Christopher M. Bennett – CEO & Co-Founder, Ava Health

Christopher M. Bennett – CEO & Co-Founder, Ava Health

Failure can either break a leader or build one. In this episode of 10 Minutes of Hope, Dr. Ken Huey sits down with Christopher M. Bennett, CEO and Co-Founder of Ava Health, to talk about the painful moments that shape real leadership. Christopher shares the deeply personal journey behind his work in behavioral healthcare. From early sobriety to losing a company, relationships, and a parent in the span of just months, he reflects on how those experiences stripped away ego and forced him to rebuild with greater humility, curiosity, and purpose. The conversation explores the realities of entrepreneurship, the isolation leaders often face, and why understanding your true “why” is essential when the work becomes difficult. Christopher also shares a powerful reminder for anyone entering behavioral health: you cannot carry someone else's water. The role of a leader and caregiver is to create the environment where healing and growth become possible. This is a candid conversation about resilience, leadership, and the hard-earned wisdom that comes from failing forward.

Vasanta Pundarika on Transforming Behavioral & Women’s Health

In this episode of 10 Minutes of Hope, Dr. Ken Huey sits down with Vasanta Pundarika, founder of Lotuspring and a seasoned leader in behavioral and women’s health. Vasanta shares her journey from healthcare investment banking to creating scalable, patient-focused solutions in behavioral health and women’s health. She discusses the challenges she’s faced, pivotal moments that shaped her leadership, and her approach to integrating work and life fully. Listeners will gain insight into patient-centered care, leadership strategies, and how to make a meaningful impact in healthcare. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, leader, or simply curious about innovation in behavioral health, this episode offers practical lessons and inspiration to help you lead with purpose.