Just Keep Trying: Interview with Jamie Frew, Co-Founder and CEO of Carepatron

I recently went one-on-one with Jamie Frew, co-founder and CEO of Carepatron.

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth? 

Jamie: Prior to launching Carepatron in late 2021, I cultivated a diverse background in technology and strategic leadership. Through significant roles at leading organizations like Telstra and ANZ, I honed my expertise in leading change initiatives and scaling performance. But growing up with a healthcare background due to my parents, I knew that my path will eventually return to something healthcare-related. After having heaps of conversations with healthcare professionals on their needs, tons of strategizing and collaborative work, and juggling my full-time job with what initially seemed like a passion project of sorts, I decided to really kickstart my entrepreneurial journey and do Carepatron full-time with my co-founder and CTO David Pene.

Adam: How did you come up with your business idea? What advice do you have for others on how to come up with great ideas? 

Jamie: Carepatron was a completely different platform when we were just starting out. However, talking to our potential users and clients, a.k.a. actual healthcare professionals, allowed us to see a need that really has to be addressed in the industry. That’s where Carepatron being an Operating System came to be. 

My advice for business leaders trying to come up with great ideas? Look for a problem you want to solve and seek out the people you want to solve them for. Embrace feedback and keep innovating. And don’t be afraid to be idealistic. In a world where reality is often harsh, we all need to be reminded how to become people who transform good ideas into action.  

Adam: How did you know your business idea was worth pursuing? What advice do you have on how to best test a business idea? 

Jamie: Again, we connected with a lot of our target customer/client base to know if we’re actually pursuing something worthwhile. When we determined that we were, we started research and development and came up with our base platform. We boldly launched it even when we know there’s still tons of room for improvement because we want it to get feedback off the bat. We were learning and innovating at the same time. It was challenging, of course, but being unafraid to experience setbacks and receive input from the people we are actually trying to help definitely allowed us to shape Carepatron into the platform that it is today. 

Adam: What are the key steps you have taken to grow your business? What advice do you have for others on how to take their businesses to the next level?

Jamie: At the end of the day, you can have all the tools, funding, and resources, but if you don’t invest on people, then growing a business will definitely be tough. 

While investing in highly skilled personnel may appear to be a short-term expense, it's crucial for maximizing long-term revenue. Skilled employees consistently outperform non-human resources, driving innovation and contributing significantly to a company's success. Prioritizing talent acquisition and development is an investment that yields substantial returns over time.

Adam: What are your best sales and marketing tips? 

Jamie: Having a robust and transparent financial reporting system is your best bet in shaping amazing sales and marketing strategies. This isn't just an advantage for startups but valuable for businesses of all sizes as well. By tailoring reports to the specific needs of different stakeholders, like investors and management, team members, and consulting parties,  it generates clear and actionable insights. This transparency fosters informed financial decision-making, allowing for strategic planning of corporate spending.

Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level? 

Jamie: True leadership isn't about wielding power or holding a position above others. Effective leaders understand their role is to empower, not dominate. It’s all about fostering a collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and respected, drawing strength from the collective expertise of the team.  

Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading, and managing teams? 

Jamie: At Carepatron, we believe in leaders who are humble and approachable, recognizing the unique contributions of each member. We try our best to empower and support team members, providing the resources and autonomy needed to thrive while offering guidance and mentorship.

Great leaders are also accountable to everyone, fostering trust and a sense of shared responsibility through self-awareness and a willingness to learn from mistakes. This collaborative approach fuels innovation and success, benefitting both the team and the organization as a whole.

Adam: What are your best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders? 

Jamie: I think everyone feels pressured to want to immediately be 'something' or 'someone' as soon as they enter their professional life. Even more so when they enter a leadership position or something that puts them wildly in charge of something bigger than themself. That's just human nature. But it's worth reminding ourselves that there's experience to be built, connections to be made, and simply a lot to be learned. 

I was also quite harsh on myself when I was starting out, diving into too many ventures and roles and being a complete go-getter. But once I found my cadence, what I'm good at, and what I feel most empowered by, it was easier to make impactful changes in each role I've taken over. I did that with the help of great mentors while starting in the industry.

That said, mentors can come in all shapes and forms. It can be your first boss, colleague, senior, or someone from a completely different department. It can even be from an inspirational person you look up to who does a podcast or has a book that makes you feel empowered. 

We should not be stuck with the idea that a mentor has to be your direct leader. Sometimes, they're just someone who have been in the workforce longer and share practical tips on how to navigate the adult world and let you connect each lesson to your own job or industry, 

And of course, mentorship is nothing without your own efforts and willingness to take risks. Sometimes, fear of failure keeps us stuck in places we shouldn't be in for longer than what's meant to be. So go ahead and try. Fail. Win. Just do. It can be in pursuit of something you love but isn't as practical or it can be something you don't like but can further your career a bit more conveniently; the important thing is to take that leap to try something and fail as many times as you can earlier on. It's not easy, but it will lead you to your rightful path faster than just being in one spot.

Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received? 

Jamie: Just keep trying. I guess in life, that’s the best advice anyone can get and should listen to.

Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Jamie: You can connect with me, Jamie Frew, on LinkedIn and support our mission for accessible, affordable, and global healthcare by checking out Carepatron.com.


Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one-on-one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.

Follow Adam on Instagram and Twitter at @adammendler and on LinkedIn and listen and subscribe to Thirty Minute Mentors on your favorite podcasting app.