Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders (ETL)

Andy Dunn (Bonobos) - Mental Health for Entrepreneurs

Nov 8, 2023

Andy Dunn, entrepreneur and author of "Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My Mind", shares his experiences with bipolar disorder and highlights the importance of acknowledging mental health challenges in the world of entrepreneurs. He discusses neurodiversity in entrepreneurship, the mental health challenges of bipolar disorder, and the power of disclosure and vulnerability in improving mental health. Dunn also emphasizes the need to recognize and respond to bids for help and embrace neurodiversity in society.

50:18

Episode guests

Andy Dunn

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Embracing vulnerability and destigmatizing mental health in the startup community is crucial.

Building trust and confidentiality before disclosing mental health conditions is important in the entrepreneurial and investment community.

Deep dives

Embracing Vulnerability and Mental Health in the Startup Community

In this podcast episode, Andy Dunn, the founder of Bonobos, shares his journey of navigating mental health issues as an entrepreneur. He emphasizes the importance of embracing vulnerability and destigmatizing mental health in the startup community. Dunn discusses the overlap between neurodiversity and entrepreneurship, highlighting the higher prevalence of mood disorders in the entrepreneurial population. He encourages individuals with mental health challenges to disclose their experiences and seek support. Dunn also explores the impact of disclosure on personal relationships, emphasizing the power of apologies, dialogue, and empathy. Lastly, he suggests resources such as therapy, reading memoirs, and organizations like the National Alliance for Mental Illness for support and education.

Introduction

5min

Neurodiversity and Entrepreneurship

3min

Understanding the Mental Health Challenges of Bipolar Disorder

2min

Reflections on Mental Health and Manic States

7min

A Manic Episode and its Consequences

2min

The Power of Disclosure and Vulnerability

12min

Recognizing and Responding to Bids for Help

9min

Embracing Neurodiversity

11min

Andy Dunn is an entrepreneur, author, and investor. Dunn co-founded the menswear e-commerce brand Bonobos in 2007 and served as the company’s CEO for its first 10 years, pioneering the digitally native brand movement. In 2022, Dunn published a memoir lifting the veil on the mental health demons he’d been privately battling as he built Bonobos. “Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My Mind” chronicles his journey at the intersection of entrepreneurship and bipolar disorder. In this conversation with Stanford adjunct lecturer Ravi Belani, Dunn shares his experiences with bipolar disorder and encourages everyone to acknowledge mental health challenges, including in the world of entrepreneurs.

This talk includes discussions of suicide and self-harm. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a trained listener, call 988. Visit 988lifeline.org for crisis chat services or for more information. The Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To text with a trained helper, text SAVE to 741741. It is free, available 24/7, and confidential.

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Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders (ETL)

Andy Dunn (Bonobos) - Mental Health for Entrepreneurs

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Embracing Vulnerability and Mental Health in the Startup Community

Navigating Mental Health in the Workplace and Investments

Promoting Acceptance and Reducing Stigma around Mental Health

Taking Steps Towards Disclosure and Seeking Help

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts