Meet The Disruptors: Henry O’Connell Of Canary Speech On The Five Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry

Speed and patience: To truly disrupt you must act. Yet, there must be a certain level of patience because not everyone moves at the speed that an entrepreneur likes to move at. We have found this at Canary Speech as we partner with large, medium, and small businesses.

As a part of our series about business leaders who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Henry O’Connell.

Henry O’Connell is the CEO and co-founder of Canary Speech, the leading AI-powered health tech company that uses real-time vocal biomarkers to screen for mental health and neurological disorders. Henry has more than thirty years of experience in technology company leadership, both private and public. He has served on the board of directors for several technology companies in the U.S. and internationally. Among his medical diagnostic and technology experience, Henry worked for Hewlett-Packard, Gibson and the National Institutes of Health in neurological research.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

I began my career at the National Institute of Health (NIH) working as a biochemist in their neurological department. That is where I met my business partner, Jeff Adams, who happened to be working in D.C. for the National Security Agency (NSA) where he was a mathematician. After working for the NIH, I decided to enter the private sector and joined Helwett Packard as a sales representative for medical devices. From there I led the Sales and Marketing teams at various medical product companies and eventually as President and CEO. I had always wanted to take the risk and build my own business and Canary Speech has been that for me for the last eight years.

Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?

My journey to Canary Speech began with a deep fascination with how technology could revolutionize healthcare. After spending decades in the technology and medical device industries, I saw a critical gap in how we assess and monitor human health. The idea that our voices could hold the key to understanding various health conditions intrigued me. Voice is such a powerful, yet underutilized, biomarker. I always say, next to the human genome, speech is the richest set of information that our body has. In fact, at Canary, we look at over 15 million data points for every one minute of speech. So, it was this realization that led me to co-found Canary Speech, where our mission is to harness the power of vocal biomarkers to transform health diagnostics and management. The journey has been driven by a commitment to improve the way we detect and treat diseases, making healthcare more accessible and effective.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

It’s funny how during the moment, a simple mistake always seems so much bigger at the time. As I reflect over my 40 year career, I remember mistakes that I made — some that I knew were mistakes in the moment and some that I simply didn’t realize were a mistake until many years later. I always say that not every idea is a good one.’ Why I say this is because it keeps you grounded as you lead. The best leader is the one who can admit his or her mistakes and give credit due where it is deserved.

We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?

When I was very young, entering teenage years, my father passed away. He left behind my mother and five children. At that time, my mother did not have a driver’s license or means to provide, but she persevered and not only raised four boys and a girl but took care of her ailing father in the last years of his life. I did not grow up with much, but I witnessed how my mother led with courage, strength, and determination and I have kept that as my guide.

Can you please share 5 ideas one needs to shake up their industry?

1. Perseverance and consistency: In the Healthcare industry new disruptive technologies are critical to addressing the challenges that face the industries yet healthcare is one of the slowest industries to adopt new technologies. Its ability to meet the increasing requirements to provide the necessary services for their patients’ healthcare and wellness require innovation and advancements. Vocal biomarkers are easy to acquire, accurate and objective. It is available to the clinical team while meeting with the patient and can provide accurate actionable information to help improve the quality of care and improve referral accuracy

2 . Speed and patience: To truly disrupt you must act. Yet, there must be a certain level of patience because not everyone moves at the speed that an entrepreneur likes to move at. We have found this at Canary Speech as we partner with large, medium, and small businesses.

3 . Forethought and purpose: If you do not go in with purpose and vision then there is a pretty good chance that you will not disrupt an industry. Canary Speech began with a clear vision and purpose and nearly eight years later we are still committed to the same original vision.

1. Leverage Technology to Automate Processes:

• Story: A company like UiPath has pioneered robotic process automation (RPA) to streamline repetitive tasks across various industries. In healthcare, RPA can handle administrative tasks like billing and patient scheduling, freeing up time for providers to focus on patient care.

2. Encourage Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration:

• Story: The creation of integrated care models, like those in Intermountain Health, shows how combining expertise from various specialties can lead to more holistic and effective patient care. This model disrupts traditional siloed approaches and improves outcomes through comprehensive care strategies.

3. Foster Innovation Through Startups:

• Story: The rise of health tech startups, such as Fitbit, demonstrates how new entrants can shake up the industry by offering innovative solutions like wearable health monitors that track physical activity, sleep, and other health metrics, promoting a proactive approach to health management.

4. Enhance Patient Empowerment:

• Story: One organization I really admire is PatientPoint. There are a digital health company that connects patients, healthcare providers and life sciences companies with the right information in the moments care decisions are made to influence patient behavior and empower better health

5. Promote Data-Driven Decision Making:

• Story: The use of big data analytics in healthcare allows for more informed decision-making by analyzing vast amounts of medical data. This disruption helps in identifying trends, predicting outcomes, and personalizing treatment plans based on data insights.

I believe that disrupting an industry can lead to significant advancements and improvements, but it’s essential to balance innovation with careful consideration of potential downsides. Positive disruption often leads to greater efficiency, better patient outcomes, and new opportunities, while negative disruption can cause instability, inequity, and unintended consequences.

We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?

Well, I don’t want to give too much away, but I can tell you that we are in the middle of applying for our fourth family patent and it truly shows how vocal biomarkers can impact the industry to the next level as far as utilization is concerned. We have been lucky enough to have had eight U.S. patents awarded with six additional patents pending globally.

Do you have a book, podcast, or talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us? Can you explain why it was so resonant with you?

One book that has had a profound impact on my thinking is “The Innovator’s Dilemma” by Clayton Christensen. The concept of disruptive innovation, where small companies with limited resources can successfully challenge established businesses, resonated deeply with me. It provided a framework for understanding how Canary Speech could carve out its niche in the healthcare industry, despite the dominance of traditional diagnostic methods. The idea that innovation often requires challenging the status quo and taking calculated risks has been a guiding principle in our work. This book reminded me that true innovation often comes from looking at problems from a completely different perspective.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” A.A. Mine, Winnie the Pooh

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

If I could inspire a movement, it would be to democratize access to early health diagnostics through technology. Imagine a world where everyone has access to simple, non-invasive tools that can detect early signs of diseases just by analyzing their voice. This would not only improve health outcomes but also reduce healthcare costs and make preventive care accessible to millions of people globally. By empowering individuals with the tools to monitor their health in real-time, we can shift the focus from treatment to prevention, ultimately saving lives and improving quality of life. This is the vision behind Canary Speech, and I hope it can inspire others to think about how technology can be a catalyst for positive change in healthcare.

How can our readers follow you online?

Please follow Canary Speech on LinkedIn or connect with my personal page, Henry O’Connell. Or you can reach me at henry@canaryspeech.com or visit our website at www.canaryspeech.com. We welcome messages from people all over the world.

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!