The Peak of Burnout

Growing up, Katie Mehta was told she could do anything. When she joined what’s now known as Northrop Grumman’s Pathways Program in 2003, she decided that’s what she was going to do. “Work hard and win the game,” Katie said.

After all, this mentality helped her survive college, grad school and everything in between. Although Katie didn’t realize it at the time, looking back, she realized it may have contributed to the burnout she would face.

After completing the Pathways Program, Katie continued to focus on her career and develop her technical expertise at an accelerated pace. She was selected for and completed Northrop Grumman’s Architecture Apprenticeship Program (AAP) and worked multiple levels of classified roles across the organization. She then became the AAP lead and chief architect for the product line engineering initiative before starting her current role as a consulting architect and modes lead in the Capabilities Maturation and Deployment (CMAD) organization.

While some may describe Katie’s career as thriving, she didn’t always feel that way. At work, Katie juggled competing priorities, limited resources and an intense schedule.

“I was achieving success and receiving accolades, but I was at the peak of burnout,” Katie said.

Adding to her stress, Katie’s parents moved to Maryland, making her part of the sandwich generation, as she became a caregiver to her parents, while caring for her two children. “Internally, I was crumbling,” she said. Katie started questioning her gut decisions, family and coworkers as she worked tirelessly to balance both worlds.

In May of 2022, Katie physically and mentally collapsed. She had a virtual meeting scheduled with a director in her organization. “My husband found me, and I told him to call the director’s number, because I didn’t want to miss the meeting,” she said. The director immediately recognized the problem and provided the number for the NGCare Employee Assistance Program (EAP). “Within 24 hours, I was speaking with a counselor who I continue to work with today.” Katie’s counselor also encouraged her to connect with a set of providers who could support her whole health long-term. Katie first took advantage of the eight free counseling sessions offered through NGCare and then continued to work with the counselor through her medical insurance.

Katie acknowledged that she could’ve sought help a lot earlier in her career but was worried because of her clearance and the stigma around mental health. However, she shared that neither have been an issue for her. “I no longer have this fear, and I’m very open to talk about what’s happened. The more we’re honest and open, the better it is for everybody.”

After this experience, Katie says she has a much better sense of who she is and how to take care of both her mental and physical well-being. “Today, I’m able to recognize the early symptoms of burnout and return to the things that keep me grounded, such as meditation, physical movement and connecting with others.”

Northrop Grumman offers a variety of resources to help employees and their families focus on their emotional and mental health, something Katie is grateful for. “A lot of people may be experiencing early signs of burnout but aren’t sure how or who to call for help. My wish is to share my story so others know that a variety of resources exist, and they can use them to help themselves or others. Leveraging these tools saved my life!”

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