Pros
Previous to joining Ontrak, I had the fortune of founding and leading both a nonprofit behavior change venture and a digital health, high-growth startup. In both cases, I became keenly aware of the volatility of high-growth life. The highs and lows that come with the territory of pursuing a mission while growing very quickly are intense to say the least. Now at Ontrak, also a high-growth mission-driven company (2x - 3x annual revenue growth every year, 2017-2020), I see the highs and lows amplified to an even greater magnitude. The stakes are higher at this size -- careers, contract sizes, ability to transform the lives of those who need it most. All higher risk, all potential greater reward. In 2021, Ontrak faced a very large bump in the high-growth road, one that forced very difficult decisions, and had a significant impact on Ontrak employees and the members we serve. This was not an easy time for anyone, especially those impacted personally. What I have seen since that difficult decision at Ontrak is a process of earnest recognition of the company's shortcomings, and a renewed determination across the company to resolve those shortcomings while tripling down on what makes the Ontrak program for it's very impressive remaining customer base (national health plans, F500 employers etc) so compelling. I sympathize with those who have had a difficult year due to the lows at Ontrak, while I also have significant hope for the future. We have a new CEO that has both startup/high growth experience and experience as an executive at two of the largest healthcare companies in the world, and he's moving fast to drive the company into an exciting future. Having known volatility from my previous experience, I am eager to move forward and continue the journey at Ontrak to make sure the highs outweigh the lows. We have an incredibly ambitious product vision, strategy and plan that we have senior leadership commitment to execute on. It is going to be an exciting journey as we transform even more lives than Ontrak already has, and there is nothing better than serving the hardest to reach that everyone else has given up on.
Cons
As shared, a hyper-growth, mission-driven company comes with highs and lows.