Clio Health Champions: Sara Brooks, Chief Growth Officer – BetterHelp

Why It Matters

The campaign demonstrates how data‑driven, culturally resonant marketing can dramatically expand mental‑health access while strengthening BetterHelp’s brand in a competitive digital‑therapy market.

Key Takeaways

• Sara Brooks brings 18+ years scaling consumer growth, including two IPOs
• BetterHelp's "Mind Over Madness" linked therapy hours to basketball assists
• Campaign donated 1,000 free therapy hours during March Madness
• AI and cultural shift enable faster, personalized mental‑health outreach
• Recognition as Clio Health Champion underscores empathy‑driven growth strategy

Pulse Analysis

BetterHelp’s appointment of Sara Brooks as Chief Growth Officer signals a strategic push to cement its leadership in the booming digital‑therapy space. With a résumé that includes steering growth at Facebook and The RealReal, Brooks brings a rare blend of IPO experience and consumer‑centric scaling. Her mandate—to grow the member network globally—aligns with a market projected to exceed $200 billion by 2030, where differentiation increasingly hinges on cultural relevance and data‑driven storytelling.

The "Mind Over Madness" initiative epitomizes that approach. By partnering with NBA legend Joakim Noah, BetterHelp turned March Madness—a cultural touchstone—into a platform for mental‑health advocacy. The campaign pledged 1,000 hours of free therapy and unlocked additional sessions for each assist recorded during the tournament, directly addressing the statistic that one in five college athletes struggles with mental‑health issues yet fewer than half seek help. This clever alignment of sport, philanthropy, and brand messaging not only amplified awareness but also generated measurable engagement, positioning BetterHelp as a proactive ally in athlete wellness.

Looking ahead, Brooks points to the intersection of AI and a shifting cultural narrative as the catalyst for next‑generation outreach. AI‑powered personalization can deliver therapeutic content at scale, while the growing acceptance of mental‑health conversations removes historic stigmas. For BetterHelp, embedding empathy into growth tactics—exemplified by the Clio Health Champion honor—offers a sustainable competitive edge, ensuring that expansion is both profitable and purpose‑driven.