The Maverick Mindset

What does it take to make healthcare feel human? In this episode, Natalie Dillon talks with Amir Dan Rubin, founding partner at Healthier Capital and former CEO of One Medical, about how he operationalizes and scales patient experience. Listen in for lessons on building in healthcare, infusing empathy into operations, and spotting the next decade’s healthcare opportunities. Amir’s path took him from venture investing to leading Stanford Health Care, UCLA Health, Optum, and One Medical. At every stop, he returned to the same framework: aligning purpose, people and process to drive change in one of the world’s most stubborn industries. You’ll hear about:- Why healthcare's core problem is still access and experience — and why incumbents struggle to fix it- The framework he uses to operationalize empathy across every touchpoint- What AI can and can't do in clinical settings and why humans remain essential - Where Healthier Capital is placing betsAt Maveron, we believe enduring consumer companies are built through deep customer understanding and disciplined execution — and we’re always looking to partner with founders who are defining culture. If that’s you, find us at maveron.com.Follow Amir Dan Rubin: LinkedIn Connect with Natalie Dillon: X | LinkedIn  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maveronvc.substack.com

How do you scale a consumer brand without losing the trust that made it work in the first place? In this episode, Natalie Dillon sits down with Kat Cole, CEO of AG1, to explore leadership, operational discipline, and what it really takes to build a brand that lasts. Listen in to hear actionable lessons for founders and operators at any stage.Kat’s path didn’t follow a traditional script — from opening restaurant franchises as a teenager to leading global brands through restructures, recessions, and rapid growth. She reflects on pivotal moments that shaped her approach to leadership and the skills she developed to evolve through friction and uncertainty.They dig into AG1’s journey from a single-product subscription to a multi-channel brand, including national retail expansion. Kat shares why operational readiness had to come first — from manufacturing redundancy to human trials and quality assurance — and how maintaining customer trust guided every formula update, rebrand, and operational decision.You’ll hear about:- What changes (and what doesn’t) as brands scale- How to iterate on a flagship product without alienating early believers- The process of perfecting the core product before adding new SKUs- Why staying close to customers requires systems, not slogans- The leadership shift from being in the weeds to building world-class teamsAt Maveron, we believe enduring consumer companies are built through deep customer understanding and disciplined execution — and we’re always looking to partner with founders who are defining culture. If that’s you, find us at maveron.com.Follow Kat Cole: X | LinkedInConnect with Natalie Dillon: X | LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maveronvc.substack.com