Why Wellness Will Define Tomorrow’s Business Leaders

What if your most strategic business decision starts with 10 quiet minutes and a walk?

After 15+ years building and advising high-growth ventures, I’m more convinced than ever that the founders who will lead the next generation aren’t just visionaries, they’re the ones who take wellness seriously.

Recently, I sat down with Lindsay Frances for the Rich Simple Human podcast to explore a question I believe every founder should be asking: What kind of leader does the future really need?

And the answer is rarely: the tired, caffeine-fuelled, perpetually “on” version we’ve come to glorify.

From hustle to health

I’ve built three companies across three continents, and I know the late nights, investor decks, and adrenaline of a scale-up sprint. But I also know what it’s like to fall asleep standing up mid-conversation because my body gave out after 48 hours on the go.

It took me until my third startup to understand that wellness isn't a luxury. It's leadership infrastructure. Because poor rest leads to poor decisions. And poor decisions, in this game, cost time, talent, and traction.

Why wellness makes you more investable

Let’s be clear, this isn’t about yoga retreats, green juice or a team trip to Bali. 

This is about financial performance.

The science is there: founders with higher heart rate variability (a key sign of nervous system resilience) make better decisions. They’re more emotionally agile. More capable of navigating complexity. More likely to endure. 

And that's great for founders, and what investors should be betting on.

Reflection is a superpower

I used to think I was reflecting, until I learned how to do it properly. Now, I build space into my day using tools like the Full Focus Planner. I track my biometrics. I walk without my phone. It’s small stuff, but it helps me ask the big questions:

• What’s working?
• Where am I right now?
• Who am I becoming?

And most importantly: What’s the point?

Because if we don’t know the why behind our wealth or ambition, we’ll never build something that lasts.

From burnout to better

Founders often serve others while neglecting themselves, until the cracks start to show. Perfectionism creeps in. Health suffers. Crutches, whether sugar, alcohol, screens, or over-exercising, become coping mechanisms.

The antidote? Small, consistent habits. One percent shifts. Learning to trade perfection for excellence. Learning to lead yourself, before leading others.

The founder the future needs

Being a reflective, wellbeing-focused founder isn’t soft. It’s the hardest thing you’ll do. But it will make you a better strategist, a better decision-maker, and a better human.

And that’s who the next era of business will be shaped by.

🧠 What’s one wellness habit that’s changed how you lead?