The “Mission Over Metrics” Growth Strategy | Autumn-Kyoko Cushman on BeyondSaaS Ep 034

In this episode, Jason Niedle interviews Autumn Kyoko-Cushman, CEO of ShiftRx, discussing the intersection of hypergrowth and mission-driven companies. They explore the challenges women face in tech, the importance of addressing healthcare provider shortages, and the innovative solutions ShiftRx is implementing to improve staffing in the healthcare sector. Autumn shares insights on growth strategies, key performance indicators, and the importance of authenticity and continuous learning in leadership.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Hypergrowth and Mission-Driven Companies
00:32 Challenges for Women in Tech and Leadership
04:32 ShiftRx: Addressing Healthcare Provider Burnout
07:24 Navigating the Complex Healthcare Landscape
15:00 Understanding Diverse Customer Profiles
16:25 Growth Metrics and Impact of ShiftRx
17:56 Creative Marketing Strategies for Engagement
21:37 Empathy in Marketing and Product Development
23:34 Growth Goals and Strategic Planning
25:05 Overcoming Challenges in Healthcare Systems
25:58 The Reality of Leadership and Vulnerability
28:03 Authenticity and Continuous Learning in Business
30:09 Navigating Chaos and Future Trends

Takeaways

• Autumn emphasizes the importance of validating business ideas through real conversations, not just friendly affirmations.
• Women in tech face significant funding challenges, with less than 2% of female co-founding teams securing venture capital.
• The mission behind ShiftRx is deeply personal, stemming from experiences with burnout in healthcare.
• Technology solutions should aim to reduce administrative burdens on healthcare providers, not just add more apps.
• ShiftRx has prevented over 15,000 medication errors in its short existence, showcasing its impact on patient safety.
• Growth metrics for ShiftRx focus on user engagement and satisfaction rather than just revenue.
• Building a strong team and fostering a culture of continuous learning is crucial for success.
• Authenticity in leadership involves admitting uncertainty and being open to learning from others.
• Networking and building genuine relationships are key to navigating the healthcare industry.
• The healthcare sector is undergoing a tech revolution, with opportunities for innovation in staffing and provider support.

Sound Bites

"Women are often underfunded."
"Nobody needs another app."
"We have to do something."

Keywords

hypergrowth, mission-driven, women in tech, healthcare staffing, ShiftRx, burnout, technology solutions, growth strategies, venture capital, healthcare innovation