Remote First Innovators

What if a single photo of the back of your eye could flag diabetes, heart disease, or Alzheimer's years before you ever felt a symptom? In this episode of Remote First Innovators, Jake Gump sits down with Dr. Rupe Hansra, Optometrist and Vice President of Professional Affairs at Topcon Healthcare, for a practical conversation about oculomics, AI in healthcare, remote eye exams, connected care platforms, and keeping a multi-location practice running when the world shuts down. Eye care has barely changed in almost a century. Rupe shows a photo of an exam room from 1933, and it looks nearly identical to the one you'd walk into today. But the retina is packed with blood vessels and nerves, and it offers a direct, non-invasive view of what is happening in the rest of the body. That is the idea behind oculomics. A retinal image takes a fraction of a second to capture. When an AI model analyzes that image, a doctor gets a report within 30 to 60 seconds. The model checks dozens of biomarkers and compares them against millions of other eyes. Americans are far more likely to visit an eye doctor than a physician, so the eye exam could become the front door to the entire healthcare system. In this episode, you'll discover: Why an eye exam is much more than a glasses prescription How optometrists, opticians, and ophthalmologists differ How Rupe's team reopened 95% of their practices by June 2020 How a fully remote, comprehensive eye exam actually works Why a sudden prescription change can be an early sign of diabetes What oculomics is and how cloud computing and AI made it possible How AI can spot details in a retinal image that no human can see Why the doctor always stays in the loop with medical AI Why eye care is a natural entry point for people living in healthcare deserts How an AI model in development could predict 10-year risk of stroke and heart disease How Topcon's Harmony platform works like an operating system for eye care devices Why open, interoperable data could accelerate healthcare innovation How subscription models could keep practices from getting stuck with outdated equipment What the biggest obstacle is to making this the standard of care What the eye exam of the next five to ten years could look like Rupe trained as an optometrist, but his curiosity pulled him beyond the four walls of the exam room. He spent years in strategy and operations at LensCrafters, Target Optical, and VisionWorks. There he learned from leaders who came from Procter & Gamble, Nike, Accenture, and other major brands, and he helped build systems that improved care across entire fleets of practices. Eventually he wanted to build equity of his own and step off the national-level treadmill for work he could see through from start to finish. He built and ran 20 practice locations across Seattle and Southern California. Then COVID hit. While others were told to close, Rupe's team relied on tools it already had in place: retinal imaging, telehealth, and a rebuilt online scheduling system. The old system took more clicks than buying a Tesla, and the new one lifted booking conversion by double digits. The first location reopened within two weeks, and about 95% were open by June, with doctors examining patients remotely from other states. Today at Topcon Healthcare, he is helping build the connected care platform behind Healthcare from the Eye, working alongside partners including Microsoft. His message is simple but powerful: the tools to catch disease earlier are already here. Practices that lay the right foundation now will be ready when turning on AI is as easy as flipping a switch. About Remote First Innovators Hosted by Jake Gump, Remote First Innovators features conversations with founders and experts on scaling distributed companies, from onboarding and IT to security, compliance, and the technology that keeps operations running. 🎙️ Listen to the full episode and discover how a simple picture of your eye could become one of the most powerful tools in modern healthcare. 👍 Subscribe for more practical technology and healthcare insights #Oculomics #HealthcareAI #ArtificialIntelligence #Optometry #EyeCare #DigitalHealth #Telehealth #HealthTech #PreventiveHealthcare #RemoteFirstInnovators

Brandie Delarosa spent more than 25 years in IT and business consulting, working remotely long before it became common. Today, as Chief Executive Officer at E3inspire, she uses her professional and personal experiences to help companies better understand trauma, psychological safety, emotional intelligence, and the human side of work. In this conversation, we explore why remote work can improve focus, how personal trauma follows employees into the workplace, why psychological safety matters, what leaders often miss about their people, and where companies should draw the line between AI and human support. Brandie also shares the story behind her book, A House Divided: How to Successfully Co-Parent, and the parenting lessons that shaped her approach to emotional intelligence and resilience. No fluff, just personal stories, practical lessons, and a different way for leaders to think about the people behind their business. Key Discussion Points Brandie’s journey from computer science and IT to E3inspire What decades of remote work taught her about focus and communication Why micromanagement can hurt remote teams How personal trauma can affect performance at work What psychological safety really looks like inside a company The hidden business costs of ignoring employee trauma How E3inspire helps companies educate, empower, and engage their teams Why emotional intelligence matters for remote leaders How domestic violence can create added risks for remote employees Why AI should support people instead of replacing human connection The story behind A House Divided and Brandie’s approach to co-parenting What Brandie learned by asking her children how she could be a better mom Mental toughness, resilience, and moving through difficult seasons Brandie’s long-term vision for E3inspire and transitional housing Where to learn more about Brandie, E3inspire, and her book If this conversation gave you something to think about, don’t forget to: 👍 Give this episode a like 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss these deep-dive conversations 💬 Drop a comment sharing your biggest insight about psychological safety, remote work, or leadership 🔗 Share this with another leader who wants to build a stronger and more supportive team #RemoteWork #PsychologicalSafety #EmotionalIntelligence #Leadership #FutureOfWork #MentalHealth #RemoteTeams #E3inspire #TraumaInformedLeadership #AI #WorkplaceCulture #Entrepreneurship

Can you build a successful career, lead distributed teams, and help healthcare organizations use technology more effectively while working remotely? According to Paul McRae, the answer starts with discipline, clear outcomes, strong communication, and the ability to adapt. In this episode of Remote First Innovators, hosts Robert Phelps and Jake Gump sit down with Paul McRae, Founder & CEO of TransformativeHLTH. Paul shares lessons from a career spanning AT&T, VMware, ServiceNow, AWS, healthcare technology, and leadership, as well as his move from the corporate world into fractional CTO work. Discover why remote work requires discipline and accountability, how leaders can manage different generations, why outcomes matter more than hours worked, and how technology can help healthcare organizations operate more effectively. Paul also explains how AI, cloud technology, data, and fractional leadership are changing the way healthcare organizations think about technology and operations. In this episode you'll learn: ✔ Why discipline and accountability are essential for remote work ✔ How leaders can manage remote teams around clear outcomes ✔ Why understanding each employee's motivation matters ✔ How different generations approach work and flexibility ✔ Why remote leaders need structured communication and regular check-ins ✔ How technology can improve healthcare operations ✔ Why healthcare organizations need to connect clinical and operational data ✔ How AI can automate and support healthcare workflows ✔ Why the fractional CTO model is becoming more valuable ✔ How Paul connects business needs with practical technology solutions Whether you're a startup founder, remote team leader, healthcare executive, technology leader, entrepreneur, or business owner, this conversation is packed with practical insights on remote leadership, healthcare technology, and building better systems. 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and share it with another entrepreneur, remote leader, or healthcare innovator. #RemoteWork #Healthcare #Leadership #HealthcareTechnology #RemoteTeams #HealthTech #FractionalCTO #AI #DigitalTransformation #Entrepreneurship

What happens when a Hollywood TV producer becomes a paramedic, nearly goes to medical school, and ultimately helps some of the world’s biggest companies deploy VR, AR, and smart glasses? In this episode of Remote First Innovators, Devin Marble shares an incredible career journey—from working in Hollywood on shows like Project Runway to emergency medicine, digital education, and enterprise technology. Today, Devin works in enterprise growth at ArborXR, helping organizations deploy and manage VR headsets, AR devices, and smart glasses at scale. We dive deep into how emerging technology is changing employee training, remote work, onboarding, safety, and frontline operations. In this conversation, we explore: • Devin’s unconventional journey from Hollywood to emergency medicine and technology • How COVID accelerated digital and remote education • How VR helped transform paramedic training • Why Devin chose technology over medical school • How he went from earning $15.55/hour to building a six-figure remote career • How large companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Delta can deploy thousands of VR devices • How enterprise VR platforms manage devices, software, authentication, and analytics • Why VR can accelerate employee training and time to competency • How AI-powered smart glasses can become a “wingman” for frontline workers • How guided workflow can turn company SOPs into real-time instructions • Using AI and smart glasses to capture knowledge and create SOPs • The role of VR and AR in safety, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and aviation • Why the right technology matters more than simply adopting new technology • Security, compliance, privacy, and enterprise device management • How emerging technology can support remote and distributed teams • Devin’s lessons on career changes, persistence, self-education, and knowing your value • Why “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” when building your career One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that the future of work isn't necessarily about replacing people with technology. It's about giving people better tools to do their jobs faster, safer, and with more confidence. From immersive training to AI-powered smart glasses and guided workflows, the technology is moving from science fiction into everyday enterprise operations. Guest: Devin Marble Role: Enterprise Growth, ArborXR Topics: VR, AR, AI, Smart Glasses, Remote Work, Enterprise Technology, Employee Training, Digital Transformation, Guided Workflow, Device Management, Cybersecurity & Compliance Subscribe to Remote First Innovators for conversations with leaders building and scaling companies for the modern world. #RemoteWork #VirtualReality #AugmentedReality #ArtificialIntelligence #SmartGlasses #FutureOfWork #EnterpriseTechnology #DigitalTransformation #EmployeeTraining #RemoteFirst

Can you fix the U.S. healthcare system while leading a fully remote team? According to Bhargav Raman, the answer is yes, but only if you build mission alignment, strong systems, and access to the right information. In this episode of Remote First Innovators, hosts Robert Phelps and Jake Gump sit down with Bhargav Raman, Cofounder, Clinical Strategy & Analytics at Ten Ten Ten. Bhargav shares how his path from radiology and startups led him to build remote teams and launch a nonprofit focused on improving the U.S. healthcare system. Discover why mission alignment matters for remote teams, how the right tools help companies scale, why access to information improves decisions, and how Bhargav is using data, transparency, and first principles to push for change in U.S. healthcare. In this episode you'll learn: ✔ Why mission alignment matters for remote teams ✔ How to scale remote teams with the right systems ✔ Why auditing and oversight become important as teams grow ✔ How to hire and onboard remote employees ✔ Why startups should avoid too many tools early on ✔ How AI is changing software development ✔ Why access to information helps teams make better decisions ✔ How regular one-on-ones improve remote leadership ✔ How price transparency could improve U.S. healthcare ✔ How 10-10-10 aims to drive healthcare reform Whether you're a startup founder, remote team leader, healthcare innovator, entrepreneur, or business owner, this conversation is packed with practical insights on building stronger remote teams and better systems. 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and share it with another entrepreneur, remote leader, or healthcare innovator. #RemoteWork #Healthcare #Leadership #HealthcareInnovation #RemoteTeams #StartupFounder #HealthTech #CompanyCulture #HealthcareReform #Entrepreneurship