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Refreshingly candid conversations with some of today’s most humble leaders. Adam Kaufman dives into topics often left unexplored. His guests’ challenges, fears, and motivations show what it takes to become a humble leader.
Refreshingly candid conversations with some of today’s most humble leaders. Adam Kaufman dives into topics often left unexplored. His guests’ challenges, fears, and motivations show what it takes to become a humble leader.
Episodes

7 days ago
7 days ago
In this inspiring episode of the Up2 Podcast, host Adam sits down with Dr. Rene Caissie — a former maxillofacial surgeon, department chief, and repeat entrepreneur — who left a successful medical career in Canada to found Medeloop, an AI-native platform that deploys intelligent agents on massive healthcare datasets to accelerate clinical research, discover new biomarkers, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency in hospitals and life sciences. Dr. Caissie shares his remarkable journey: building and exiting an EMR company, moving his family to Silicon Valley, studying at Stanford GSB, and now leading a fast-growing AI health tech company valued at over $100 million. He opens up about the emotional side of entrepreneurship, the importance of relationships, managing board pressure, staying grounded through extreme hobbies and family life, and why he believes AI will fundamentally transform how medicine is practiced. A must-listen for physicians, entrepreneurs, healthcare leaders, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of AI and medicine.

Tuesday Mar 17, 2026
The Power of Kindness in Business: Lessons from Fred Koury
Tuesday Mar 17, 2026
Tuesday Mar 17, 2026

Thursday Sep 04, 2025
Dr. Akram Boutros: Optimism Beats Adversity!
Thursday Sep 04, 2025
Thursday Sep 04, 2025
We love talking to resilient winners. Hard drivers who take on whatever challenges come their way who find the strength to not only overcome but to achieve and grow time and again. Our guest today lives by the mantra, "There is always going to be a better tomorrow,' which is particularly impressive given he had to overcome getting hit by a truck as a teenager; being fired and lied to by the organization he built into a national model; and even a serious health diagnosis soon after. Tune in for this riveting and meaningful conversation with our super-impressive friend, former CEO and current entrepreneur, Akram Boutros, MD.

Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Alex Robinson: Looking Over the Horizon on a Unicorn
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025

Wednesday Apr 09, 2025
Resilient Voices: Leadership Through Adversity
Wednesday Apr 09, 2025
Wednesday Apr 09, 2025
All of us face inevitable curves in the road as we navigate the journey of life. So it's valuable to learn how effective leaders deal with these challenges, for as Albert Einstein wisely observed, 'in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." These are some of our favorite segments where Up2 guests shared reflections on how they overcome challenges.

Tuesday Nov 12, 2024
Tuesday Nov 12, 2024
Today's guest leaned into his fondness for business and passion for sports, building a career that began with the law and now excels in the growing world of sports private equity. Tune in for an authentic conversation with this energetic counselor driven by both his family and his heritage.

Thursday Oct 03, 2024
Joel Peterson: Radical Intentionality
Thursday Oct 03, 2024
Thursday Oct 03, 2024
There's something special about super-accomplished business leader, Joel Peterson. He teaches some of the most popular courses at Stanford; he led JetBlue Airways when they topped the industry's customer satisfaction rankings; and he was at the helm when Tramel Crow was the largest real estate development company in the U.S. His newest book, Juggling Glass and Rubber Balls, chronicles how this father of 7 successful children (31 grandchildren!) navigates parenting and career and the inevitable curves in the road. Exuding authentic humility in spite of all of his achievements, Joel embodies the ethos of Up2. Tune in for Joel's wisdom career, intellectual and spiritual maturity, goal-setting, and parenting.

Wednesday Aug 28, 2024
Lt. General Laura Lenderman: Reaching the Highest Levels of Service With Humility
Wednesday Aug 28, 2024
Wednesday Aug 28, 2024
What a thrilling opportunity to welcome Three Star Air Force General Laura Lenderman back to our program, such a humble leader in spite of her accomplishments both in the air and in military leadership. In a rare opportunity to speak with such a high-ranking, active duty military officer, Gen. Lenderman describes her role at Joint-Base Pearl Harbor and how she handles this important command, keeping an eye on the Pacific Ocean, China, and so many other priorities. Adam and the General explore both her motivations and how she's dealt with challenges, and why she continues to want to serve this nation and our world.
Monday Jul 15, 2024
Jimmy Lynn: Mentoring the Future
Monday Jul 15, 2024
Monday Jul 15, 2024
Jimmy Lynn is a pioneer in every sense of the word; shaping the past, present, and future of digital sports and people's lives. As a former VP of AOL sports, he helped develop it into thee global sports destination. As the founder of his consulting practice and co-founder of Kiswe Mobile, he's creating the future of digital spaces for sports and events. As for the future--Jimmy is mentoring it.Through teaching at Georgetown's business school and personally mentoring dozens of young adults under his wing, Jimmy is instilling the next generation with the tools for success and fulfillment; practicing and inspiring the message of "paying it forward." And that's only the tip of the Jimmy Lynn iceberg. From sports documentaries to DJ-ing, tune in to today's episode to discover everything else Jimmy Lynn was, is, and will be Up2!

Tuesday Jun 18, 2024
Lou Shapiro: Culture is Crucial.
Tuesday Jun 18, 2024
Tuesday Jun 18, 2024
Although he will tell you they are, The Steelers aren't the best thing to come from Pittsburgh -- that would be Lou Shapiro. Hailing from UPitt, Lou was the former president and CEO of Hospital for Special Surgery; ranked #1 for orthopedics in the nation for 14 straight years under his leadership. Currently, he advises and is a board member for a number of companies -- further applying his strategic mind in fresh and exciting ventures. Tune in to how Lou cultivates a meaningful corporate atmosphere, tackles big decisions, and all the new things he's Up2!
