National Small Business Month celebrates the courage and creativity it takes to build something from the ground up. But behind every small business is a leader whose emotional presence — their stress, their steadiness, their way of showing up — quietly shapes the wellbeing of the entire team.

In small businesses, people work closely, roles overlap, and leaders set the tone more directly than anywhere else.

In honor of National Small Business Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, this audiocast episode will explore the human side of small‑business leadership: why leadership behaviors carry so much emotional weight, how that weight ripples into employee mental health, and what leaders can realistically do to support the people who keep their business running.

Because small businesses run on people. And people run on connection, stability, and care.

Today's Speakers:

Dean Clune, Divisional Vice President, Small Business Benefits and HR Consulting, Gallagher

Amanda Schuster , Senior Wellbeing Consultant, Gallagher

Questions for our speakers? Don't hesitate to reach out!

Dean_Clune@ajg.com

Amanda_Schuster@ajg.com

Small businesses are feeling the strain of a growing leadership gap — and the numbers tell a powerful story. Nearly half of small businesses that took our recent organizational wellbeing poll say they lack effective leaders internally, and almost one in three rate their current leadership effectiveness as only average or poor*.

In this newest audiocast episode, we explore what's driving today's leadership challenges, why so many organizations feel unprepared to fill a critical leadership vacancy, and what small businesses can do to build stronger, more resilient leaders. We'll share practical insights and actionable steps small businesses can take to close the leadership gap and strengthen their talent pipeline.

Today's Speakers:

Dean Clune, Divisional Vice President, Small Business Benefits and HR Consulting, Gallagher

Laura Ford, Senior Principal Consultant, People Development and Insights, Gallagher

Questions for our speakers? Don't hesitate to reach out!

Dean_Clune@ajg.com

Laura_Ford@ajg.com

*Gallagher's 2026 Q1 Organizational Wellbeing Poll

Making informed HR and benefits decisions shouldn't feel like guesswork — especially for small businesses. In this 10‑minute audiocast, Gallagher consultants break down how real benchmarking data helps smaller employers stay competitive, attract talent, and understand what employees expect today.

More than 1,000 small businesses contributed to last year's Benefits Strategy & Benchmarking Survey. By participating, you'll get:

• A full year of insights and reports
• A deeper understanding of benefits, wellbeing, engagement, retirement, and HR tech trends
• Eligibility to be recognized as a Small Business Best‑In‑Class employer
• Clear, data‑driven guidance to support your people strategy and manage costs confidently

📝 Request your unique survey link:

https://gbsviewpoints.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eheiDbYCFVmVPcG?source=GBS2026USSBNBSAudiocastsLibsyn

Take the next step toward smarter, clearer, more confident decisions for your business.