Jonathan Bush was busy building healthcare startup Athenahealth when Wall Street’s most feared activist investor began circling.
In 2017, Elliott took a 9% stake, slammed the company’s performance, and pushed for a sale—eventually forcing Bush out as CEO.
In this conversation, he opens up about being publicly targeted, hitting rock bottom, and finding the grit to rise again.
TIME STAMPS:
00:00 - How he got into healthcare
03:29 -- Founding Athenahealth
07:16 - Athenahealth's business model
07:52 - Meeting with his cousin George W. Bush in the Oval Office
09:04 - Transitioning to public market CEO
12:00 - Elliott Management begins circling
14:49 - Damaging allegations against Bush resurface
22:02 - Did he think he would start another company?
23:27 - How the public firing affected him
24:36 - Running a company under duress
29:40 - Any Elliott criticisms that Bush thinks were valid
31:13 - Advice for CEOs who find themselves the target of an activist investor attack
32:26 - Has the experience changed him?
33:30 - Founding Zus Health
37:48 - The significance of Zus's name
38:54 - How much venture funding Zus has raised
39:20 - Would Bush take Zus public?
42:51 - His opinion on the state of the healthcare system
44:46 - Jonathan Bush's legacy
46:26 - How Jonathan Bush defines the word 'success'
Evan Mawarire is the pastor behind #ThisFlag, a grassroots movement that used Zimbabwe’s flag as a symbol of resistance against government corruption, economic mismanagement, and human rights abuses. The movement sparked peaceful protests, stay-at-home demonstrations, and international attention, directly challenging Mugabe’s regime. In response, Mawarire was arrested multiple times and eventually forced into exile.
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Vienna Pharaon is a popular relationship therapist and the author of the book The Origins of You. In this conversation, we discuss the power of conflict, repair, and connection. -- Stay up to date by subscribing to The Profile, our weekly newsletter that brings you the best profiles of successful people and companies. Sign up here: https://www.readtheprofile.com/
In this conversation, behavioral scientist Jason Halbert explores the complexities of the human mind, the commonalities between serial killers and startup founders, and the fine line between ambition and delusion.
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Stay up to date by signing up for The Profile, our weekly newsletter that brings you the best profiles of successful people and companies. Sign up here: https://readtheprofile.com/ -- TIME STAMPS: 00:00 - 'Darkness retreat' experience 05:35 - Jason's career trajectory 08:34 - What it takes to build a psychological profile on someone 10:34 - Optimal interview environment 12:56 - Speaking in absolutes 13:58 - Conducting an interview with a serial killer 15:46 - How serial killers differ from other criminals 19:09 - Is there a killer gene? 20:32 - How to use empathy in an interrogation 24:18 - Has Jason's definition of good and evil changed? 26:13 - Why it's hard to be a whistleblower 27:33 - The line between ambition and delusion 30:22 - Elon Musk: Ambitious AND delusional? 33:23 - Jason's work with founders and VCs 37:01 - Identifying and mitigating blind spots 39:11 - How to become more persuasive 42:26 - How to profile a potential candidate 46:21 - The role of chemistry 51:16 - The formula for identity 55:29 - The difference between your real self and your ideal self 58:20 - How to deeply understand the people in our lives 1:02:46 - The value of over-explaining 1:03:43 - How Jason defines success
How did a brand notoriously known for its uncool “dad shoe” become a fashion craze largely popular with young women?
In this conversation, New Balance CEO Joe Preston discusses his journey to CEO, how he has helped evolve the “dad shoe,” and why the $10 billion revenue goal is so significant.
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In his new book, author Rob Henderson recounts growing up in foster care, attending elite universities, and pioneering the concept of “luxury beliefs.” In this conversation, Henderson discusses the events of his early life, the prevalence of victimhood in today’s society, and whether it’s possible to opt out of the status game. -- Stay up to date by signing up for The Profile, our weekly newsletter that brings you the best profiles of successful people and companies. Sign up here: https://readtheprofile.com/
Graham Weaver is the founder and managing partner of Alpine Investors. He started Alpine out of his dorm room at Stanford and started buying companies with his credit card. Over the last 22 years, he built a private equity firm with $16 billion in assets under management.
In this conversation, Weaver unpacks his unique investment strategy, what daily habits have transformed his life, and why he believes we should all strive to live an asymmetric life.
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Laura Dekker holds the world record for being the youngest person to sail solo around the world. She began her journey in August 2010 when she was 14 years old and finished in January 2012 when she was 16.
In this conversation, we talk about what prompted her to take on a voyage this challenging, how she navigated (and eventually won) her fight with the Dutch government, and how she plans to use the lessons she learned as a young sailor to parent her own kids.
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https://theprofile.substack.com/
JJ Watt is one of the one of the NFL's most well-respected defensive stars.
In this conversation, he reveals if he owns Bitcoin, his most interesting startup investments, and of course, what he thinks about the Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce romance.
Ron Shaich is the founder of iconic brands like Au Bon Pain and Panera Bread, investor in food brands such as Cava and Tatte, and now author of the book ‘Know What Matters.’
In this conversation, Shaich and I discuss how to build iconic brands, why ubiquity can breed contempt, and what founder should consider before taking their company public. It was a conversation filled with practical takeaways you can apply to your life today. I hope you enjoy.
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In this interview, John Salley shares his experience playing with the basketball greats and learning important lessons about a life of endless learning.
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Alpha CEO Savannah Jordan shares how she developed a tough mental framework, adapted to marketing’s constant evolution, and grew a personal and professional brand worth millions.
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In this wide-ranging conversation, Heather Wilson discusses developing mental resilience, making decisions in times of crisis, and some of the biggest lessons she’s learned after decades in leadership.
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Chad Mumm had a front row seat to one of pro golf’s most controversial years to date. As the executive producer behind Netflix’s hit series “Full Swing,” Mumm discusses the inception of the docu-series, the LIV Golf controversy, and his creative process for creating hit TV shows. --- Stay up to date by signing up for The Profile, our weekly newsletter that brings you the best profiles of successful people and companies. Sign up here: https://theprofile.substack.com/
Martin Webb is behind some of the most captivating docu-series, but you’ve probably never heard his name. He has directed Formula 1: Drive to Survive, Break Point, and Life and Death Row: Execution.
In his first in-depth interview, Webb breaks down the art of building intimacy with his subjects, taking on difficult projects, and telling captivating human stories through film.
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Francis Ngannou is the heavyweight champion of the world. In mixed martial arts circles, he’s known as “the baddest man on the planet,” and that’s for good reason. Ngannou has a long history of developing strength — both physical and emotional. In this interview, you will hear the mind-blowing story of how Ngannou signed with the UFC, moved to the United States, and became the world heavyweight champion in a sport he didn’t even know existed just several years prior.
War photographer Lynsey Addario has covered every major conflict and humanitarian crisis on the planet. As she sees the destruction and the pain through the lens of her camera, her images translate that intense emotion to people across the globe.
In this interview, Addario explains how she assesses risk in a war zone, how she’s dealing with the mental scars that result from her work, and why she doesn’t believe you have to be an activist to enact change.
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Earlier this year, Mark Bertolini was named co-CEO of Bridgewater Associates, the largest hedge fund in the world. With $150 billion under management, Bridgewater is known for its unusual culture around “radical transparency.” In this conversation, we talk about the two life-altering wake-up calls that forced him to change his leadership style, why he’s inspired by Eastern philosophy, and what he hopes to achieve at Bridgewater in the coming years.
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Robert Hoge was born with a tumor in the middle of his face and two severely mangled legs. In the 50 years since his birth, Hoge has re-claimed and re-framed the word he had been called his entire life: "ugly."
In this conversation, Hoge reflects on overcoming the challenges of growing up different, rejecting the labels of society, and building a remarkably beautiful life.
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Union Square Cafe. Gramercy Tavern. Shake Shack.
Danny Meyer doesn't open restaurants. He opens institutions.
In this conversation, the legendary restaurateur shares what he's learned about leading in crisis, how he developed his 'hospitality quotient' philosophy, and why he believes in cultivating a culture of experimentation and risk-taking.
