Heart Rate Variability Explained

The Gstaad Guy sits down with Will Ahmed, founder and CEO of WHOOP, to explore how understanding the human body became the foundation for one of the most influential platforms in modern health. From overcoming the stigma of medical-looking wearables to deliberately taking the tech out of the product, Will shares how solving a real physiological problem led to a system that helps people build awareness, balance, and long-term resilience.

The conversation moves through heart rate variability, the autonomic nervous system, and the interplay between parasympathetic and sympathetic activity, unpacking how sleep, recovery, strain, and consistency shape performance and longevity. Will explains how WHOOP enables an ongoing conversation with your body rather than a one-time snapshot, reframing prevention as a daily practice rather than an annual checkup. They explore the rise of longevity culture, health tracking as high status, and the growing role of AI in education, customer experience, and medical insight, alongside candid reflections on the limits of today’s healthcare system, building high-performance teams, and how continuous data can move from optimisation to life-saving impact.

Filmed in the One&Only One Za’abeel Royal Suite.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro ✨🎙️

(01:38) The Challenge Of Building Whoop 🧗‍♂️🚀

(02:05) Taking The Tech Out Of The Wearable ⌚➖

(03:48) WHOOP Today 📈⌚

(04:28) “The Problem” ❗🧩

(07:32) The Prototype 🧪🔧

(08:31) Heart Rate Variability (HRV) ❤️📊

(11:22) Controlling Your Autonomic System 🧠🎛️

(14:32) Interpreting The Data 📊🧠

(16:10) Sleep, Recovery & Strain 😴🔋

(19:42) WHOOP Age 🎂⌚

(22:24) Daily Journal 📓🗓️

(26:01) Sleep Consistency 🌙 🔁

(27:17) “Longevity Culture” 🧬⏳

(28:42) Developing An Obsession For Health 🏃‍♂️🔥

(29:58) The Healthcare System 🏥⚙️

(31:35) Lifestyle Hacks 🛠️🌿

(34:47) Whoop As A Status Symbol ⌚💎

(37:27) Health Tracking As High Status 📈👑

(40:54) AI For Customer Experience & Data 🤖📊

(42:51) Saving Lives 🚑❤️

(44:08) Building A Robust Team 🧱👥

(46:38) Work Culture 🏢🌱

(50:30) “AI Readiness” 🤖✅

(52:26) From Ideation To Delivery 💡📦

(56:52) How Blood Pressure Monitoring Works 🩸📈

(58:48) The Next Chapter 📖➡️

(59:53) No More Annual Health Checkups 🗓️🚫

(1:00:51) The Power Of Prevention 🛡️❤️

(1:02:46) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨

(1:04:20) Replacing Or Complementing The Healthcare System 🔄🏥

(1:05:17) Mistaking Good Habits For Bad 🤔🔁

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