A candid conversation with James, CEO and co-founder of Gateway Bank, on dropping the leadership mask and why authenticity might be your best business strategy.
The Facade Finally Cracked
James had it down to a science. Since co-founding Gateway Bank in 2007, he’d perfected the art of compartmentalization, work face, home face, never the two shall meet. “Never let them see you sweat” wasn’t just a saying; it was his operating manual.
Until it wasn’t, and when the mask finally slipped, everything changed.
🎧 Listen to the full 9-minute interview here
The Warning Signs He Ignored
“Looking back, the signs were everywhere,” James reflects in our interview. “I was irritable, couldn’t sleep, always ‘on.’ But I told myself that’s what leadership looked like, carrying the weight so others didn’t have to.”
The breaking point came when the carefully constructed walls between work and personal life tumbled. What followed was what James calls his “meltdown” right before COVID in February 2020, a moment that would fundamentally shift how he approached leadership, wellness, and life.
The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
James’s official diagnosis surprised him, and he initially was embarrassed about it. In our conversation, he opened up about this vulnerable moment and how it became the catalyst for transformation for him and his entire team of 17.
“I realized I’d been living this double life,” he shares. “The irony wasn’t lost on me. I was running a bank built on trust, and I didn’t trust my team to see me as human.”
Plot Twist: The Skeptical Boss Becomes the Biggest Yoga Fan
 And here’s where the story takes a turn, one that’s as unexpected as it is entertaining.
When Sirrine Yoga first approached Gateway Bank about workplace wellness, James wasn’t exactly sold. “I figured maybe three people would show up, we’d do this for a few months, and that would be that.”
Six months later? The team committed to WEEKLY sessions with 75% attendance.
“This group has absolutely NO filter,” laughs the yoga instructor. “Pure sarcasm, zero pretense, and SO much laughing. It honestly adds to my life in many ways!”
What made this approach stick? It wasn’t about perfect poses, it was about meeting people where they were:
- Yoga and mindfulness are designed for real people with real attitudes
- No “om-ing” required, just showing up as you are
- Sessions for humans who think touching their toes is “legally forbidden”
- A space where sarcasm and mindfulness coexist beautifully
The Ripple Effect: When Authenticity Meets Business
The transformation wasn’t just personal, it was cultural. When James started showing up authentically, his team followed suit.
Scott’s Story: How Work Wellness Came Home
Scott, a management team member, shares how this shift impacted more than just his 9-to-5: “When your boss gives you permission to be human at work, it changes how you show up everywhere. My relationship with my wife improved. I became more present with my kids. It’s like James modeling vulnerability gave us all permission to drop our masks, too.”
The Bottom LineÂ
Here’s the part that might surprise traditional business thinking: James’s embrace of vulnerability and wellness didn’t hurt the bottom line; it boosted it.
The results speak for themselves:
- Almost zero employee turnover
- Increased productivity across teams
- Stronger workplace relationships
- Better client interactions because authentic teams build authentic relationships
Society has a hard time with vulnerability, especially in leadership. But here’s what I learned for myself and working with my clients: when people feel safe to be themselves, they bring their whole selves to their work. And whole people show up better and do better work.
The “Come as You Are” Leadership Philosophy
James’s journey from “never let them see you sweat” to “come as you are” leadership offers some powerful insights:
Transparency builds trust. When leaders are honest about their struggles, it creates psychological safety for everyone else.
Wellness isn’t one-size-fits-all. What worked for Gateway Bank was finding an approach that matched their culture: sarcastic, real, and unpretentious.
Authenticity is contagious. When one person drops the mask, it gives others permission to do the same.
Mental health support pays dividends. Investing in team wellness isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s good business.
The Takeaway
Sometimes, the best leadership advice comes from admitting you don’t have it all figured out. James’s story reminds us that the qualities we often think make us weak, vulnerability, admitting struggles, and asking for help, might be our greatest strengths as leaders.
As James puts it, “I spent years trying to be the CEO I thought I should be. It wasn’t until I started being the CEO I actually am that everything changed.”
Bringing This Kind of Transformation to Your Team
Inspired by James’s journey? Sirrine Yoga offers workplace wellness programs designed to meet your organization exactly where it is, whether virtual sessions for remote teams, in-person programs for traditional offices, or a hybrid approach that combines both.
The key isn’t the format; it’s finding what works for your unique culture and team dynamic. Just like Gateway Bank discovered, sometimes the best wellness programs are the ones that don’t take themselves too seriously but still deliver serious results.
Want to explore workplace wellness for your team? Book a virtual strategy session to discuss virtual, in-person, or hybrid options that fit your organization’s needs.