#020 - Dr. Cameron Sepah: Founder, Investor, Professor, Harvard Psychologist, & Exec Coach to Elite CEOs & VCs
Apr 19, 2021
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This podcast episode delves into Dr. Cameron Sepah's journey from psychology to entrepreneurship, discussing Maximus' mission to redefine masculinity. They explore topics like digital addiction, personal influence in investments, and the importance of self-investment and gratitude in success.
Dr. Sepah founded Maximus to optimize men's health with psychology, medicine, and technology.
He challenges societal norms around masculinity, promoting a positive portrayal of mature masculinity.
Dr. Sepah emphasizes self-awareness and mental well-being for founders and investors in high-pressure environments.
Deep dives
Dr. Cameron Sepa's Diverse Background and Career Journey
Dr. Cameron Sepa, a Harvard psychologist with a PhD and extensive experience in various fields, including academia, corporate, consulting, and healthcare, discusses his journey. Growing up in San Diego, he excelled academically and athletically. Inspired by his experience in body medicine at Harvard, studying under leaders in the field and working with the Dalai Lama, Dr. Sepa recognized the profound impact of psychology on well-being and physical health. His dedication led him to UCLA for further research in psychoneuroimmunology, focusing on the influence of emotions on immune function, showcasing the practical benefits of psychological interventions.
Founding Omada Health and Maximus
Dr. Sepa's journey continued as he founded Omada Health, a platform that positively impacted half a million individuals by focusing on behavioral health and using technology for scalable health solutions. Transitioning into his current venture, Maximus, Dr. Sepa aims to optimize men's health and performance, leveraging psychology, medicine, and technology. The company's goal is to impact a million people by combining psychological interventions, health optimization, and community support.
Challenging Narratives Around Masculinity
Dr. Sepa challenges societal narratives around masculinity by highlighting the importance of mature masculinity and femininity as positive forces. Addressing the vilification of masculinity in media and psychology, he advocates for a balanced view that honors masculinity's virtues, including courage and competitiveness. Dr. Sepa aims to counter the societal trend of declining masculinity by promoting a positive portrayal and encouraging men to embrace diverse aspects of mature masculinity.
Psychological Insights for Founders and Investors
Dr. Sepa delves into the psychological aspects of founders and investors, drawing attention to personality traits and mental health challenges prevalent in the entrepreneurial space. He emphasizes the significance of self-awareness, seeking executive coaching or therapy for personal growth, and optimizing mental and physical health. Providing insights on managing stress, decision-making, and interpersonal dynamics, Dr. Sepa advocates for a holistic approach to mental well-being in high-pressure environments.
Impact of Dopamine Fasting on Health and Productivity
Dopamine fasting has been shown to have significant positive effects on individuals' health and daily habits. In a study involving college students who stopped using Facebook for 14 hours a week, researchers observed a 16% decrease in depression rates. Participants naturally engaged in healthier activities like exercising and cooking, highlighting the potential benefits of reducing social media usage for overall well-being.
Personality Traits in Hiring and Assessing Founders
When hiring employees, traits like high conscientiousness, moderate agreeableness, and low to moderate neuroticism play essential roles in predicting professional success. Using validated personality assessments like the Big Five can lead to better hiring decisions and a more harmonious workplace. Additionally, when assessing founders, characteristics such as execution-driven mindset, market insights, emotional intelligence, and coachability can significantly impact business outcomes and investor decisions.
Dr. Sepah is a clinical psychologist, professor of psychiatry and a serial entrepreneur. He recently founded Maximus; a consumer health company that provides men with content, community, and clinical support to optimise them in mind and body. Maximus has raised $5M from Silicon Valley goats such as Founders Fund and 8VC as well as leading angel investors/operators from Bulletproof, Tinder, Coinbase, Daily Stoic, & Shopify. The guys discuss the Maximus mission, masculinity, entrepreneurship and much more. Website: http://bemaximus.com/Dr Cam's Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrSepah
This podcast provides regular content on technology investing and technology building. We also write long-form memos on all things tech investing and building. You can sign up for these monthly memo newsletters on the website: https://www.rationalvc.com/ We break everything down to first principles, to simplify the complex technology world. We aim to bring you content that is insightful, logical, and rational. We cover tech products and tech companies across the lifecycle, from pre-seed to seed, Series A to D+, to IPOs and beyond. We also cover all investing methods including Angel Investing, Venture Capital, Private Equity, Hedge Funds, Public Markets, SPACs etc.
Your feedback and comments are very welcome. We hope you enjoy listening as we embark on a journey to understand this space; clearly, and rationally, of course. --- Disclaimer: The content and materials provided are solely for informational purposes and do not constitute investment or legal advice. All opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of their employer(s). No copyright infringement intended.
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