Suneel Gupta – Connecting, Well-Being and Performance

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 people achieve sustainable peak performance by bolstering emotional resilience and engagement.

Suneel asks, “How can an organization excel on the outside if its people are exhausted on the inside?”

Grit and hustle are simply not a long-term answer to dealing with non-stop change and stress.

Suneel offers leaders and teams a better way to work; one that results in sustainable innovation, productivity, and fulfillment. He arms people with science-based habits that will avoid burnout, boost energy, and improve their professional and personal lives.

Suneel is a business survivor and the author of the international bestselling book Backable (2020). That 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 ofBhutan.

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 acquired by the NASDAQ-listed company One Medical Group.

In 2022, with its acquisition of One Medical Group, RISE is now part of Amazon.

Suneel is currently the host of Business Class, a docuseries created by American Express where he showcases entrepreneurs and business visionaries 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.”

SPEECH DESCRIPTIONS

MOMENTUM: THE ENERGY TO KEEP GOING                  

We can’t create more time – but we can elevate our energy. Understanding that is the first step to increasing our capacity – personally and professionally – to build momentum and keep up with daily demands without succumbing to exhaustion. 

“People who fall short of their goals rarely run out of time or talent – they run out of energy,” says Suneel Gupta. 

As founding CEO of RISE (now part of Amazon), Suneel helped thousands overcome challenges with physical and mental health. 

Now, he’s committed to bringing a sustainable solution to the energy crisis at work. 

Grounded in his exclusive teachings at Harvard Medical School as well as over a decade of studying the work habits of extraordinary leaders, Suneel delivers insights about the “why” and “how-to’s” of strategic energy management – showing people practical ways to unleash momentum crucial to performance, innovation, collaboration, and overall well-being.

Sample takeaways tailored for each audience:

• Why managing energy is as important as managing time
• 4 ways to build “emotional runway” and avoid burnout using science-based practices
• Master everyday habits to boost momentum, engagement, and morale
• Reframe failure as a pathway to success
• Remain resilient and balanced in the face of constant change

HEAD, HEART, AND HANDS: A NEW WAY TO LOOK AT LEADERSHIP

Leadership has changed. To get things done and drive bottom-line results, leaders must embrace a striking truth: they don’t just impact people’s work, but their overall health and well-being. 

Leaders who understand how physical, mental, and emotional health drives business performance will build trust, become magnets for exceptional talent, and elevate overall productivity. 

Suneel Gupta’s ‘Head, Heart and Hands’ framework empowers leaders with new strategies to create a work environment where well-being drives outstanding outcomes. 

Drawing on over a decade of experience as a healthcare CEO, bestselling author, and host of an award-winning television show on leadership, Suneel empowers audiences through interactive experiences and demonstrates how a focus on purpose (head), well-being (heart), and action (hands) transforms organizational performance.

You’ll learn to:

• Motivate your people to be “all in” without burning out, by teaching them how to manage not just their time, but their energy.
• Learn the art of aligning “who you are” with “what you do” so you can inspire your team and carve result-oriented paths for their daily work.
• Cultivate a meaningful sense of belonging in your team, whether in-person or remote.
• Discover the key drivers of emotional resilience and how to deal with daily setbacks.
• Renew a sense of commitment and momentum in your team’s day-to-day life.

PURPOSE IN ACTION: BRINGING WHO YOU ARE TO EVERYTHING YOU DO

More than ever before, people are struggling to find meaning in their work. In this talk, Suneel Gupta helps people reset, reignite, and re-engage through a timeless practice called Dharma. 

Simply put, Dharma brings “who you are” and “what you do” into alignment. When we’re not aligned, we become exhausted, depleted, and burnt out. When we are aligned, we feel creative, energized, and lit up. 

We’re able to produce our best work and lead ourselves and others effectively, experiencing true joy along the way.

Suneel first learned the practice of Dharma from his grandfather on a porch in New Delhi. Years later, when he was lost and exhausted — struggling to find a sense of meaning in his own work — he returned to the playbook his ancestors left behind and related it to today’s fast-paced, changing world of work.

Suneel shares deeply personal stories of how he found a path back to purpose and joy – and how others have done the same. 

By the end, you’ll be inspired with actionable tools to re-engage in your work and life with a renewed sense of vigor and meaning.

You’ll learn how to:

• Rediscover your “essence” and express that through your work
• Be “all in” without being “always on”
• Find comfort in the most uncomfortable of situations
• Deal with failure and use it as a pathway to success
• Find yourself by losing yourself through leading and lifting up others
• Blur the lines between work and play to reach your highest potential
• Forge ahead and take decisive action, even in the face of uncertainty

Testimonials

Suneel left our team at Walgreens smarter and ready to innovate.

Former Chief Marketing Officer, Walgreens

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

Global Head of Wealth, Dow Jones

Remarkable! Extremely valuable! You ignited discussions for the rest of the conference. Hundreds of members have already downloaded your Backable principles, and I can already see them being used to spark fresh, creative ideas. I can’t wait for the book to come out! Can we have you back next year?

Executive Director, State Association of County Retirement Systems

Media links

Fast Company: The 4 types of personalities leaders need in their inner circle