Digital Health Heavyweights
This conversational podcast brings you exclusive interviews with all the Heavyweights in Digital Health. Hosted by Norm Volsky, a top industry headhunter, whose team helped scale companies including Livongo, Hinge Health, Lyra, Virta, Progyny and many more. This series will bring listeners insights into the latest trends, technologies, and strategies driving the digital health revolution.
In each episode, Norm sits down with some of the most influential and innovative leaders in healthcare technology today from legendary founders who have built successful companies, venture capitalists who have led funding rounds, HR/Benefits leaders at forward thinking companies, Consultants and Brokers at the top benefits consulting firms, and other impactful visionaries challenging the status quo in healthcare. Listeners can learn from the industry greats who have created what we now know as health benefits, and who are changing the face of healthcare as we know it.
Whether you're a healthcare professional, a tech enthusiast, a start-up founder, benefits aficionado, jobseeker in Digital Health, or simply curious about the future of healthcare, Digital Health Heavyweights has something for you.
Digital Health Heavyweights
Episode 51 - Emily Durfee, Investor at Healthworx
Welcome back to the Digital Health Heavyweights Podcast for Episode 51! Today, Norm sits down with Emily Durfee, partner at Healthworx Ventures, who shares her journey in venture capital and her experiences in the healthcare industry. She emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives in venture capital and the value of hiring people with different skills and strengths. Emily also discusses her role as a product operations manager at Clover Health and the challenges and successes she faced. She highlights the need for effective leadership and creating a culture of respect and value within a team. Emily shares her experiences in East and West Africa and the lessons she learned about healthcare systems and the importance of incentives. She also mentions the healthcare initiatives she was involved in during her time at Optimizer Foundation. Emily joined Healthworx during the COVID-19 pandemic and found a sense of purpose in working in the startup ecosystem. She values learning every day, working with people she likes and respects, and having a mission that aligns with her values. Healthworx sets itself apart by providing access to the knowledge and expertise of a payer, which is rare in the venture capital world. Emily emphasizes the importance of understanding the customer's top five problems and articulating why your solution is a top value proposition for them. She also shares her love for exercise and being active outdoors as a way to manage stress. In terms of healthy eating, she enjoys buying fresh, locally grown ingredients from the farmer's market and making salads.
Takeaways
🌐 **Diverse perspectives in venture capital are crucial for making well-rounded investment decisions. **
🤝 **Effective leadership involves hiring people with different skills and strengths and creating a culture of respect and value within a team. **
🌍 **Healthcare systems face similar challenges globally, such as engaging patients, ensuring an adequate number of healthcare professionals, and promoting adherence to treatment plans. **
💰 **Incentives play a significant role in shaping healthcare systems, and different payment models can lead to different priorities and outcomes. **
🏥 **Investing in healthcare initiatives can have a profound impact on improving access to care and quality of life for underserved populations. Joining Healthworx during the COVID-19 pandemic provided Emily with a sense of purpose and the opportunity to work in the startup ecosystem. **
🔍 **Healthworx differentiates itself by providing access to the knowledge and expertise of a payer, which is rare in the venture capital world. **
🩺 **Understanding the customer's top five problems and articulating why your solution is a top value proposition for them is crucial in healthcare. **
🏃♀️ **Emily manages stress through exercise and being active outdoors. **
🥗 **Emily enjoys buying fresh, locally grown ingredients from the farmer's market and making salads. **
Chapters
00:00 Empowering Entrepreneurs in Venture Capital
03:00 Balancing Solutions in Product Operations
05:47 Leadership and Team Building
09:20 Universal Challenges in Healthcare Systems
23:47 Emily's Journey in Healthworx: From Joining to Leading
26:28 Venturing into Healthcare: Focus, Organizations, and Uniqueness
30:23 Crucial Traits and Advice for Startup Founders in Healthcare
35:06 Challenges and Wellness in Venture Capital
42:39 Balanced Lifestyle and Healthy Recipes
45:55 Outro
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