The Beat

Retention Starts Before Day One: Kyle M.K. on Rebuilding Healthcare Culture Through Empathy and Belonging

Episode Summary

Retention is the new recruitment in healthcare, and it starts before day one. In this episode, Kyle M.K., Senior Talent Strategy Advisor at Indeed, explores how recruitment, burnout, and belonging are evolving in healthcare workplaces. Drawing on data from 4.5 million monthly healthcare job seekers and Indeed’s Pulse of Healthcare study, he reveals that the leading causes of burnout stem from feeling overworked and underappreciated, particularly by managers. Kyle underscores that empathy, appreciation, and transparent leadership behaviors are essential for retention and for creating healthier organizational cultures. Ultimately, he reframes healthcare organizations as communities of people connected by shared purpose rather than mere productivity metrics. Tune in and discover how empathy, transparency, and belonging can transform the healthcare culture and enhance employee retention.

Episode Notes

About Kyle M.K.

Kyle M.K. is an Executive Strategy Advisor, keynote speaker, and best-selling author based in Austin, Texas. As Indeed’s Senior Talent Strategy Advisor, he helps employers navigate the future of work—simplifying complex labor market challenges and inspiring people-focused leadership. His book, The Economics of Emotion, explores how emotional intelligence drives business success. Before Indeed, Kyle founded The Heart Company, where he helped global brands like The Ritz-Carlton, Uber, and Disney elevate brand loyalty through emotionally centered strategies. He also led ventures such as Human Planet and No. 4 St. James, combining data, storytelling, and design to humanize business experiences. With roots at Apple, where he shaped retail training and technology, Kyle’s career centers on one mission: making work more human.

Things You'll Learn: 

• Retention begins long before a new hire’s first day, authentic communication and realistic expectations set the foundation for longevity.
• Feeling underappreciated by supervisors is one of the most unique and powerful drivers of burnout in healthcare.
• Leadership empathy directly shapes workplace culture; when senior leaders lack compassion, it cascades down the organization.
• Transparency in job postings and work environments helps reduce turnover by aligning expectations with reality, thereby fostering a more effective work environment.
• Treating healthcare teams as communities rather than machines fosters a sense of belonging, purpose, and ultimately, better patient care.

Resources:

• Connect with and follow Kyle M.K. on LinkedIn.
• Follow Indeed on LinkedIn.
• Visit Indeed’s website.
• Get a copy of Kyle’s book, The Economics of Emotion, here.
• Read Indeed’s Pulse of Healthcare 2024 here.
• Read Indeed’s Pulse of Healthcare 2025 here.