.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mili
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If you're going to enter the field, the most important thing you could do for yourself is develop a practice in self-compassion and recognize that you can't pour from an empty cup. People come in wanting to save someone, the job is to save yourself first. The focus is to make a difference, to impact change, to advocate, to educate, but if you're coming into the field to save someone, unless that's you, don't do it.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Burnout is real in this field due to serious trauma, heartbreak, and loss. Most of the job is sitting with uncertainty and managing someone else's anxiety. Women in this field wait to be invited rather than seizing opportunities like negotiating rates. There's a need to own that your time is valuable and stay nourished.
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