My guest today is Mark Bertolini. Mark is the former CEO of Aetna and the current CEO of Oscar Health. He shares one of the most extraordinary leadership stories I've encountered—surviving a catastrophic skiing accident that left him in chronic pain for 18 years while simultaneously leading one of healthcare's most successful corporate turnarounds. His personal experience navigating his son's life-threatening cancer battle and his own medical challenges fundamentally changed his approach to healthcare, leading to innovations in employee welfare that Wall Street initially questioned but ultimately celebrated. During his tenure at Aetna, Mark generated 652% total shareholder return by implementing revolutionary employee policies and is now applying these lessons at Oscar Health to disrupt the $4 trillion healthcare industry with a technology-first approach. We discuss the power of servant leadership, employer-sponsored insurance vs individual choice-based plans, and the horizons of healthcare. Please enjoy this incredible conversation with Mark Bertolini.
For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.
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Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).
Show Notes:
(00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best
(00:04:52) Mark's Ski Accident and Recovery
(00:07:54) Early Life and Career Beginnings
(00:12:51) Leadership Philosophy and Career Highlights
(00:19:03) Healthcare System Insights and Innovations
(00:25:31) Oscar Health: Current State and Future Vision
(00:42:06) Personal Stories and Eastern Belief System
(00:51:57) Discovering the Healing Power of Yoga
(00:57:21) Transforming Employee Benefits and Wages
(01:02:41) Personal Journey Through Chronic Pain
(01:08:10) Reflections on Business Success and Leadership
(01:15:54) Joining Bridgewater and Transitioning Leadership
(01:22:47) Leading Oscar Health and Future Goals
(01:34:12) Enduring Hardships and Finding Purpose
(01:32:34) The Kindest Thing Anyone Has Ever Done For Mark