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Description
Dr. Brianna Rhue is not a typical health-tech founder. She is a practicing optometrist, multi-practice owner, and the co-founder and CEO of Dr. Contact Lens, a platform helping eye-care practices compete with online retailers while protecting patient relationships and practice profitability.
In this episode, Brianna shares how frontline clinical experience shaped her approach to building software, leading teams, and navigating the steep learning curve of tech as a non-technical founder. From early missteps with development vendors to redefining customer success, the conversation explores what it really takes to build durable, founder-led companies.
Listeners will walk away with practical insights on transitioning from practitioner to CEO, choosing the right technology partners, and why curiosity, systems, and self-reflection are essential leadership skills in an AI-driven world.
Key Takeaways
From Exam Room to CEO: Seeing the Problem Firsthand
“Patients were questioning us, and that discomfort is what sparked the idea.”
Brianna’s journey began inside her own practice, where online retailers were eroding trust and revenue. Her company was born not from trend-chasing, but from solving a real, lived problem.
Building Tech Without a Tech Background
“I didn’t know what a GUI or an API was, and that cost us $50,000.”
Early on, Brianna learned hard lessons about development, scope, and vendor dynamics. Those mistakes ultimately led to a stronger foundation and clearer product vision.
Why Customer Success Is the Real Moat
“You can get customers to say yes, but if you don’t get them to wow, they won’t stay.”
Features can be copied. Passion and purpose cannot. Brianna explains how retention and fit matter more than rapid expansion.
Leadership Systems That Protect Focus and Energy
“Asking for help saved me.”
From executive assistants to structured weekly schedules, Brianna emphasizes intentional leadership. Her “three frogs” method keeps priorities aligned amid chaos.
AI, Curiosity, and the Founder-to-CEO Shift
“We’re still early with AI. The real skill is asking better questions.”
Rather than hype, Brianna advocates thoughtful adoption. Leadership, she argues, is about stepping back to hold the long-term vision.
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