Necessarily Different: a continuous global study of the work styles and leadership impact of digital health CEOs and Founders

During the 250,000+ leadership conversations we hold each year with the most innovative digital health companies in the world across health, science and technology, we noticed that those who choose to create and lead these companies, seem different to your average leader.

It turns out they are – significantly different.

These leaders are at the forefront and in the thick of complex, often entrenched systems, whether that be health services, payers and providers, or large corporate pharmaceutical and medical device companies. They face unique challenges in a highly risk averse, regulated and costly environment, where change is slow and paths to success are not well trodden. Yet, these leaders are up for the challenge – and, as a result, they can improve the quality of life of millions of people.

At Coulter Partners, we are all scientists at heart, so we wanted to collect data to explore this somewhat unusual cohort statistically. During 2023 – and to be utilized throughout 2024 and 2025 – we developed an ongoing, freely available, global assessment and feedback project for any CEO and/or Founder of a digital health company.

We are now excited to share the results from the first cohort of 50 CEO and Founders of early-stage digital health companies – and the results are fascinating! We find that this sector demands a certain type of leader, a ‘necessary’ profile, to drive change, innovation and technology enablement in an industry that has potential to change the health of the world.

Download our report here.

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Many thanks to our first 50 contributors.

The study will remain open to all digital health CEOs and Founders for 2024 and 2025 with the aim of building a valid, representative dataset of over 200 participants.
All results will be anonymous and aggregated before sharing with our digital health network.

To be part of the study, please contact Ian Coyne, Client Partner.