Name: Dr. Joanette Claridge-Weisse

Title: Founder CEO of The BEJO Network, LLC

Organisation: The BEJO Network, LLC

I Launched The BEJO Network to leverage decades of living in a family and community where longevity is the norm. A community whose residents typically live into their 90's and even 100's. I have combined my decade of living a longevity lifestyle with my expertise as a medical doctor to research and understand the science of longevity. I have combined my lived experiences with my years of longevity research to create my four pillars for health and longevity. It is the mission of the BEJO network to make this critical information available to all. In addition to my company, I am also a full-time ER physician, and clinical professor of two medical schools where I teach and train students and residents.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Dr. Joanette's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

One of the biggest challenges I face as the founder of a startup company is managing limited resources effectively. This includes: Financial constraints, Time management Talent acquisition and retention. I juggle multiple responsibilities while trying to grow my business with limited funds and a small team. I am making critical decisions about resource allocation, prioritizing tasks, and maintaining a clear vision for the company's future while still working full-time as a physician and clinical professor.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I Launched The BEJO Network to leverage decades of living in a family and community where longevity is the norm. A community whose residents typically live into their 90's and even 100's. I have combined my decade of living a longevity lifestyle with my expertise as a medical doctor to research and understand the science of longevity. I have combined my lived experiences with my years of longevity research to create my four pillars for health and longevity. It is the mission of the BEJO network to make this critical information available to all.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

As a physician in charge of a municipal Emergency Room working full-time night shifts, I face unique challenges in maintaining a structured daily routine. The variability of my schedule, dictated by overnight shifts, necessitates a flexible approach to time management. On days following overnight shifts, a significant portion of my time is dedicated to rest and recovery to ensure optimal performance for subsequent shifts.

On non-overnight workdays, my schedule is meticulously organized to maximize productivity and personal well-being: 5:00 AM: Commence the day with an hour of meditation, fostering mental clarity and focus. 6:00 AM: Engage in an hour of physical exercise to promote overall health and energy levels. 7:00 AM: Consume a protein shake to support muscle recovery and energy levels post-exercise.

7:00 AM onwards: Dedicate time to business operations, interspersed with brief, strategic movement sessions to maintain cognitive acuity and sustain energy throughout the day. 11:00 AM: First meal of the day, emphasizing: Lean protein (approximately 45 grams) Whole fruits and vegetables Mid-afternoon: Incorporate a 15-minute restorative nap to enhance afternoon productivity.

5:00 PM: Second and final meal of the day: Low-carb composition Focused on lean protein and vegetables 9:00 PM: Adhere to a consistent bedtime to ensure adequate rest for the following day’s responsibilities.

This structured approach allows for efficient time allocation between professional obligations, personal health maintenance, and business management despite the constraints of an emergency medicine work schedule that is demanding and variable. The carefully planned meal structure supports sustained energy levels and optimal daily nutritional intake.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

In building a successful impact-driven startup, the alignment of my team with the company's ethos is paramount. While technical skills and qualifications are crucial, they alone are not sufficient. As the CEO of a company focused on improving customers' health and longevity, hiring individuals who not only possess the required expertise but also deeply resonate with my mission is essential.

These team members are likelier to go above and beyond, innovate with purpose, and maintain unwavering dedication to my company's goals. Their personal values, mirroring the company's ethos, will foster a cohesive culture, drive authentic engagement with customers, and ultimately amplify my startup's impact on health and longevity. By prioritizing this alignment in the hiring process, I ensure that every team member becomes a passionate advocate for our mission, creating a powerful synergy between individual motivations and organizational objectives.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so

far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

Think and Grow Rich Reading "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill has profoundly impacted my life by reshaping my mindset and approach to success. This seminal work introduced me to powerful concepts such as the importance of desire, faith, and persistence in achieving my goals. By emphasizing the role of positive thinking and the power of the subconscious mind, the book encouraged me to take control of my thoughts and harness them for personal and professional growth.

Hill's principles, derived from studying successful individuals, provided me with a blueprint for cultivating a success-oriented mentality. I found myself motivated to set clear goals, develop detailed plans, and maintain unwavering determination in the face of obstacles. The book's enduring impact on me stems from its ability to inspire me to tap into my innate potential, fostering a transformative journey towards wealth, not just in monetary terms, but in overall life satisfaction and achievement.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Get the book Think and Grow Rich and read it twice a year.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far? The Ventilator: A Tale of Crisis Leadership In the eye of the storm that was the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was 2020, and our hospital stood at the epicenter of an unfolding catastrophe.

As the death toll climbed relentlessly, we faced a harrowing reality: our supply of ventilators—the very machines keeping the most critical patients alive—had dwindled to just one. On a night etched forever in my memory, the ER doors burst open. Paramedics rushed in, wheeling an 83-year-old woman gasping for air, her life hanging by a thread. As my team and I swarmed around her, each of us laser-focused on our life-saving tasks, a chilling reminder cut through the controlled chaos: "This is our last ventilator."

Time seemed to freeze. The weight of what lay ahead pressed down on us all. At that moment, we weren't just medical professionals—we were judges, holding the power of life and death in our hands.

A tense discussion erupted. What if the next patient was younger, with decades of life ahead? Should we "save" our last lifeline for someone with better odds? The ethical dilemma loomed large, but as the leader, I knew the final call was mine. Looking at my team's anxious faces, I took a deep breath and said, "We can't predict the future. We only know the present—and right now, this woman needs our help. We give her the ventilator and pray more arrive before we need another."

With that decision, we sprang into action. I prepared to intubate, silently hoping we'd made the right choice. For three agonizing hours, we worked tirelessly, not just for our patients but for every potential life that hung in the balance. Then, like a miracle, it happened—a shipment of 11 ventilators arrived.

In that crisis, I learned a profound lesson about leadership: sometimes, the bravest decision is to focus on the life and the task in front of you, trusting that hope and resources will follow. That day, we didn't just save one life—we preserved our humanity in the face of impossible odds.