The Profile

Polina Marinova Pompliano

The Profile podcast will introduce you to the most successful and interesting people while feeding your brain high-quality ideas. Improve your content diet, and learn more at https://readtheprofile.com

  1. 04/08/2025

    Zus CEO Jonathan Bush on Getting Targeted by Wall Street’s Most Feared Activist Investor

    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'

    47 min

  2. 02/12/2025

    Meet Evan Mawarire, the Pastor Who Stood Up to a Dictator

    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. -- 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/ --

    53 min

  3. 04/03/2024

    The Relationship Therapist Helping Heal Your ‘Origin Wound’

    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/

    54 min

  4. 03/19/2024

    Meet the Behavioral Scientist Who's Interviewed Serial Killers, Terrorists, Spies, and ... Startup Founders

    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. -- 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

    1h 8m

  5. 02/28/2024

    New Balance CEO Joe Preston on How the ‘Dad Shoe’ Became a Fashion Statement

    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. -- 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/

    45 min

  6. 02/21/2024

    Rob Henderson on Why We Hold ‘Luxury Beliefs’ and Develop ‘Status Anxiety’

    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/

    1h 4m

  7. 12/05/2023

    Meet The Private Equity Investor at the Intersection of Finance and Self-Help

    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. -- 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://theprofile.substack.com/

    56 min

  8. 11/29/2023

    Meet Laura Dekker, the youngest person to sail solo around the world

    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. -- 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://theprofile.substack.com/

    50 min
See All (35)

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

The Profile podcast will introduce you to the most successful and interesting people while feeding your brain high-quality ideas. Improve your content diet, and learn more at https://readtheprofile.com

Information

  • Creator
    Polina Marinova Pompliano
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Polina Marinova Pompliano
  • Show Website
    The Profile