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Your group of 4 can have lunch with this serial entrepreneur in either San Diego, California, or El Paso, Texas and as an added bonus you can have a signed copy of his new book!
James Sweeney, a former CEO of CVS Caremark, is a highly successful serial entrepreneur who has founded 14 healthcare companies, each built on innovative ideas and none of which have failed. Over his career, Sweeney has raised $2 billion in capital and generated more than $30 billion in exit value through these ventures. His work has had a profound impact on the healthcare industry, with his companies responsible for saving or extending millions of lives and freeing many from the confines of traditional hospital care.
Sweeney's entrepreneurial journey began early; after working in a hospital supply room at 15 and serving as a combat medic in the United States Army Medical Corps, he graduated from San Diego State University in 1969. He then joined Baxter Travenol (later Baxter International) and spent decades building his career in healthcare, eventually founding multiple companies that revolutionized the field. Notably, he founded Caremark in 1979 to offer home healthcare services, recognizing that many hospital patients could be treated more comfortably and affordably at home. This company grew rapidly, and after being sold to Baxter Laboratories in 1987 for $600 million, it was eventually acquired by CVS in 2007 for $24 billion.
Among Sweeney's other ventures are Coram Healthcare, a specialty home infusion services company sold to CVS for $2.1 billion, and CardioNet (BioTelemetry), which was sold to Philips for $2.8 billion. He also played a crucial role in rebranding and bringing Clarify Medical to market, a company that pioneered the use of handheld devices for treating chronic skin diseases.
Sweeney’s influence extends beyond business; he has turned his focus to humanitarian work by founding Kids Set Free, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation. Additionally, he has shared his entrepreneurial insights in his forthcoming book Creative Insecurity: Lean Into the Unknown and Unleash Your Inner Misfit, co-authored with Rhonda Lauritzen, which is set to be released on December 10, 2024, by Post Hill Press and distributed by Simon & Schuster.
Throughout his career, Sweeney has been widely recognized for his contributions to healthcare and entrepreneurship. He has received two Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards, been inducted into the World Hall of Fame, and honored by his alma mater, San Diego State University, as “Alumnus of the Year.” The Wall Street Journal has praised his visionary ideas and leadership style, which fosters a democratic workplace culture and encourages embracing failure as a path to success. Sweeney's ability to foresee industry trends and take calculated risks has been key to his repeated success, earning him a reputation as a true pioneer in his field.