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The BackstoryWith Anne Hancock Toomey Author: Jarrard Inc.
The Backstory, formerly the High Stakes Podcast, is a new, limited series from Jarrard Inc. President and Co-Founder Anne Hancock Toomey. For nearly two decades, Jarrard one of the nations top communications consulting firms for healthcare has partnered with thousands of leaders across the country who are striving to make healthcare better every day. But this isnt a podcast about healthcare, or politics or even communications. Its about authentic leadership. The Backstory is about demystifying respected leaders whove had a lot of success along the way because of the kind of leaders theyve chosen to be. Each person Anne interviews is visionary, of course. Theyre smart as hell, and theyre fierce about their business and their mission. Theyre also humble, kind and create the kind of environments in which people can thrive. Theyre not perfect. But they are real. And its the combination of those two things that makes each one of them great. In every episode, Annes guest digs into who they are, where they come from and whats influenced them to be the person and the leader that they are today. Language: en Genres: Business News, News Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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205. From Bike Mechanic to Oura CEO, with Tom Hale
Episode 5
Wednesday, 26 November, 2025
Tom Hale is the CEO of health tech company Oura. Producing one of the most prominent wearables out there (The Oura Ring), Oura is working to improve health and wellness through sustainable behavior change. In this episode, Hale and host Anne Hancock Toomey discuss his journey from working as a bike mechanic in Reno, Nevada, to a career spanning some of the most notable tech companies of the past 20+ years: Macromedia, Adobe, Linden Lab (creator of Second Life), HomeAway, and SurveyMonkey. He discusses the transformative impact of Oura's smart ring on his personal health, as well as his professional mission to shift healthcare towards preventative care through technology and AI. Hale also reflects on the lessons learned from his diverse career, emphasizing the importance of human-centric leadership, accountability, and ambition. The conversation offers valuable insights into the future of health tech and the power of mission-driven companies. 3:18 Early Life and Influences 7:31 First Jobs and Formative Experiences 10:11 Career Beginnings and Influences 13:27 Macromedia and Adobe: Lessons in Leadership 18:27 Linden Labs and the Early Metaverse 21:33 Joining HomeAway: The Birth of Vacation Rentals 25:24 Lessons from SurveyMonkey and the Importance of Brand 27:18 Joining Oura 32:37 The Vision for Oura and Healthcare Transformation 34:33 Leadership Insights and Lightning Round Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
