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Expert, Connecting Well-Being and Performance; Healthcare Entrepreneur, Bestselling Author; Host, American Express Business Class Docuseries; Visiting Scholar, Harvard Medical School

Suneel Gupta

At a glance:

As the founding CEO of RISE, a breakthrough wellness company, Suneel Gupta helped thousands of people build better habits for life and work. Now as a bestselling author and Harvard Medical School visiting scholar, Suneel has taken his mission one step further –helping organizations reach sustainable peak performance by bolstering their people’s emotional resilience. He asks the question, “How can an organization excel on the outside if its people are exhausted on the inside?” Suneel challenges our reliance on grit and hustle, which are also scientifically associated with exhaustion. Instead, he offers leaders and teams new, science-based ideas for the changing world of work –habits for beating burnout and boosting long-term creativity, innovation, and productivity.

As the founding CEO of RISE, a breakthrough wellness company, Suneel Gupta helped thousands of people build better habits for life and work. Now as a bestselling author and Harvard Medical School visiting scholar, Suneel has taken his mission one step further –helping organizations reach sustainable peak performance by bolstering their people’s emotional resilience. He asks the question, “How can an organization excel on the outside if its people are exhausted on the inside?” Suneel challenges our reliance on grit and hustle, which are also scientifically associated with exhaustion. Instead, he offers leaders and teams new, science-based ideas for the changing world of work –habits for beating burnout and boosting long-term creativity, innovation, and productivity.

Suneel is a business survivor and the author of the international bestselling book Backable(2020). The book is rooted in his inner journey from twice-failed entrepreneur to becoming a leader behind two IPOs and being named “The New Face of Innovation” by the New York Stock Exchange. The book reveals the mindset shifts and hidden habits of people who are extraordinary at pushing new ideas forward.

His next book, due in 2023, will unveil the habits of high-pressure performers, explaining why some people burn out, while others reach new levels of resilience, productivity, and momentum.

As visiting scholar at Harvard Medical School, Suneel researches and teaches the interconnection between inner well-being and outer leadership. He is also emissary for Gross National Happiness between the United States and the Kingdom of Bhutan.

As CEO of RISE Suneel helped thousands of people establish a way to personalize their physical and mental health journey while connecting with certified nutritionists and trainers at an affordable price. The company was named “App of the Year” and partnered with then first-Lady Michelle Obama before being successfully acquired by the NASDAQ-listed company One Medical Group.

Suneel is currently the host of Business Class, a podcast and docuseries created by American Express where he showcases leaders who embody struggle and resilience. He is joined on the show by guests like Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio, former monk Jay Shetty, and Martha Stewart.

He has partnered with The Second City comedy theater to teach students and executives how to innovate “on-your-feet” during times of rapid change. Suneel has also personally backed ventures including Impossible Foods, AirBnB, 23&Me, and SpaceX. He was one of the very first investors in CALM, which now helps millions of people achieve a greater sense of work/life balance.

When a reporter once asked Suneel about his purpose, his response was to “find good people, and inspire them to do what inspires them.”

  • MOMENTUM: ACCELERATE YOUR PERFORMANCE WITHOUT THE BURNOUT

    In the face of an exhaustion epidemic, it’s time to rethink how we view high performance. Grit and hustle have their place but are also scientifically associated with burnout. As CEO of RISE, Suneel Gupta helped thousands of people overcome their challenges with physical and mental health. He now helps organizations increase performance, innovation, and creativity by showing why high-potential people and teams fizzle out. They don’t run out of time or talent, they run out of energy! This presentation is rooted in Suneel’s one-of-a-kind teaching at Harvard Medical School, as well as eight years of closely studying the habits of extraordinary leaders who reached breakthrough levels of productivity, resilience, fulfillment, and momentum.

    Actionable Takeaways Tailored to Each Audience:
    •Learn why managing energy is as important as managing time
    •Build emotional runway and avoid burnout with science-based practices
    •Discover habits from some of the happiest cultures on Earth
    •Master everyday practices for boosting morale and engagement
    •Reframe failure as a pathway to success
    •Master the changing work landscape with less stress

  • GET BACKABLE – WHY SOME IDEAS MOVE AHEAD WHILE OTHERS GET IGNORED

    The future belongs to organizations that fully engage their people in the effort to adapt swiftly to relentless change. But in the changing world of work, building community, collaboration, and connection has become harder than before. Creating a culture that spawns fresh ideas is only half the battle – showing people how to move their ideas forward is the other half that most leaders and organizations miss. When people understand how to get a new idea “backed” by colleagues, customers, and communities…big things happen. Breakthrough ideas rise to the surface, projects proceed faster and smarter, and organizations become magnets for top talent.

    Actionable Takeaways Tailored to Each Audience:
    •7 ways to turn a new idea into an inspiring vision that captivates attention and inspires action
    •How extraordinary leaders create a spirit of inclusion, collaboration, and community
    •Learn the “Game of Now” and why extraordinary leaders don’t wait for the timing to be exactly right
    •Embrace a new path to high performance that beats burnout and boosts innovation, creativity, and momentum
Backable: The Surprising Truth Behind What Makes People Take a Chance on You
Backable provides a super-readable and actionable look at how to make your ideas take flight. Whether you're pitching a brand-new startup or an idea for your company's next product, you'll find a wealth of insights and stories throughout.

— Mike Krieger, Co-founder of Instagram

Being backable isn’t just for celebrities and CEOs. It’s a required skill for anyone who is trying to make it in the world. This book will change the trajectory of careers, launch new ideas into the world, and inspire cocktail party conversation for years to come.

— Jennifer Aaker, General Atlantic Professor, Stanford GSB. Author of Humor, Seriously and The Dragonfly Effect

This book is truly brave. I felt like I was sitting with Suneel as he unveiled secret steps that anyone can take to stand out and achieve their dreams.

— Reshma Saujani, Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, bestselling author of Brave Not Perfect

The most exceptional people aren't just brilliant -- they're backable. This remarkable book can be your secret weapon for bringing your idea to life.

— Daniel Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of When, Drive, and To Sell is Human

This is the quality I look for most in leaders and entrepreneurs. Whether you want to get ahead inside a company or build a startup from the ground up, this fascinating book is a must-read.

— Reid Hoffman, Cofounder of LinkedIn

Suneel brought to life the concept of innovation.

— Dan Roiter, Senior Consultant, Deloitte Consulting

Remarkable! Extremely valuable! You ignited discussions that sparked fresh, creative ideas.

— Sulema Peterson , SACRS Executive Director, SACRS

A bright spot at our conference. His lively keynote kept everyone in the audience engaged!

— Deborah Scally, Editor, Corporate Board Magazine

Highly entertaining and substantive. After Suneel's talk, we thought differently about change.

— Steve Muench, Senior Vice President of HARMAN International

Thought-provoking and inspiring. He resonated deeply with our audience.

— Sterling Shea, Global Head of Wealth, Dow Jones

Suneel left our team smarter and ready to innovate.

— Sona Chawla, Chief Marketing Officer, Walgreens

Suneel Gupta's "Backable"​ shows how to get others to invest in you and your life

Attracting investment is such a fundamental part of entrepreneurship that it’s easy to think about it with less nuance than one should. After all, the job of investors is to invest. And their incentive to do so is ... Read more

by Linkedin

Suneel Gupta Reveals The Key To Creating & Pitching Successful Ideas

Suneel Gupta, Author of ‘BACKABLE: The Surprising Truth Behind What Makes People Take a Chance on You,’ Co-founder of Rise and Visiting Scholar at Harvard University joins Cheddar to discuss how to be ... Read more

by Cheddar

A cofounder who sold his company for nearly $20 million on how to make investors feel like their input matters so they take a chance on you

Years ago, I came across a designer named Michelle who was incredibly in demand within her company. People would fight to have her on their team. I later discovered that while people liked Michelle’s ... Read more

by Business Insider

Become More Credible and Persuasive by Doing These 7 Things

What it is that makes people take a chance on someone else is something you can learn.

by Inc.

Try this creative tactic to improve an idea or hone your pitch

In “Backable,” author Suneel Gupta says don’t simply ask “What do you think?” Instead, stage an exhibition match.

by Fast Company

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