ReLeader: Roy Schoenberg, President & CEO - American Well

American Well was one of the first telehealth companies on the planet...they created the category. Under Roy's leadership and the team he's crafted, they are re-defining virtual health as we know it. His reflection on leadership and life is due in part to the impact he's made in the industry. I've learned many a life lesson from Roy and appreciate his time in mentoring to our ReLeader platform...enjoy!

MH - What’s the best leadership lesson you’ve learned? 

RS - In the end, people follow people, not perfect data or a sound plan.

MH - How do you continually learn? (given all the noise and sources in the market)

RS - Spend the MOST time with the NAY-Sayers.

MH - What would you tell your 30 year old self:)?

RS - Nothing is as good or as bad as it initially seems. (not original. I heard it somewhere).

MH - How do you embrace failure or a setback and learn to recover?

RS - I don’t embrace failure. I have no choice but to keep going and time soothes everything

MH - What used to be (or is) your biggest weakness that you strive to improve?

RS - I used to be too detail oriented. I didn’t really change but I learned how to kick myself quietly when people don’t notice.

MH - How do you set up a culture of success?

RS - Make a point of connecting cause and effect. Don’t let achievements, or failures, be misunderstood as random turn of events

MH - What is your release...do you adventure, what hobbies do you enjoy?

RS - Laughing out loud with loved ones, no matter why. On a more serious note – boating. Being on the ocean!!

MH - How do you stay connected...to influencers, to trends both in and out of your industry?

RS - Modern media perfected its ability to insert relevant influencing data into your attention span. The art is no longer how to stay connected and informed but how to correctly filter your proverbial inbox. Did I mention the nay-sayers from question 2 above :)?

MH - How do you approach risk taking?

"No risk, no reward. Literally. Sad but true. Hard work simply doesn’t cut it anymore in our ferocious world. This doesn’t mean any risk is good, but that we are evaluated as leaders by our ability to champion (valuable) change and that is, by definition, risk."

MH - What are you most proud of?

RS - My life-balance. All achievements, personal and professional, are truly wonderful long-term If they don’t cancel out. If one dimension of your life doesn’t cannibalize the other.

MH - Whats the best mentoring advice you've received that applies to the generation of today?

RS - You have got to give time, time. (a.k.a. take the time to gain clarity before you spring into action)

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About ReLeader - ReLeader is emids' mentoring platform to share views on leadership, career journey, and lessons on life from executives across the healthcare continuum. These Q/A sessions are a public mentoring platform for our readers, highlighting things that matter beyond just stock price and policy shifts. We welcome inputs on questions you'd like addressed from our upcoming ReLeader guests.

Many thanks to Roy and his team for sharing his mentoring and leadership perspective!