The Health Innovators Show

If there’s one thing we all have in common, it’s aging. No matter how hard we try, we cannot stop the march of time - but there are ways to slow it down. Martin Pazzani, Chairman and Founder of Act!vate Brain and Body and author of “Secrets of Aging Well: GET OUTSIDE” literally wrote the book on the link between mental and physical aging. Decades-long experience in health improvement, and a personal passion for entrepreneurship and exercise, has helped Martin illustrate the link between activity and success. The value of exercise and reforming social connections isn’t hard to understand - but recognizing how those actions impact the success of an entrepreneur can be challenging. So, if you’re one of the many entrepreneurs who thinks working longer and harder is the key to success, your mind, body, and company need you to watch this episode! Here are the show highlights: This is how you rediscover the joy in entrepreneurship (4:56) A mountain of metaphors - connecting the dots between health and success (7:58) Do this if you want to build healthy health innovators (18:06) Investing in health is just as important as investing in tech (20:26} Why we can’t all be Goliaths - and why it might be good to be a David! (26:30) Sometimes the small fish are the ones with the big advantages (40:14) Guest Bio Martin Pazzani is Chairman and Founder of Act!vate Brain and Body, whose mission is to improve the trajectory of aging and operationalize what we know about creating brain health. Martin is also the author of “Secrets of Aging Well: GET OUTSIDE”, a book that helps people be healthier, recharge their brain, prevent burnout, and find more joy. Four decades of A-list corporate experience including Bally Total Fitness, Crunch, and 24Hour Fitness, has allowed him to pair his two passions and form Act!vate Brain and Body He received his BA in Psychology, BS in Marketing, and MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of Connecticut. If you’d like to get in touch with Martin after the show, feel free to reach out to him via LinkedIn at Martin Pazzani, on Instagram at Martin_Pazzani, or on Facebook.

The middle of a downturned economy can be a scary place to launch a business - but when you have an idea that just won’t wait, sometimes you need to dive right in. But diving in, doesn’t always make it easy, in fact it can be downright shocking, especially if you’ve never been on the entrepreneurial end of things! Derrick Miles, CEO and President of CourMed left corporate America on the edge of one of the shakiest markets in recent memory, and turned a turkey of circumstances into a golden goose. He created a business model that encourages leadership, positivity, and understands the long-term value of investing in strategic marketing tactics. So, if you’re into a true underdog story and want to hear about how one entrepreneur successfully launched his company into the stratosphere, have we got an episode for you! Here are the show highlights: How being unique can help you win big (8:04) Why it’s smart to avoid the ‘me too’ mindset and think outside the box (10:33) If there’s one way to find success, investing in the right marketing is it! (13:14) An 18th century historical figure uses influencer marketing (17:34) Why you shouldn’t avoid failure, it’s all part of the success journey (27:38) This is how you stay encouraged (36:22) Guest Bio Derrick Miles is President and CEO at CourMed, a company utilizing enterprise software to facilitate the innovative concierge delivery of healthcare products. In addition, Derrick is also the Chairman and Founder of TMB Equity Partners, a boutique firm focused on investing in and developing innovative healthcare solutions. A lifelong learner, he received an MSHA and MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a BS in Medical Technology from Bethune-Cookman University, and is pursuing certifications in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. If you’d like to get in touch with Derrick after the show, feel free to reach out to him via LinkedIn at Derrick Miles.

Innovation in healthcare goes far beyond brick-and-mortar interactions - we’re in the digital age, and that means digital solutions are carving out their space. And when you pair the intelligence of digital technology with a human touch, the opportunity to revolutionize how your consumers interact with your product skyrockets. Lydia Zeller, CEO at Kiio, pursued the idea of being a true partner with their B2B members and then doubled down on gathering hard ROI and delivering tangible outcomes. From product design and development to funding and all the way through commercialization, Kiio has perfected their secret sauce - and are ready to revolutionize musculoskeletal care. In this episode, Lydia shares some of the strategies and insights her company is using to turn the world of digital innovation on its side - you don’t want to miss this one! Here are the show highlights: This simple understanding can yield big success (7:02) Capabilities that are critical to driving engagement (9:10) Hard ROI and how it creates a competitive advantage (15:10) Why it’s important to know your next move when exploring contracts (22:58) Whether you’re funding evidence or development, this investment is necessary (24:12) Turn customers into fanatics to successfully build, grow, and scale your business (31:42) Guest Bio Lydia Zeller is CEO at Kiio, a digital therapeutic company focused on changing the approach to musculoskeletal (MSK) care. A champion for driving healthcare innovation, Lydia has been involved in every facet of Kiio’s product and business development. Her passion for delivering impactful results helped lead the charge for the company’s pivot into the digital musculoskeletal therapeutic market. Lydia received her BA and Executive MBA specializing in Strategic Management from the University of Wisconsin - Madison If you’d like to get in touch with Lydia after the show, feel free to reach out to her via her website Kiio.com or emai l her at lzeller@kiio.com.

Sometimes we like to shake it up a little - okay, a lot, like in this week’s episode when we go completely loose-cannon and host a panel discussion on a variety of topics. If you’re struggling with the status quo, facing an uphill battle against industry incumbents, or simply trying to navigate your way through consolidation, this is where you want to be! Jeffrey Carlisle, CEO at Pneuma Systems Corporation, Howard Rosen, CEO and Founder of LifeWIRE, and Brent Wright, Associate Dean for Rural Health Innovation at University of Louisville join us this week for a roundtable discussion of all things innovation. So, grab a chair (and possibly a drink) and hang out with us a while as we discuss ideas, tricks of the trade, strategies and outlooks that could put you on the path to success. Here are the show highlights: What if the controversial word is “innovation”? (6:29) Customer obsessed or product obsessed - your innovation needs to meet a need (11:58) When to disrupt the status quo, and when to let things ride (14:13) Building out a commercialization strategy when your customers are risk-averse (16:40) What is a healthcare consumer really willing to pay for? (20:16) Breaking into the EMR space, can you really dethrone an incumbent? (29:58) Guest Bios Jeffrey Carlisle is CEO at Pneuma Systems Corporation. He earned his ScB in Applied Math/Biology from Brown University. If you’d like to get in touch with Jeffrey after the show, feel free to reach out to him via LinkedIn at Jeffrey Carlisle or via email at J effreyCarlisle@me.com. Howard Rosen is CEO and Founder of LifeWIRE Group. He earned his HBBA in Economics and Marketing and an MBA in International Finance/Marketing from York University, Schulich School of business. If you’d like to get in touch with Howard after the show, feel free to reach out to him via LinkedIn at Howard Rosen or via email at HRosen@LifeWiregroup.com. Brent Wright is the Associate Dean for Rural Health Innovation at the University of Louisville. He earned his BS in Human Studies from the University of Kentucky and his Masters in Medical Management from the University of Southern California If you’d like to get in touch with Brent after the show, feel free to reach out to him via LinkedIn at Brent Wright or via email at R.Wright@louisville.edu.

When it comes to strategies, there are many different types you can utilize when commercializing an innovation. But what happens when the market throws a curveball you, nor your investors, were expecting? George Makhoul, CEO and CCO of Biom’up says that with a bit of grit, drive, and belief you can creatively - and successfully - commercialize a product, even during a pandemic. Whether driving adoption or securing a champion, George explains how, when it all comes down to it, investors simply invest - it’s up to the innovator to work on the commercialization. Join us on this journey with George as he delivers some tricks and tips his organization has used to continue working toward a successful commercialization in an unpredictable market. Here are the show highlights: Three characteristics you need to drive a successful commercialization strategy (2:01) How you can successfully leverage unexpected setbacks (5:14) How a hybrid approach to relationship building works in a digital environment (10:30) Why it’s up to you, not investors, to commercialize for what you want (13:53) Not being able to drive adoption could be the best problem to have! (21:24) From concept to commercialization: know your audience (27:19) Guest Bio George Makhoul is CEO and CCO of Biom’up, a specialist in collagen-based absorbable medical devices who is committed to making life easier for surgeons and better for patients. George has taken an over 20 year career in healthcare fields and parlayed it into driving revenue in the Medical Devices, Biologics, and pharmaceutical industries. His diverse experience in everything from sales leadership to launch execution has been applied to developing new markets and maximizing the success of mature brands. George earned his BA in Management, Business, Economics, Chemistry, Biosciences and Biology from Monrovia University. If you’d like to get in touch with George after the show, feel free to reach out to him via LinkedIn at George Makhoul.

One of the most critical components of a successful startup is the startup’s understanding of their customer - but what happens if you’ve got a tech-centered origin? Making the investment in customer discovery is hard enough, but it gets even tougher when the data you dig up warns that you might be on the wrong path - and need to pivot your focus. Steve Sapot, Perimeter Medical Imaging AI’s Chief Commercial Officer, used customer discovery strategies to quickly reveal his organization’s need to shift its focus. Armed with the strong leadership necessary for such a challenge, the Perimeter team rolled up their sleeves and began the work of pivoting their strategy, and are now primed for success. In this episode, Steve talks openly and candidly about strong leadership, the value to be found in a good customer discovery strategy, and what it takes to have both. Here are the show highlights: How to shift an organization to a customer-focus (1:35) Why it’s necessary to “get” uncomfortable (8:39) How COVID re-humanized the workforce (10:03) The right kind of decision making to target early adopters (18:39) This is how you know you’re a true leader (22:59) How your company looks today may differ in 90 days - and why that's okay (28:47) Guest Bio Steve Sapot is the Chief Commercial Officer at Perimeter Medical Imaging AI, an organization working to improve the lives and surgical experience of breast cancer patients. A keen sales executive, Steve has a passion for stacking organizations with top talent and then empowering those teams. Specializing in turning a strategic vision into strong commercial teams, Steve has consistently brought successful plans to the table, resulting in outperformance of organizational goals. Steve BA in communications from the University of Arizona and has built a solid and respected career in medical technology. If you’d like to get in touch with Steve after the show, feel free to reach out to him via email at info@perimetermed.com or on his company’s website at perimetermed.com.

When there’s a 95% failure rate for go-to-market innovations in the US, you have to wonder: what is actually happening? Resources, tools, templates, and an abundance of accelerator programs should equal a stronger success rate, right? No, actually it doesn’t. In fact, the flood of resources might be exactly what holds the success rate down for innovators trying to bring solutions to the market. Jason Mellad of Start Codon, a UK-based accelerator, has experience both inside and outside of the US markets — and he brings those insights to the table this week for our viewers. If you’ve ever wondered what the best approach to take with a potential investor is — what attitude, knowledge, position you need to bring to the table to secure funding — here’s your show! Intelligent and passionate about delivering solid solutions and improved patient outcomes, Jason gets down to the real business of building a successful startup. Here are the show highlights: The difference between the UK and US accelerator markets (1:29) What startups need to understand when mapping out solutions (5:34) How to avoid bias that can lead your startup down the wrong path (11:48) Why it’s so important to embrace constructive criticism (16:29) This is how you convince your investors to invest in research (20:52) Three qualities innovators need to show investors, NOT tell them (29:31) Guest Bio Jason Mellad is the CEO, Co-Founder, and Managing Partner of Start Codon, a healthcare and life sciences accelerator helping startup businesses build to succeed on a global scale. Focused on innovative technologies and solutions that provide better patient outcomes, Start Codon is the result of Jason’s love of science and passion for entrepreneurship. Jason earned his BSc in Molecular Biology and Chemistry from Tulane College in 2004, and his Ph.D. in Medicine from the University of Cambridge in 2009. If you’d like to get in touch with Jason after the show, feel free to reach out to him via email at Jason@StartCodon.co, on Twitter at @J Mellad , or on LinkedIn at Jason Mellad.

Technology: you know it’s a good thing, but it changes so fast - sometimes you just need someone who can break it down, parcel it out, and help make sense of it all. Steve Anderson’s interest in technology was so compelling, he left his career in insurance to build his own business helping other companies do just that: make sense of all that technology. After discovering early shareholder letters penned by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, he began making the connections between cutting-edge technology, customer obsession, and Amazon’s success. “The Bezos Letters: 14 Principles to Grow Your Business Like Amazon” is the result of those letters and Steve’s research on the guiding principles that helped build a trillion-dollar company. Humble, funny, and incredibly insightful, Steve delivers insights and knowledge you do not want to miss out on. If you want to run your business like Bezos, you want to watch this show! So, grab a notebook and a pen because you’re going to want to take notes. Here are the show highlights: What successful failure is and why it’s a thing (9:22) How to practice dynamic invention and innovation (14:52) The importance of having every employee think like an owner (17:42) The key practice that is a sure path to profit (22:16) What customer obsession really looks like (28:31) Why technology is a big value add for customers (37:05) Guest Bio Steve Anderson parlayed his early days in the insurance industry into a career as a speaker and consultant on technology and risk. Steve is a firm believer that we can all impact our world and make our marks for the better through a risk and growth mindset. So sure, in fact, that he authored the best-selling book: “The Bezos Letters: 14 Principles to Grow Your Business like Amazon.” Steve earned his BS in Business Administration and Economics from Taylor University and his Masters in Legal Studies and Insurance Law from the University of the District of Columbia. Check out “The Bezos Letters” at TheBezosLetters.com or, if you’d like to reach out to Steve, you can connect with him on LinkedIn at Steve Anderson.

The pandemic has changed the way we all do business - our tried and true methods have been tested and found to be lacking in this new digital environment. But what’s a company to do? How are you supposed to be able to commercialize or sell your product when you can’t even meet with your prospects? It’s enough to send your blood pressure soaring and the muscles in your neck twitching - if you don’t know the secret sauce. So, take a deep breath and give a listen to what Gunter Wessels, Co-founder of LiquidSmarts, has to say about value-based selling, marketing, and communication in a digital environment. Gunter uses humor and candor to dive into the psychology of value-based digital business management, and then shows our viewers exactly how it’s done. Here are the show highlights: Why you don’t have to conduct in-person business to make an impact (3:44) Building relationships in a digital environment (6:03) Understanding the essence of value-based selling (10:04) Technology may be implicit, but it’s not the whole story (12:59) How adoption of an innovation is only constrained by the relevance of your communication (18:23) It’s more valuable to be a customer expert instead of a product expert (32:43) Guest Bio Gunter Wessels is the Co-Founder and Practice General Manager of LiquidSmarts, a company that reduces miscommunication, misalignment of resources, and dis-coordination of action to increase engagement and sales volume. His decades-long career in sales and business diagnostics and innovation has evolved into a strategy that uses the latest micro-learning approaches to value-based business solutions. Gunter received his BS in Biology and MBA in Marketing Management from the University of California, Riverside, and Ph.D. in Management from the University of Arizona. If you’d like to reach out to Gunter, you can email him at gunter@liquidsmarts.com or reach out to him on his website at www.liquidsmarts.com.

When it comes to building a startup, paying attention to the culture you build isn’t the first thing on your mind - but it should be. There is a lot of work that goes into what entrepreneurs do - and a startup is only going to be as good - and healthy - as its employees. Build a positive culture and you’ll have positive outcomes. Just ask Erik Osland of EvolveMd! He built a successful business using core values that include support, self-care, training, and creating a culture that benefits both customers and employees. Come learn more about this win-win as Erik discusses this and much more in his recent episode on the Health Innovators Podcast. Grab a friend (or a coworker) and hang out with us for a few minutes of healthy conversation. Here are the show highlights: How system disruptors can present entrepreneurs with opportunities for expansion or growth (6:16) Focusing on quality employee relationships can boost positive patient outcomes (8:22) Recognize the learning power of your mistakes (13:10) You can create first, tweak later, and still come out on top (16:06) Never say never - when a pivot opportunity presents itself, a learning opportunity is not far behind (20:40) Self-care: Taking care of you will also benefit your company and those you serve (26:11) Guest Bio Erik Osland is the managing partner for EvolvedMD, a comprehensive behavioral health integration platform focused on program development, management, and implementation. His education at the University of Arizona helped develop his background in leadership, management, and strategic planning. Erik utilized that background to develop a process that delivers the best patient care and outcomes possible in behavioral health, while also minimizing barriers often found when trying to access those settings. If you’d like to reach out to Erik, you can email him at erik@evolvedmd.com, find him on LinkedIn at Erik Osland, or reach out to him on his website at EvolvedMD.com.