I recently went one-on-one with Jessie Morsching, CEO of Accanto Health, the parent company of The Emily Program.
Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?
Jessie: I had a bit of a tough upbringing, and due to that, I’ve been intrinsically motivated for excellence. I didn’t want my children to experience the same things I did, so I set out at a young age to change the trajectory of my life. That commitment drives everything I do.
Along the way, I was fortunate to have people step up for me in great ways, and who saw something in me before I saw it in myself. Teachers, managers, colleagues, friends, they each gave me a chance, had confidence in me, and helped me find my footing. I’ll always be grateful to those who believed in me. They helped me believe in myself.
Each of those moments mattered, and they have shaped who I am and how I lead. Today, I make it a priority to recognize potential in others, even when they haven’t yet seen it in themselves. I believe in creating a culture where people feel supported, not criticized, and where they have the space to rise and do their best work. That belief is central to how we lead at our company. It’s a huge part of our culture at The Emily Program.
Adam: In your experience, what are the key steps to growing and scaling your business?
Jessie: Growth, in my experience, is the result of engaged, mission-driven employees executing on a thoughtful, well-communicated strategy. In any organization, people are the most important asset, and making sure they feel connected, supported, and aligned with the mission is the key to sustainable success.
At The Emily Program, our mission speaks for itself. It’s powerful, deeply felt across our teams, and it offers us a clear sense of purpose. As leaders, it’s our job to set the strategic priorities and then empower our teams to carry them out. We make a point to ensure that every team member feels both connected to our mission and supported in their role.
When I started my journey at Accanto Health, I was struck by how deeply our clinical teams care, not just about outcomes, but about building trust with clients and families. In our work, the client is always at the center. Their recovery guides our decisions, and their trust is something we earn every day. In the eating disorder treatment space, growth is a direct result of providing high-quality, evidence-based care. We’ve built a reputation for doing exactly that, and that reputation is our strongest growth engine. Families, partners, and providers trust us, and that trust fuels our expansion.
Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading, and managing teams?
Jessie: Great leadership starts with a bold vision, but it only thrives when every team member feels truly valued and energized. As CEO of Accanto Health, I believe my most important role is to create an environment where people are inspired to bring their full potential to work every day.
When our employees believe in and trust their leaders and our mission, they don’t just work hard, they move mountains.
The key to unlocking that kind of extraordinary energy is clear, consistent, and authentic leadership, leadership that empowers people to do their best work and trusts them to lead from where they are.
But inspiration isn’t a one-time act; it’s a continuous journey. By giving our team members the autonomy to truly own their work and by celebrating their success along the way, we build a culture of trust, growth, and unstoppable momentum.
Adam: What do you believe are the defining qualities of an effective leader?
Jessie: In my experience, the most effective leaders are those who are deeply attuned to the people that they lead and serve. They quietly inspire confidence through authenticity and balance urgency with calm and confidence with humility. This is especially important in the sensitive, complex world of eating disorder treatment and behavioral health, where trust and empathy aren’t just values, they are lifelines.
My own leadership style is shaped by the incredible leaders I’ve had the privilege to learn from. They showed me that real impact comes from listening, understanding, and empowering others.
You will know a leader is truly impactful by the team they build. Great leaders inspire dedicated, compassionate employees who are motivated not just by goals but by a shared commitment to changing lives. That’s what we do here every single day.
Adam: How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?
Jessie: Taking our leadership skills to the next level requires a lifelong commitment to growth and self-awareness. The most effective leaders I’ve known and aspire to emulate remain curious, humble, and open to learning, even when it challenges their own assumptions.
One powerful way I’ve tried to grow is by closely observing leaders I admire, not only for their results, but for how they show up, communicate, and connect on a human level. When possible, forming mentorship relationships with those who have walked this path before us can be incredibly grounding and valuable.
I’ve also learned how powerful it can be to accept and learn from feedback with grace and discernment. Especially in healthcare, where trust, empathy, and integrity are paramount, considering diverse perspectives helps us grow as leaders and stay deeply connected to those we support and serve.
Expanding our networks beyond our immediate field has also been key. Some of the most transformative insights I’ve gained have come from leaders in completely different sectors. By stepping outside my comfort zone and listening closely to their stories and strategies, I’ve picked up new ways of thinking that help me navigate the evolving challenges of eating disorders and behavioral health care.
Leadership isn’t static; it’s something we keep building every single day.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?
Jessie:
- Lead with authenticity. I’ve found that self-awareness is foundational. That means taking time to understand our own vulnerabilities, the life experiences that have shaped us, and how they might show up in the way we lead. I try to own both my strengths and my blind spots. While I take pride in the expertise I’ve gained, I also make it a point to lean on the incredible experts around me at The Emily Program. They really know what they’re doing, and I believe that’s not a weakness, it’s wisdom.
- Build your circle with smart, thoughtful people. I’ve seen again and again how the synergy of diverse, capable minds can elevate what any one of us could do alone. Surrounding ourselves with people who challenge and inspire us makes the work stronger and the journey far more meaningful.
- Invest deeply in relationships. We’re at our best when we truly know the people we work with. When we make the effort to understand each other, not just as professionals but as people, we uncover hidden strengths, build lasting trust, and create a culture where everyone feels seen and supported. That kind of connection leads to better collaboration, sharper decisions, and stronger outcomes for all of us.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Jessie: The best advice I’ve received is a quote from John Wooden – “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” That quote has stuck with me for years. It reminds me that no matter how far we’ve come or how much we think we know, there’s always room to grow.
It’s easy to feel like we have “arrived” at some point in our careers, but the truth is, leadership and life are ongoing journeys. The real breakthroughs often come when we stay curious, humble, and open to learning, especially after we think we’ve figured it all out. Life offers us a constant opportunity to learn, refine, and become a better version of yourself each day. That mindset has shaped how I lead and how I live.
Adam: What can anyone do to pay it forward?
Jessie: I believe it starts with focusing on fostering meaningful relationships and thinking through how we make others feel. By truly caring for the well-being and success of those around us, we create positive ripples that extend far beyond our immediate influence.
At The Emily Program, we live this every day. Our work is built on deep compassion and connection, not just with the clients we serve, but with each other. We’ve seen how a single act of care, a moment of presence, or a thoughtful gesture can change the course of someone’s healing journey. When we lead with empathy and show up for others, we don’t just support their growth; we grow too. That’s how we pay it forward, and that’s how we build something lasting together.
