After 20 years climbing the corporate ladder inside hospitals and health systems — VP roles, COO of a major Metro Detroit hospital, navigating a global pandemic on the front lines — my guest Frank Sawyer walked away from it all to build something he believes can actually fix healthcare.

In this episode, Frank and I talk about what's really broken in the healthcare system (and why it's not a conspiracy), how he founded Health Forward to bridge the gap between healthcare innovation and the institutions that need it most, and the deeply personal journey of leaving a comfortable, lucrative career to bet on himself and his vision.

We go behind the scenes on the fears he had to overcome, the role his wife Katie played in giving him the final push, the "she don't want you anymore" moments that signaled it was time to go, and how he spent years quietly planting seeds so that when the moment came, all he had to do was hit the green button.

If you've ever felt the pull between where you are and where you know you're supposed to be, Frank's story is going to hit home.

Topics we cover: - What's actually wrong with the healthcare system and why it hasn't changed - What Health Forward is and how it's helping health tech companies break into hospitals - Why Frank doesn't believe in the "keep people sick" conspiracy — but acknowledges the financial incentives are real - The fear of failure, generational responsibility, and learning to have more peace in financial uncertainty than he ever had with a steady paycheck - Why protecting your network matters more than pimping out your Rolodex - How to start building toward your next chapter before you're ready to leave your current one

Chapters 0:00 Introduction 0:45 What's wrong with healthcare after 20 years on the inside 4:30 The conspiracy theory question: is the system designed to keep us sick? 9:00 What is Health Forward, and where did the idea come from 16:00 Why healthcare hasn't changed since 1986 20:30 Katie's role: "If you're waiting for me to say go do it, this is that conversation" 27:00 Facing the fear: worst case scenario and what comes after 34:00 Building the business while still in the corporate world 41:00 The pandemic as the final wake-up call 50:00 How Health Forward actually helps health tech companies 58:00 Why Frank never "pimps out the Rolodex" — and why that matters 1:04:00 What's next for Health Forward 1:09:00 Frank's advice for anyone building toward their next chapter